HIPAA NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES

Last Updated: 8/15, 2024

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU (“PATIENT”) MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW PATIENT CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. 

Patient is using us, TNT Physical Therapy Services PLLC, an Illinois professional limited liability company (“TNTPT”), to receive physical therapy services. TNTPT is required under the law to protect the privacy of Patient’s health information and to provide Patient with notice of TNTPT’s legal duties and privacy practices with respect to Patient’s health information. TNTPT’s legal obligations regarding Patient’s health information are set forth in this Notice of Privacy. Patient should review this Notice of Privacy in detail, and present TNTPT with any questions Patient has in connection therewith. 

Protected Health Information: Uses and Disclosure

Patient’s health information is collected by TNTPT and stored in TNTPT’s systems and/or physical therapy and medical records. TNTPT’s records contains any of your disclosed ailments, other symptoms, examination and test results, diagnoses, current and future treatment plans, and plan for future care or treatment. The law protects all information about you, including demographic information, that may identify you and that relates to your past, present or future physical or menial health or condition and related health care services. Consistent with applicable laws, this information serves as a:

  • Basis for planning your care and treatment,

  • Means of communication among the many health professionals who contribute to your care,

  • Means by which you or a third-party payer can verify that services billed were actually provided,

  • A source of information for public health officials in charge or improving the health of this state and the nation,

  • A tool in educating health professionals,

  • Legal document describing the care you received,

  • A source of data for our planning and marketing,

  • A tool with which we can assess and continually work to improve the care we render and the outcomes we achieve

Understanding who, what, when, where, and why others may access your health information, will help you to make more informed decisions when authorizing disclosure to others.

Patient’s Rights Regarding Patient’s Health Information 

Patient has those certain rights with respect Patient’s health information as set forth immediately below this paragraph. Patient should contact TNTPT’s Privacy Officer if Patient (i) wishes to exercise any of the rights listed below, or (ii) has questions regarding Patient’s rights. Patient also has the right to file a complaint with the United States Department of Health and Human Services or the Office of Civil Rights. No retaliation shall occur for Patient’s filing a complaint with either the Privacy Officer, United States Department of Health and Human Services or the Office of Civil Rights. Patient’s rights are as follows:

  • Request that TNTPT amend your health information. This request must be done in writing and approved by the physical therapist. While TNTPT will review Patient’s request, TNTPT will not make the requested amendments. 

  • Revoke any of Patient’s authorizations made for the use or disclosure of Patient’s health information except to the extent TNTPT has already relied on such authorization.

  • Review and obtain a copy of Patient’s health information, provided, however, that TNTPT has the right to charge Patient a fee for the cost of providing such copies.

  • Obtain an accounting of disclosure that TNTPT has made of Patient’s health information except disclosures for treatment, payment, health care operations, disclosures authorized to Patient, and disclosures for certain government functions.

  • Request that TNTPT limits its use and disclosure of Patient’s health information as specified by Patient. Please note, TNTPT may not agree to Patient’s request.

  • Receive a paper copy of this notice.

  • Request that TNTPT communicate with Patient through alternative means or locations, and we will respect any reasonable requests.

The law allows us to use or disclose your health information for the following purposes:

TNTPT may use Patient’s health information to provide Patient with physical therapy treatment or services. TNTPT will use and disclose your protected health information to provide, coordinate, or manage your health care via physical therapy services and any related services. This includes the coordination or management of your health care with a third party, if necessary. For example, Patient’s protected health information may be provided to a physician to whom Patient has been referred to ensure that the physician has the necessary information to diagnose or treat Patient.

TNTPT may use and disclose Patient’s health information for purposes of receiving payment for treatment and services that Patient has received. TNTPT may send a bill for your services to your health insurance company, with such bill containing certain information such as Patient’s name, diagnosis, procedures, supplies, and the service provided to Patient by TNTPT. Patient’s protected health information will be used, as needed, to obtain payment for Patient’s physical therapy services. We may use or disclose, as needed, your protected health information for Health Care Operations. We may use and disclose your health Information for the operation of our facility. These activities include, but are not limited to, quality assessment activities, employee review activities, gaining of medical students, licensing, and conducting or arranging for other business activities. For example, we may disclose your protected health information to medical school students that see patients at our office. In addition, we may use a sign-in sheet at the registration desk where you will be asked to sign your name and indicate your physician. We may also call you by name in the waiting room when your physician is ready to see you. We may use or disclose your protected health information, as necessary, to contact you to remind you of your appointment.

Business Associates: TNTPT provides some services through contact with business associates. When these services are contracted, TNTPT may disclose Patient’s health information to TNTPT’s business associate so that it can perform the tasks requested and contracted for by TNTPT’s, including but not limited to billing Patient and Patient’s third-party payor for physical therapy services rendered. To protect Patient’s health information, TNTPT requires the business associate to appropriately safeguard Patient’s information.

Communication with Family and Friends: TNTPT will disclose Patient’s health information in the following situations: (i) the aggregate circumstances make it so that TNTPT can reasonably determine that Patient would allow a disclosure; or (ii) if Patient is in TNTPT’s facility, is able to consent, and Patient permits a disclosure. Outside of these situations, TNTPT’s licensed providers will exercise their commercially reasonable professional judgement on whether a disclosure of any information to persons responsible for Patient’s care is in Patient’s best interest. In the event of any such disclosure, only that information that is relevancy to such recipient’s involvement in Patient’s healthcare, or information in connection with payment of Patient’s healthcare will be released. 

Workers’ Compensation: TNTPT may disclose health information to the extent authorized by and to the extent necessary to comply with laws related to workers compensation or other similar programs established by law.

National Security: TNTPT may disclose your health information to federal officials (i) for intelligence and national security activities authorized by law, or (ii) in order to protect the President of the United Stated, other officials or foreign heads of state, or to conduct investigations.

Military: TNTPT may disclose your information if the appropriate authorities required such disclosure in the event Patient is a member of the United States military or foreign military services. 


Notification: TNTPT may also disclose Patient’s health information to notify or assist in notifying a family member, Patient’s personal representative, or other persons responsible for Patient’s care about Patient’s location, general condition or death.

Public Health Agencies: TNTPT may use or disclose Patient’s health information for public health activities such as assisting public health authorities in preventing or tracking disease and maintaining customer records of medical supplies in the event of product recall. TNTPT are required to report initial diagnosis of sexually transmitted diseases and communicable diseases to state public health agencies.

Required by Law: TNTPT will disclose health information if it is required to by law, such as pursuant to a judicial or administrative subpoena. TNTPT may also be required to disclose information for specialized government functions, including but not limited to protection of public officials or reporting to various branches of the armed services.

Health and Safety and Law Enforcement: We are required to disclose information to law enforcement if we suspect child abuse or neglect. In the exercise of our processional judgment, we may report information in the case of adult abuse. Your health information may also be disclosed to avert a serious threat to health or safety of you or any other person. Finally, we may disclose health information to assist law enforcement officials in their duties.

Funeral Directors: Health information may be disclosed to funeral directors or coroners to enable such persons to perform their duties.

Marketing: TNTPT may contact you to provide information about treatment, alternative fundraising, or other health-related benefits and services that may be of interest to Patient. TNTPT might also send Patient general newsletter or other information that promotes Patient’s health as well as any other helpful information regarding TNTPT’s facility. TNTPT will not use or disclose Patient’s health information to any outside marketing agencies without Patient’s written authorization. TNTPT will never sell Patient’s health information, unless permitted by law or Patient has authorized TNTPT to do so.

Organ procurement organizations: TNTPT may, consistent with applicable law, disclose health information to organ procurement organizations or other entities engaged in the procurement, banking, or transplantation or organs for the purpose of tissue donation and transplant.

Research: In the event of any research by TNTPT or its providers, TNTPT may disclose information to researchers when TNTPT’s research has been approved by an institutional review board that has reviewed the research proposal and established protocols to ensure the privacy of Patient’s health information.

Federal law makes provision for Patient’s health information to be released to an appropriate health oversight agency, public health authority or attorney, provided that a work force member or business associate believes in good faith that TNTPT has engaged in unlawful conduct or have otherwise violated professional or clinical standards and are potentially endangering one or more patients, workers or the public.

Other Uses and Disclosures

TNTPT will only make other uses and disclosures with Patient’s written authorization and you may revoke the authorization except to the extent TNTPT has already taken action in reliance upon Patient’s authorization.