NOTE: Effective November 22, 2024

​This notice describes how your medical information may be used and disclosed and how you can access your information. Please review it carefully.
You have a right to a copy of this notice in paper or electronic form and to discuss it with the office at (970) 241-2698 or [email protected], if you have any questions.

Protecting Your Privacy

Columbine Caregivers understands the importance and sensitivity of your health information. We protect the privacy of your health information, because it is the right thing to do. We also follow federal and state laws that govern your health information. We use your health information (and allow others to have it) only as permitted by federal and state laws. These laws give you certain rights regarding your health information. .

Your Health Information Rights

You have the right to:
  • Inspect and obtain a copy of your billing records (including an electronic copy if we maintain the records electronically) and have an electronic copy transmitted to a third party, as provided for by law, usually within 30 days of your written request, in some cases, at limited cost or free of charge.
  • Request and receive a paper copy of our current Notice of Privacy Practices. If you would like to discuss this Notice with someone at Columbine Caregivers, please call or email the Office at (970) 241-2698 or [email protected].
  • Require us to communicate with you using an alternate address or phone number.
  • Require that we not send information about a healthcare service or related item to your health plan if you or someone else pays in full for that service or item.
  • Request in writing that restrictions be placed on how your health information is used or shared for treatment or other purposes.
  • Request an accounting of when your identifiable health information is shared outside of Columbine Caregivers for a purpose other than treatment or payment.
  • Receive notice if we or our business associates have breached the confidentiality of your health information.
  • Report a privacy concern and be assured that we will investigate your concern thoroughly, support you appropriately, and not retaliate against you in any way. If you would like to report any privacy concerns please email or call the Office at (970) 241-2698 or [email protected], or contact the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
  • Request in writing that your health information be amended, if you think there is an error.

How Your Health Information Is Used

1. Common Uses of Health Information. When we care for you, we will gather your health information. The law allows us to use or share this health information to:
  • Understand your health condition and follow the appropriate care plan.
  • Bill for your care services and receive payment for our services.
  • Improve our care. For example, we may contact you to understand what you thought of our care and to learn how to enhance our services to you.
  • Law enforcement, but only as authorized by law.
  • Investigate a crime against Columbine Caregivers or any of its patients.
  • Participate in secure computer networks, which provide safe and efficient ways to share medical information with our staff, and authorized third parties such as the Veteran's Association and Hope West PACE.

2. Required Uses of Health Information. The law sometimes requires us to share information for specific purposes, with:
  •  The Department of Health, to report communicable diseases, traumatic injuries, or birth defects, or for vital statistics.
  •  A funeral director or an organ-donation agency, when a patient dies, or with a medical examiner when appropriate to investigate a death.
  • The appropriate governmental agency, if an injury or unexpected death occurs while under the care of Columbine Caregivers employees.
  • State authorities, to report child or elderly abuse.
  • Law enforcement, for certain types of crime-related injuries, such as gunshot wounds.
  • Governmental inspectors, who, for example, make sure our caregivers are safe.
  • Military command authorities or the Department of Veterans Affairs, when we treat patients who are in the military or are veterans.
  • A correctional institution, if a patient is an inmate.
  •  The Secret Service or NSA, to protect the country or the President.
  • A medical device’s manufacturer, as required by the FDA
  • Court officers, as required by law, in response to a court order or a valid subpoena with proof of notice to you.
  • Governmental authorities, to prevent serious threats to the public’s health or safety.
  •  Governmental agencies and other affected parties, to report a breach of health-information privacy.
  • An employer, but only if the employer contracts with us to help the employer meet OSHA requirements about workplace and employee safety.
  •  A worker’s compensation program, if a person is injured at work and claims benefits under that program.

3. Uses According to Your Requests. Your preferences matter. If you let us know how you want us to disclose your information in the following situations, we will follow your directions. You decide:
  • If you want us to share any health or payment information related to your care with your family members or friends. Please let our employees know what you want us to share. If you can’t tell us what health or payment information you want us to share, we may use our professional judgment to decide what to share with your family or friends for them to be able to help you.
  • Whom we should contact in an emergency. If you aren’t able to tell us whom to contact, we may ask the public authorities to help. For example, we may ask the police to help find your family, or in a disaster, we may help the Red Cross reconnect you with your family.
  • If you want us to provide immunization information about you to a third party.

4. Uses of Health Information with Your Authorization. Any sharing of your health information, other than as explained above, requires your written authorization. For example, we will not use your health information unless you authorize us in writing to:
  • Send copies of your health information to a life insurance company.
  • Send information to encourage you to buy a non-Columbine Caregivers product if we are paid to send that information or make the communication.
  • Sell your identifiable health information.

5. Special Legal Protections for Certain Health Information. Columbine Caregivers complies with federal and state laws that require extra protection of special records. These records may include records of treatment in an addiction-treatment program, genetic information, or psychotherapy notes from a treating psychotherapist.

This privacy notice became effective November 22, 2024. We may change this privacy notice at any time. You can see our current privacy notice that affects all PHI maintained by Columbine Caregivers on our website, at www.columbinecaregivers.com

This notice describes the privacy practices of Columbine Caregivers employees working in our client homes and dwellings, and all are required to abide by the terms of this notice.