Privacy Policy
Blissful Fertility, LLC
Privacy Notice
Updated November 26, 2018
While we are not medical providers and cannot give medical advice, we are committed to safeguarding your privacy. This notice will disclose the privacy practices of Blissful Fertility and this policy may change from time to time, so please check back periodically.
We are the sole owners of the information and we will only collect information that you voluntarily give us via our website, email, social media sites, or other direct contacts from you. We will not sell or rent this information to anyone.
We will use your information to respond and serve you, regarding the reason you contacted us. Your information may be shared with your fertility clinic and provider, a monitoring physician, the assigned psychological professional, your reproductive lawyer, your donor’s reproductive lawyer, the escrow agent, a genetic counselor, 21 Health Updates, LLC, your Intended Parents, and other fertility-related professionals as needed for cycle coordination.
SECURITY
We make our best efforts to follow all HIPAA guidelines to manage all records and data. Sadly, no data transmission performed online can be 100% guaranteed to be secure. As a result, while we make all efforts to protect your personal information, Blissful Fertility cannot ensure or warrant the security of any information you transmit to us or from our online products or services, and you do so at your own risk. Once we receive your transmission, we make our best effort to maintain its security.
Please keep in mind that whenever you voluntarily disclose voluntary information online, for example on message boards, through email, or in chat areas, that information can be collected and used by others, so be sure to maintain the privacy and security of your password and/or any account information. Never give out your email, agency account, or portal login user name or password to anyone whom you do not wish to have access to confidential information.
HOW WE USE AND DISCLOSE YOUR INDIVIDUALLY IDENTIFIABLE HEALTH INFORMATION
Payment- We may use or disclose your individually identifiable health information in order to bill and/or collect payment for the services you may receive from us or from a medical or legal professional you or a related party is working with. All payment requests are usually submitted by our agency to a third-party escrow or trust company which is managing cycle funds. All professional bills and reimbursement requests are uploaded, faxed, or emailed to your escrow agent.
Health Care and Business Operations- We may use or disclose your individually identifiable health information in order to operate our business or to manage your personal cycle. We may disclose your profile or individually identifiable health information to health care providers and entities to assist in their health care operations and for management of your personal case, including the care of any Intended Parent, donor, surrogate, and/ or recipient. Typically records and information disclosures are shared between the treating fertility physician and support staff, psychologist, geneticist, monitoring center, egg donation agency, and concierge companies, sperm banks, parties involved in the treatment and care, and treating related specialists. If you do not want your information shared with a specific party, you will need to notify the agency but there is no guarantee we can comply once you have started a cycle.
Disclosures required by Law- Our office will use and disclose your individually identifiable health information to health care providers and entities to assist in their health care operations.
Below are unique, special circumstances when we may use or disclose your individually identifiable health information:
Public Health Risks- Our office may disclose your Individual Identifiable Health Information to public health authorities that are authorized by law to collect information for the purpose of the following: maintaining vital records, such as births and deaths, reporting child abuse or neglect, preventing or controlling disease, injury, or disability, notifying a person regarding potential risk for spreading or contracting a disease or condition, reporting reactions to drugs or problems with products or devices, and/or notifying individuals if a product or device they may have used is being recalled.
Health Oversight Activities- Our office may disclose your Individual Identifiable Health Information to a health oversight agency for activities authorized or required by law. Oversight activities can include, for example, investigations, inspections, audits, surveys, licensure and disciplinary actions: civil, administrative, and criminal procedures or actions; or other activities necessary for the government to monitor government programs, compliance with civil rights laws and the health care system in general.
Lawsuits and Similar Proceedings- Our office may use and disclose your Individual Identifiable Health Information in response to a court or administrative order if you are involved in a lawsuit or similar proceeding. We may also disclose your Individual Identifiable Health Information in response to a discovery request, subpoena, or other lawful processes by another party involved in the dispute, but only if we have made an effort to inform you of the request or to obtain an order protecting the information the party has requested.
Law Enforcement- We may release the Individual Identifiable Health Information if asked to do so by a law enforcement official: Regarding a crime victim in certain circumstances, if we are unable to obtain the person’s agreement, concerning a death we believe has resulted from criminal conduct, regarding criminal conduct at our offices, in response to a warrant, summons, court order, subpoena, or similar legal process, to identify or locate a suspect, material witness, fugitive, or missing person, or in an emergency to report a crime.
Deceased Patients- Our office may release Individual Identifiable Health Information to a medical examiner or coroner to identify the cause of death. If necessary, we may also release information in order for funeral directors to perform their job.
Serious Threats to Health and Safety- Our office may use and disclose your individual Identifiable Health Information when necessary to reduce or prevent a serious threat to your health and safety or the health and safety of another individual or the public. Under these circumstances, we will only make disclosures to a person or organization able to help prevent the threat.
Military- As required by law, our office may use and disclose your Individual Identifiable Health Information to federal officials for intelligence and national security activities authorized by law. We also may disclose your Individual Identifiable Health Information to federal officials in order to protect the President, other officials or foreign heads of state, or to conduct investigations.
YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING YOUR INDIVIDUAL IDENTIFIABLE HEALTH INFORMATION
You have the following rights:
Confidential Communications- You have the right to request that our office communicates with you about your health and related issues in a particular manner or at a certain location. For instance, you must make a written request to our Senior Agency director, specifying the requested method of contact, or the location where you wish to be contacted. Our office will accommodate reasonable requests. You do not need to give a reason for your request.
Requesting Restrictions- You have the right to request a restriction in our use or disclosure of your Individual Identifiable Health Information for treatment, payment, or health care operations. Additionally, you have the right to request that we restrict our disclosure of your Individual Identifiable Health Information to only certain individuals involved in your care or the payment of your care. We are not required to agree to your request; however, if we do agree we are bound by our agreements except when otherwise required by law, in emergencies, or when the information is necessary to treat you. In order to request a restriction in our use or disclosure, you must make your request in writing to thedonorteam@gmail.com. Please note if you do not receive a reply confirming receipt, you should call the office at 310.822.0671 as we may have not received the email. Your request must describe in a clear and concise fashion the information you want to be restricted, whether you are requesting to limit our office’s use, disclosure, or both, and to whom you want the limits to apply.
Inspection and Copies- You have the right to inspect and obtain a copy of the Individual Identifiable Health Information that may be used to make decisions about you, including patient medical records and billing records, background searches, and psychotherapy notes. You must submit your request in writing to our office or to the office that performed the exams. Our office may charge a fee for the costs of copying, mailing, labor, and supplies associated with your request. Our office may deny your request to inspect and/or copy in certain limited circumstances; however, you may request a review of the denial. Another licensed health care professional chosen by us will conduct reviews.
Amendment- You may ask us to amend your health information if you believe it is incorrect or incomplete, and you may request an amendment for as long as the information is kept by or for your office. To request an amendment, your request must be made in writing. Our office will deny your request if you fail to submit your request (and the reason supporting your request) in writing. Also, we may deny your request if you ask us to amend information that is in our opinions, accurate and complete, no part of the Individual Identifiable Health Information kept by or for the office, not part of the Individual Identifiable Health Information which would be permitted to inspect and copy, or not created by our office, unless the individual or entity that created the information is not available to amend the information.
Right to a Paper Copy of This Notice- You are entitled to receive a paper copy of our privacy practices. You may ask us to give you a copy of this notice at any time. To obtain a paper of this notice, contact the donor coordinator.
Right to File a Complaint- If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with our office. To file a complaint with our office, contact Megan L. Morgenstern, agency coordinator at 310.822.0671 or by email at thedonorteam@gmail.com. All complaints must be in writing. You will not be penalized for filing a complaint.
Right to Provide an Authorization for other uses and disclosures- Our office will obtain your written authorization for uses and disclosures that are not identified by this notice or permitted by applicable law. Any authorization you provide to us regarding the use and disclosure of your Individual Identifiable Health Information may be revoked at any time in writing. After you revoke your authorization, we will no longer use or disclose your Individual Identifiable Health Information for the reason described in the authorization. Please note, we are required to retain records of your care. If you have any further questions with regards to this notice, you should contact our offices and ask to speak with the agency director or you can email the donor team at thedonorteam@gmail.com.