Privacy Policy
Notice of Consumer Rights & Privacy Practices
Information About You
OCES keeps a record of all communication between our agency and anyone associated with your care. This includes each time a member of OCES’ staff visits you, contacts you or speaks with someone else on your behalf. Typically, this documentation contains personal information such as name, address, date of birth, medical information and names of providers involved in your care.
OCES uses this information to:
- help plan for your care and services
- communicate with organizations delivering your services
- maintain a legal document describing the care and services you receive
Your Right to Privacy
Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and Massachusetts General Laws, OCES is required to maintain the privacy of your health and personal identification information. This “Notice of Consumer Rights and Privacy Practices” describes how OCES keeps and uses information about you.
Your Rights
Although your health and services record is the physical property of OCES, the information in it belongs to you. You have the right to:
- request that we limit how your information is used or disclosed
- inspect and copy your record (at your expense)
- request that we amend your record (e.g., correct, update or add information)
- request an accounting of the disclosures, regarding your health and services information, made to others
- request that we use a specific telephone number or address to communicate with you
- withdraw your consent to use or disclose health and services information, excluding information that has already been shared
Our Responsibilities
OCES is required by law to:
- maintain the privacy of your health and personal identification
- provide you with this “Notice of Consumer Rights and Privacy Practices”
- abide by all terms of this “Notice” that are currently in effect
OCES is permitted or may be required to share your health information with:
- contracted providers
- the Division of Medical Assistance (MassHealth)
- the Executive Office of Elder Affairs
- insurance providers directly related to your care
- family members, legal representatives or other persons you identify as taking part in your care
- other health care providers should emergency care be required
- public health or federal organizations charged with preventing or controlling disease, injury or disability
OCES will:
- report abuse, neglect or exploitation
- share information with law enforcement or emergency responders in order to avoid or alleviate a serious threat to safety
- respond to a valid subpoena
- provide data for the purposes of approved research without disclosing personal identifying information
Changes to this Notice
We reserve the right to change our privacy practices. Anytime changes occur, we will mail a revised “Notice” to the address OCES has on file for you.
Complaints
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you can file a complaint with OCES or with the Secretary of Health and Human Services in Washington D.C. All complaints are investigated. There will be no retaliation for filing a complaint.
Questions
If you have questions or would like additional information about OCES’ privacy practices, please contact our ASAP Programs Director.
Service Area
Abington, Avon, Bridgewater, Brockton, Carver, Duxbury, East Bridgewater, Easton, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Kingston, Lakeville, Marshfield, Middleboro, Pembroke, Plymouth, Plympton, Rockland, Stoughton, Wareham, West Bridgewater & Whitman
Old Colony Elder Services
144 Main Street
Brockton,MA 02301
Call: 508.584.1561
TTY: 5085870280
Fax: 5088970031
www.ocesma.org
www.800ageinfo.com
1-800-Age-Info (1.800.243.4636)
Services are available in many languages!
OCES and its programs are funded in part by contracts with the Executive Office of Elder Affairs.
