CORNERSTONE PHARMACY NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES

Effective Date: December 9, 2024

This Notice describes how your protected health information (PHI) may be used and disclosed, and how you can access this information. Please read it carefully. Cornerstone Pharmacy is committed to compliance with all federal and state laws, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), to ensure the privacy and security of your PHI.

OUR COMMITMENT TO PRIVACY

Cornerstone Pharmacy is dedicated to safeguarding your PHI, which includes any information related to your past, present, or future physical or mental health, medications, and payments for healthcare services. PHI may exist in electronic, paper, or verbal form.

This Notice explains:

  • How we may use and disclose your PHI.
  • Your rights regarding your PHI.
  • Our responsibilities to protect your PHI.

Cornerstone Pharmacy complies with all applicable provisions of the HIPAA Privacy Rule as outlined in 45 CFR Section 164.500 et. seq., as well as Arkansas-specific laws related to patient confidentiality, prescription drug monitoring, and public health reporting.

HOW WE MAY USE AND DISCLOSE YOUR PHI

1. Uses and Disclosures with Your Consent

Once you sign our consent form, we may use and disclose your PHI for:

  • Treatment: To provide or coordinate your healthcare, such as sharing information with your physician or other healthcare providers for prescriptions or referrals.
  • Payment: To process payments for healthcare services, including activities like eligibility verification, claims submission, and prior authorizations with your health plan.
  • Healthcare Operations: To improve our pharmacy services, conduct quality assessments, and perform business activities.

2. Uses and Disclosures Requiring Your Authorization

For uses and disclosures outside of treatment, payment, or healthcare operations—such as marketing purposes or sharing your PHI with third parties—we will obtain your written authorization. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time, except where PHI has already been used or disclosed.

3. Other Permitted and Required Uses and Disclosures

We may use or disclose your PHI without your consent or authorization in the following circumstances:

  • Required by Law: To comply with legal obligations, such as reporting infectious diseases.
  • Public Health and Safety: To report adverse events, track products for recalls, or notify authorities of abuse or neglect.
  • Legal Proceedings: In response to court orders or lawful subpoenas.
  • Law Enforcement: To report crimes, locate suspects, or prevent serious threats to public safety.
  • Health Oversight Activities: For audits, inspections, or investigations by government agencies overseeing healthcare.
  • Military and National Security: For activities authorized by military command or national security laws.
  • Workers’ Compensation: To comply with workers’ compensation laws.
  • Emergencies: To provide necessary care during emergency situations.
  • Inmates: To provide healthcare to inmates or ensure the safety of correctional facilities.

YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING YOUR PHI

  1. Access and Copies: You may request access to your PHI or obtain a copy of it.
  2. Amendments: You may request corrections to your PHI if it is inaccurate or incomplete.
  3. Restrictions: You may request limitations on how your PHI is used or disclosed.
  4. Confidential Communications: You may request that we contact you at a specific location or by a specific method (e.g., mail, phone).
  5. Accounting of Disclosures: You may request a list of disclosures we have made of your PHI, excluding those made for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations.
  6. Paper Copy of Notice: You may request a paper copy of this Notice at any time.
  7. Right to File a Complaint: If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you have the right to file a complaint with us or directly with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). To file a complaint with Cornerstone Pharmacy, please contact our Privacy Officer using the contact information below. There will be no retaliation for filing a complaint.

To file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Visit https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/filing-a-complaint for more information or contact the Office for Civil Rights directly.

OUR RESPONSIBILITIES

We are required by law to:

  • Maintain the privacy of your PHI.
  • Provide you with this Notice detailing our privacy practices.
  • Notify you promptly if a breach occurs that compromises the security or privacy of your PHI.
  • Abide by the terms of this Notice.

Cornerstone Pharmacy ensures compliance with the Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy regulations regarding the storage, transmission, and confidentiality of prescription information.

CONTACT INFORMATION

If you have questions, concerns, or complaints about your privacy rights, or if you wish to exercise your rights under this Notice, please contact our Privacy Officer:

Cornerstone Pharmacy Privacy Officer
4220 N Rodney Parham Rd #101, Little Rock, AR 72212
501-223-2224
garnerh@cornerstonepharmacy.com

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RECEIPT OF NOTICE

You will be asked to sign an acknowledgment form indicating that you have received this Notice.

CHANGES TO THIS NOTICE

We reserve the right to revise or update this Notice as needed. Any changes will apply to all PHI we maintain and will be posted prominently in our pharmacy and on our website.