To provide you with health care services and products. Costco Health Centers use and disclose PHI in order to provide you with health care services and products. For example, in our hearing aid department we use your audiogram results in order to provide you with the appropriate hearing aid. Our pharmacists ask you questions regarding drug allergies or review your prescription history in order to ensure that we do not provide you prescription drugs to which you may be allergic or which may interact with other prescriptions. Costco opticians use your prescription from your ophthalmologist or optometrist to provide you with the appropriate corrective eye glasses or contact lenses.
To another health care provider if needed for your treatment. For example, we may discuss your prescription information with your primary care physician if a Costco pharmacist has a drug interaction concern or questions regarding your prescription. We may also contact medical professionals who have prescribed controlled substances for you to discuss whether they are appropriate and necessary for you.
To bill you for health care services or products. Costco Health Centers use and disclose your PHI to bill you and to accept payment for prescription drugs, glasses, contact lenses, or hearing aids which you may purchase. For example, an associate in the Costco Pharmacy may ring up your prescription drug purchases.
To seek reimbursement or calculate rebates for health care products or services you receive at Costco Health Centers. For example, Costco Health Centers use and disclose PHI to receive payments from your health plan for covered prescription drugs purchased from a Costco Pharmacy. If you are a Costco Executive Member, your purchase information from any Costco Health Center will be combined with other personal information to calculate your Executive Member 2% Reward, subject to the terms and conditions of that program. We may also disclose PHI to a third party (called a "business associate") who assists us in our operations. For example, a third party who helps secure rebates for you from manufacturers on your Costco Health Center purchases is a business associate. Business associates must also comply with HIPAA.
For the administration and operation of the Costco Health Centers. We use and disclose PHI for numerous administrative and quality control functions necessary for the Costco Health Centers' proper operation. For example, we may use your pharmacy prescription drug purchase information for fraud and abuse detection activities or to conduct data analyses for planning-related purposes.
To inform you about treatment alternatives or other health-related benefits that may be offered by Costco Health Centers. For example, we may use your prescription data to alert you to a generic drug available as a substitute for the prescription drug you are currently using.
To another health care provider or health plan for administration and operations purposes. We may share PHI with another health care provider or a health plan that has a relationship with you for quality assessment and improvement activities, to review the qualifications of health care professionals who provide care to you, or for fraud and abuse detection and prevention purposes.
To a family member, friend, or other person involved in your health care if you are present and you do not object to the sharing of PHI or in the event of an emergency. Our Costco Health Centers may also allow a family member, friend or other person to pick up your purchases after providing us with some verifying information such as your address or date of your birth.
To comply with an applicable federal, state, or local law, including, for example, workers' compensation programs established by law.
For public health reasons, including to a public health authority for the prevention or control of disease, injury or disability; to a proper government or health authority to report child abuse or neglect; to report reactions to medications or problems with products regulated by the Food and Drug Administration; to notify individuals of recalls of medication or products they may be using; or to notify a person who may have been exposed to a communicable disease or who may be at risk for contracting or spreading a disease or condition.
To report a suspected case of abuse, neglect or domestic violence, as permitted or required by applicable law.
To comply with health oversight activities, such as audits, investigations, inspections, licensure actions, and other government monitoring and activities related to health care provision or public benefits or services. For example, Costco Pharmacies are subject to reporting requirements regarding narcotics under state and federal law, and are subject to periodic and random inspections by state pharmacy boards and the federal Drug Enforcement Agency. Inspectors or other government officials may view or receive PHI as a result of a government inspection or other request.
To the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to demonstrate our compliance with HIPAA.
To respond to an order of a court or administrative tribunal, such as a court-ordered warrant, subpoena or summons, grand jury subpoena, or administrative subpoena or other request.
To respond to a subpoena, warrant, summons or other legal request if sufficient safeguards, such as a protective order in the case of a private lawsuit, are in place to maintain PHI privacy.
To a law enforcement official for a law enforcement purpose as required by law.
For purposes of public safety or national security.
To allow a coroner or medical examiner to identify you or determine your cause of death.
To allow a funeral director to carry out his or her duties.
To respond to a request by military command authorities if you are or were a member of the armed forces.
