NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES
(Effective July 5, 2004)

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.

Uses and Disclosure of Health Information

Treatment, Payment and Health Care Operations

ASPEN HOME HEALTH CARE, INC ("Aspen") uses and discloses your protected health information for treatment, payment and health care operations. Some examples of when our office may use or disclose your health care information for these purposes include:

• Sharing treatment results with your referring physician or other health care providers for coordination of care or confirmation of a diagnosis;
• Providing your diagnosis or other information about your health to your health or other insurance carrier to obtain payment for the health care services we provide;
• Reviewing information as part of our quality improvement program.

Other Uses and Disclosures

Aspen may also use or disclose your protected health information, in compliance with guidelines outlined by law, for the following purposes:

• Providing you with information related to your health;
• Contacting you regarding appointments, information about treatment alternatives, or other health related services;
• Incidental uses or disclosures;
• Compliance with all laws (including reports of suspected abuse, neglect or violence);
• Providing certain specified information to law enforcement or correctional institutions;
• Providing information to a coroner, medical examiner, funeral director, or organ procurement organization;
• Public health activities when requested by a public health authority or the FDA.
• Responding to health oversight agencies;
• Responding to court or administrative tribunal orders, subpoenas, discovery requests or research activities;
• When necessary to avert a serious threat to health or safety;
• Military affairs, veterans affairs, national security, intelligence, Department of State, or presidential protective service activities;
• Providing information regarding your location, general condition or death to public or private disaster relief agencies; or
• Informing a family member, other relative or close personal friend when information is relevant to the individual's involvement with your care;
• Notification of your location, general condition or death;
• To assist in your heath care (e.g., delivery medications, equipment or other supplies, note follow-up care instructions, etc.).

Authorization for Other Uses

Aspen will make other uses and disclosure of your protected health information only after obtaining your written authorization. If you authorize a use not contained in this notice, you may revoke your authorization at any time by notifying us in writing that you wish to revoke your authorization.

Your Rights Regarding the Privacy of Your Health Information

Subject to limitations outlined by law, you have certain rights related to use and disclosure of your protected health information, including the right to:

• Request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures. However, Aspen is not obligated to agree to requested restrictions.
• Receive confidential communications of protected health information.
• Inspect and copy your protected health information with some limited exceptions;
• Amend your health information;
• Receive an accounting of disclosures of your health information;
• Obtain a copy of this notice.

Aspen's Duties Regarding the Privacy Of Your Health Information

Subject to limitations outlined by law, Aspen has certain duties related to your protected health information, including:

• Aspen is required by law to maintain the privacy of protected health information and to provide individuals with notice of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to protected health information.
• Aspen is required to abide by the terms of the privacy notice that is currently in effect.
• Aspen reserves the right to change a privacy practice described in this notice and to make such change effective for all protected health information. Any revised notice will be posted in our office and available upon request.

For More Information or to Report a Problem

If you have questions and would like additional information, you may contact Aspen's President, who also serves as our Privacy Officer. His name is Bradley C. Geddes and his telephone number is (970) 947-5201.

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may make or file a complaint by contacting our Privacy Officer at the above telephone number or the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. No individual will be retaliated against for making or filing a complaint.