Notice of Privacy Practices

This Notice of Privacy Practices (Notice) applies to Labcorp Holdings Inc. and all of its subsidiaries and business units (collectively referred to as "Labcorp" in this Notice), except to the extent that a subsidiary, division, or business unit of Labcorp performs occupational screening, forensic tests, paternity/identity tests, clinical trials tests or other services that do not involve standard electronic transactions for which the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has adopted standards.

Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), Labcorp is required by law to maintain the privacy of health information that identifies you, called protected health information (PHI), and to provide you with notice of our legal duties and privacy practices regarding PHI. Labcorp is committed to the protection of your PHI and will make reasonable efforts to maintain the confidentiality of your PHI, as required by statute and regulation. We take this commitment seriously and will work with you to comply with your right to receive certain information under HIPAA.

This Notice describes how PHI may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information. Please review it carefully.

For more information see: https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-individuals/notice-privacy-practices/index.html.

 

Your Rights

When it comes to your PHI, you have certain rights. This section explains your rights and some of Labcorp’s responsibilities.

You have the right to:

  • Receive an electronic or paper copy of your PHI
  • Ask to correct your PHI
  • Request confidential communications
  • Ask to limit the PHI Labcorp uses or discloses
  • Receive a list of certain disclosures of your PHI by Labcorp
  • Receive a copy of this privacy Notice
  • Choose someone to act on your behalf as it relates to your PHI
  • Notify Labcorp or file a complaint regarding Labcorp’s privacy practices

  • Your Rights

    Get an electronic or paper copy of your medical records

    You can ask to see or get an electronic or paper copy of the portions of your medical record and other PHI we have about you.

    With certain exceptions, we will provide a copy or a summary of your PHI, usually within 30 days of your request.  We may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee.

    You can request a copy of your PHI by:

    • Asking for a courtesy copy at Labcorp’s patient service center,
    • Opening a patient portal account to receive your laboratory reports electronically,
    • Completing Labcorp’s HIPAA Patient Request Form, or
    • Contacting Labcorp’s Privacy Officer.

    Ask Labcorp to correct your medical records

    You can ask Labcorp to correct PHI about you in Labcorp’s records that you think is incorrect or incomplete by making a written request to the Privacy Officer.

    We may say “no” to your request, but we’ll tell you why in writing within 60 days.

    Request confidential communications

    You can ask Labcorp to contact you in a specific way (for example, home or office phone) or to send mail to a different address.

    We will say “yes” to all reasonable requests.

    Ask Labcorp to limit the information we use or disclose

    You can ask Labcorp not to use or disclose certain PHI for treatment, payment, or Labcorp’s operations. We are not required to agree to your request, and we may say “no” under certain circumstances.

    If you pay for a service or health care item out-of-pocket in full, you can ask Labcorp not to disclose that information for the purpose of payment or Labcorp’s operations with your health insurer.  We will say “yes” unless a law requires Labcorp to disclose that information.

    Get a list of those with whom we’ve shared your information

    You can ask for a list (accounting) of the times we’ve shared your PHI for six years prior to the date you ask, who we shared it with, and why.

    We will include all the disclosures except for those about treatment, payment, and health care operations, and certain other disclosures (such as any you asked Labcorp to make).  We’ll provide one accounting a year for free but will charge a reasonable, cost-based fee if you ask for another one within 12 months.

    Get a copy of this privacy Notice

    You can ask for a paper copy of this Notice at any time, even if you have agreed to receive the Notice electronically. We will provide you with a paper copy promptly.

    Choose someone to act for you

    If you have given someone medical power of attorney or if someone is your legal guardian, that person can exercise your rights and make choices about your PHI.

    We will verify that the person has this authority and can act for you before we take any action.

    Let Labcorp know or file a complaint if you believe your privacy rights have been violated

    You can complain if you feel we have violated your rights by emailing [email protected], calling Labcorp at 877-234-4722 / (877-23-HIPAA) and asking for the Labcorp HIPAA Privacy Officer, or sending a written request to: HIPAA Privacy Officer, LabCorp, 531 South Spring Street, Burlington, NC 27215.

    You can file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights by sending a letter to 200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20201, calling 1-877-696-6775, or visiting www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints/.

    We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.


Your Choices

For certain PHI, you can tell Labcorp your choices about what we disclose. If you have a clear preference for how we disclose your information in the situations described below, talk to Labcorp. Tell Labcorp what you want Labcorp to do, and we will follow your instructions.

You have both the right and choice to tell Labcorp to disclose your PHI in the following ways:

  • With your family, close friends, or others involved in your care
  • In response to a disaster relief situation

If you are not able to tell Labcorp your preference, for example if you are unconscious, we may go ahead and disclose your information if we believe it is in your best interest. We may also disclose your information when needed to lessen a serious and imminent threat to health or safety.

Labcorp will request your written permission before disclosing your PHI for marketing purposes.

 

Labcorp's Uses and Disclosures

How do we typically use or disclose your PHI?

Labcorp uses or discloses PHI in the following ways:

  • For treatment purposes
  • For Labcorp’s health care operations
  • For billing and payment processing

How else can we use or disclose your PHI?

Labcorp may further use or disclose PHI, as permitted under HIPAA, in the following ways:

  • For public health and safety issues
  • For research
  • As required by law
  • To respond to organ and tissue donation requests
  • At the request of a medical examiner or funeral director
  • To respond to workers’ compensation, law enforcement, and other government requests
  • To respond to lawsuits and legal actions

Additional Safeguards and Protections

Labcorp has in place additional safeguards for your PHI consistent with federal and state laws, for example, relating to mental health, HIV/AIDS, and genetic testing. In addition, federally assisted alcohol and drug treatment programs are subject to additional and separate restrictions on the use and disclosure of alcohol and drug abuse treatment information. Where required, Labcorp will obtain your permission before disclosing PHI with additional safeguards to other health care providers who are not involved in your treatment program or care.

  • How do we typically use or disclose your PHI?

    We typically use or disclose your PHI in the following ways.

    Treat you

    We can use your PHI to treat you and disclose it with doctors, other health care professionals, and pharmacies who are treating you.

    Example: We provide your doctor with your laboratory results.

    Run Labcorp’s organization

    We can use and disclose your PHI to run Labcorp’s organization, improve your care, and contact you when necessary.

    Example: We use PHI about you to manage your treatment and services.

    Bill for your services

    We can use and disclose your PHI to bill and get payment from health plans or other entities.

    Example: We give information about you to your health insurance plan so it will pay for your services.

    How else can we use or disclose your PHI?

    We are allowed or required to disclose your information in other ways – usually in ways that contribute to the public good, such as public health and research. We have to meet many conditions in the law before we can disclose your information for these purposes. For more information see: https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-individuals/guidance-materials-for-consumers/index.html.

    Help with public health and safety issues

    We can disclose PHI about you for certain situations such as:

    • Preventing disease
    • Helping with product recalls
    • Reporting adverse reactions to medications
    • Reporting suspected abuse, neglect, or domestic violence
    • Preventing or reducing a serious threat to anyone’s health or safety

    Do research

    We can use or disclose your information for health research.

    Comply with the law

    We will disclose information about you if state or federal laws require it, including with the Department of Health and Human Services if it wants to see that we’re complying with federal privacy law.

    Respond to organ and tissue donation requests

    We can disclose PHI about you with organ procurement organizations.

    Work with a medical examiner or funeral director

    We can disclose PHI with a coroner, medical examiner, or funeral director when an individual dies.

    Address workers’ compensation, law enforcement, and other government requests

    We can use or disclose PHI about you:

    • For workers’ compensation claims
    • For law enforcement purposes or with a law enforcement official, provided Labcorp is able to confirm notice has been provided to you, as required under applicable laws, when a request from law enforcement is not accompanied by a non-disclosure or gag order
    • With health oversight agencies for activities authorized by law
    • For special government functions such as military, national security, and presidential protective services

    Respond to lawsuits and legal actions

    We can disclose PHI about you in response to a court or administrative order, or in response to a subpoena, provided Labcorp is able to confirm notice has been provided to you, as required under applicable laws, when a legal request is not accompanied by a non-disclosure or gag order. 

 

Labcorp's Responsibilities

  • Labcorp is required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your PHI.
  • Labcorp will let you know if a breach occurs that has compromised the privacy or security of your PHI.
  • Labcorp is required to comply with this Notice and make this Notice available to you.
  • Labcorp will not sell or license your PHI to third parties.
  • Labcorp will not use or disclose your PHI other than as described in this Notice unless you tell Labcorp we can in writing. If you tell Labcorp we can, you may change your mind at any time by contacting Labcorp in writing.

Changes to the Terms of this Notice

We can change the terms of this Notice, and the changes will apply to all PHI we have about you. The new Notice will be available upon request, in Labcorp’s office, and on Labcorp’s web site.

Effective Date of Notice: July 31, 2024

Privacy Officer:

[email protected]

(877)234-4722 / (877)-23-HIPAA

HIPAA Privacy Officer, Labcorp, 531 South Spring Street, Burlington, NC 27215