Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-0326 Andres Medical Billing FIRST AMENDMENT AGREEMENT THIS FIRST AMENDMENT AGREEMENT is hereby made and entered into this2(4 day of Maj-C1,-, , 2003 , by and between the CITY OF ELGIN, Illinois, a municipal corporation (hereinafter referred to as the "City" ) , and ANDRES MEDICAL BILLING, LTD. , a Cr--pora_A:( oiTh , (hereinafter referred to as "Andres" ) . WHEREAS, the parties hereto have previously entered into an agreement dated January 1 , 2002 by which the City has retained the services of Andres to provide billing and collection services (hereinafter referred to as "Original Agreement" ) ; and WHEREAS, the parties hereto have each determined it to be in their best interests to amend the Original Agreement to provide for a First Amendment Agreement to provide for compliance with applicable law. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants contained herein, the sufficiency of which is hereby mutually acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree to amend the Original Agreement as follows : 1 . Andres shall carry out its obligations under this First Amendment Agreement and Original Agreement in compliance with the privacy regulations pursuant to Public Law 104-191 of August 21, 1996 , known as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, Subtitle F - Administrative Simplification, Sections 261, et seq. , as amended ( "HIPAA" ) , to protect the privacy of any personally identifiable protected health information ( "PHI" ) that is collected, processed or learned as a result of the Billing Services provided hereunder . In conformity therewith, Andres shall : a. Not use or further disclose PHI except as permitted under this First Amendment Agreement or as required by law; b. Use appropriate safeguards to prevent use or disclosure of PHI except as permitted by this First Amendment Agreement ; c . Report to the City any use or disclosure of PHI not provided for by this First Amendment Agreement of which Andres becomes aware; d. Ensure that any agents or subcontractors to whom Andres provides PHI , or who have access to PHI , agree to the same restrictions and conditions that apply to Andres with respect to such PHI ; e . Make PHI available to the City and to any individual who has a right of access as required under HIPAA; f . Incorporate any amendments to PHI when notified to do so by the City; g. Provide an accounting of all uses or disclosures of PHI made by Andres as required under the HIPAA privacy rule; h. Make its internal practices, books and records relating to the use and disclosure of PHI available to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services for purposes of determining Andres' and City' s compliance with HIPAA; and i . At the termination of this First Amendment Agreement, return or destroy all PHI received from, or created or received by Andres on behalf of the City. 2 . The specific uses and disclosures of PHI that may be made by Andres on behalf of the City include : a. The preparation of invoices to patients, carriers, insurers and others responsible for payment or reimbursement of the services provided by the City to its patients; b. Preparation of reminder notices and documents pertaining to collections of overdue accounts; c . The submission of supporting documentation to carriers, insurers and other payers to substantiate the health care services provided by the City to its patients or to appeal denials of payment for same; d. Other uses or disclosures of PHI as permitted by the HIPAA privacy rule . 3 . Notwithstanding any other provisions of this First Amendment Agreement or Original Agreement, this First Amendment Agreement and Original Agreement may be immediately terminated by the City, in its sole discretion, if the City determines that Andres has violated a term or provision of this First Amendment Agreement pertaining to the City' s obligations under the HIPAA privacy rule, or if Andres engages in conduct which, if committed -2- by the City, would result in a violation of the HIPAA privacy rule by the City. CITY OF ELGIN, a municipal ANDRES MEDICAL BILLING, LTD. , corporation a Cl_or.DnrcLA-2( By .4 Byif City Manage e A .40,1 ofi`c e Attest : e_co City Clerk F:\Legal Dept\Agreement\Andres Medical Billing.doc 3/12/03 -3-