1. Introduction

Golden Valley Transit ("we," "our," or "us") provides non-emergency medical transportation services in Bakersfield and Kern County, California. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our transportation services.

2. Information We Collect

We may collect the following types of information:

• Personal Information: Name, address, phone number, email address, date of birth
• Health Information: Medical conditions relevant to transportation needs, mobility requirements, special assistance needs
• Insurance Information: Medi-Cal, Medicare, or private insurance details for billing purposes
• Transportation Details: Pickup and drop-off locations, appointment times, healthcare provider information
• Emergency Contact Information: Names and phone numbers of designated emergency contacts

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Provide safe and appropriate medical transportation services
• Coordinate with healthcare providers regarding your appointments
• Process insurance claims and billing
• Communicate with you about scheduled rides
• Ensure driver safety and passenger assistance requirements
• Comply with legal and regulatory requirements
• Improve our services and customer experience

4. HIPAA Compliance

As a provider of medical transportation services, we are committed to protecting your Protected Health Information (PHI) in accordance with HIPAA regulations:

• We limit access to PHI to authorized personnel only
• We use administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to protect your information
• We train all employees on HIPAA privacy and security requirements
• We maintain Business Associate Agreements with all partners who access PHI
• We never sell or share your health information for marketing purposes

5. Information Sharing and Disclosure

We may share your information with:

• Healthcare Providers: To coordinate your transportation to and from medical appointments
• Insurance Companies: For claims processing and payment
• Our Drivers: Limited information necessary to provide safe transportation
• Emergency Services: If there is a medical emergency during transport
• Legal Authorities: When required by law or to protect safety

6. Data Security

We implement appropriate security measures to protect your personal and health information:

• Encrypted data transmission and storage
• Secure access controls and authentication
• Regular security assessments and updates
• Employee background checks and training
• Physical security of records and devices

7. Your Rights

Under HIPAA and California law, you have the right to:

• Access: Request copies of your health information
• Amendment: Request corrections to inaccurate information
• Accounting: Request a list of disclosures of your health information
• Restriction: Request restrictions on certain uses of your information
• Confidential Communications: Request alternative communication methods
• Complaint: File a complaint if you believe your privacy rights have been violated

8. California Privacy Rights

California residents have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):

• Right to know what personal information is collected
• Right to know whether personal information is sold or disclosed
• Right to opt-out of the sale of personal information
• Right to request deletion of personal information
• Right to non-discrimination for exercising privacy rights

Note: We do not sell personal information to third parties.

9. Data Retention

We retain your information for as long as necessary to provide our services and comply with legal requirements. Medical transportation records are retained for a minimum of seven (7) years in accordance with California regulations.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the new policy on our website and updating the "Last Updated" date.

11. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your privacy rights, please contact us:

To file a HIPAA complaint, you may also contact the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights at www.hhs.gov/ocr.