Privacy Policy

Effective Date: November 1, 2014

Peterson Center on Healthcare (the “Center”) and KFF are strongly committed to protecting the privacy of visitors to the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker (“website”). This Privacy Policy seeks to help you understand (i) how we collect and use your information; (ii) how we share and protect your information; (iii) your choices regarding our use of such information; and (iv) your ability to access and correct your information.

This Privacy Policy applies when you visit this website or share your personally identifiable information with us, as discussed below. By using this website, you accept this Privacy Policy, which may be updated by us at any time. If you do not agree to this Privacy Policy for any reason, please do not use this website or share your personally identifiable information with us as discussed below. Please note that this Privacy Policy applies only to the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker website, and not to any other website linked to ours. We do not control the privacy policies or practices of others. We encourage you to ask questions and read the privacy policies of other websites before you disclose any personal information to them.
If you have any questions or comments about this Privacy Policy, please use our contact form, available at http://www.healthsystemtracker.org/contact-us/.

How We Collect and Use Your Information

General

We collect personally identifiable information and non-personally identifiable information from you in a number of ways. “Personally identifiable information” is information that personally identifies you, such as your name, telephone number, postal address and e-mail address (or other information that is associated by us with such above information), and non-personally identifiable information is information that does not personally identify you, including anonymous information and aggregate data.

We use this information to understand better how visitors use our website, research our visitors’ demographics, interests, and behavior, improve our promotional and outreach efforts, and for other similar purposes. In addition, we may also use your personally identifiable information to contact you, through e-mail, postal mail, phone calls, text messaging, and other means, and send you information regarding the Center, KFF, and our partners, when you request such information through our contact form.

You may choose to opt-out of receiving information from us at any point.

Website Visits

We and our authorized designees collect information through the servers for this website, cookies and other technologies. In general, we automatically gather certain information about our website visitors. This information includes the number and frequency of your visits, the URL of the last and next website you visit, your browser and operating system, your IP address, how long you spend on our website and what pages you view here.

We use cookies to enhance the efficiency of user interaction with the website, gain insight into our website, and help maintain our website’s proper operation. “Cookies” are small files placed on the hard drive of your computer; each website can send its own cookie to your browser if your browser preferences allow it. You can configure your browser to accept all cookies, reject all cookies, or notify you when a cookie is set. (Each browser is different, so check the “Help” menu of your browser to learn how to change your cookie preferences.) You are always free to decline our cookies if your browser permits, although that may prevent you from using certain features on our website. In addition, a number of companies offer utilities designed to help you visit websites anonymously.

We use cookies to track usage on our website. We use “session cookies” to help us “remember” you until the session times out, or the closing of your browser. Session cookies are automatically deleted from your hard drive after the end of a session. We may also use a “persistent cookie” which “remembers” you every time you come back to our website, but only if you choose this option. The information collected through cookies and other technologies is not personally identifiable in and of itself.

We use Google Analytics, a service that uses cookies and tracking code to analyze how visitors use our website. The information collected (including your browser and operating system, IP address, pages visited on our website and time spent here) is transmitted to and stored by Google. Google uses this information to evaluate visitors’ use of this website in an aggregate manner, compile reports on website activity and provide other related services. Google may transfer this information to third parties that process information on its behalf or as required by law. You can read Google’s privacy policy at http://www.google.com/intl/en/privacy.html.

We will not allow other third parties to place any cookies, web beacons or other similar devices on our website. We do not control such devices that may be placed on our website by third parties. We are not responsible for any other websites accessible from or linked to this website, including their privacy policies or information collection practices.

Other Communications: You may choose to contact the Center and KFF by using our contact form (available at http://www.healthsystemtracker.org/contact-us/) or otherwise, with other inquiries or to provide comments. Any personally identifiable information you provide in connection with such inquiries or comments will be collected and used for the purpose of processing and responding to your inquiries or comments.

How We Share Your Information

We may share non-personally identifiable information we collect for a variety of purposes. For instance, we may disclose aggregate, non-personally identifiable information about our website visitors and registered users to organizations or individuals that have provided us with funding or with which we have other relationships, for informational purposes.

We may use the services of other companies and individuals to facilitate our services and perform functions on our behalf, such as providing technical and hosting functions for our websites, managing our databases, sending postal mail, e-mail, and text messages, analyzing data, and providing customer service. These companies and individuals may have access to and use your personally identifiable information we collect as needed to perform their functions, but will not otherwise disclose such information to other third parties, except as may be required by law. You can read the privacy policy of our content management system, WordPress.org, at https://wordpress.org/about/privacy/.

If the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker merges with another entity, the Center and/or KFF have the right to share your personally identifiable information with that entity. e will request that the new entity follow the practices disclosed in this Privacy Policy.

We will not otherwise share your information, except as required by law, requested by governmental entity or law enforcement authority, subpoena, court order or discovery request, or when we otherwise believe in good faith that such disclosure is necessary or appropriate in connection with any activity that violates the law (including relating to intellectual property, fraud, contracts and privacy) or may expose us to liability. We can (and you authorize us to) disclose any of your information in such circumstances.

How We Protect Your Information

The security of your information is important to us. We employ several different technical, administrative and physical security measures to protect your personally identifiable information from unauthorized access or use. You can also read the statements regarding security in the privacy policy of our content management system, WordPress.org, at https://wordpress.org/about/privacy/.

You should be aware, however, that “perfect security” does not exist on the Internet, and there is always the risk that unauthorized persons may access or use your information. You use our website and send us such information at your own risk.

Accessing, Correcting and Making Choices About Your Information

We wish to maintain your information accurately, and to allow you to make choices about how we use it.
You can contact us using our contact form, available at http://www.healthsystemtracker.org/contact-us/, to notify us of any errors or changes, or to indicate whether you wish to opt out of receiving certain communications from us.

Please be advised that such opt-outs will not apply to our use of your personally identifiable information for other purposes, such as responding to your subsequent requests for information.

If you have any other questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us using our contact form, above.

Our Policy Towards Children

We are concerned about the safety and privacy of children who use the Internet. Our website is not designed for or directed to children under the age of 13. Consistent with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (“COPPA”), we will never knowingly request personally identifiable information from anyone under 13 without prior verifiable parental consent. If we become aware that a child under 13 has somehow provided us with personally identifiable information without verifiable parental consent, we will use our best efforts to remove such information from our files. If you believe that your child has provided us with such information without your consent, please use our contact form, available at http://www.healthsystemtracker.org/contact-us/.

Privacy Policy Changes

We may revise or supplement this policy from time to time. If we make any substantial changes to this Privacy Policy, we will notify you by posting a prominent announcement on our website.

International Use

We make no claim that our website is appropriate or lawful for use or access outside the United States. Furthermore, our databases are located in the United States. If you access this website from outside the United States, you do so at your own risk. You are solely responsible for complying with all local laws, rules and regulations regarding online conduct and website access. By sending us your data, you consent to its transfer to and storage within the United States.

Governing Law/Forum

This Privacy Policy is governed by New York law. If we have a dispute regarding this policy or your use of this website, you agree that it shall be resolved solely in the state or federal courts located in the borough of Manhattan, New York City.

© November 1, 2014, Peterson Center on Healthcare and Kaiser Family Foundation

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