Notice of Privacy Practices.

You may ask to see or receive an electronic or paper copy of your medical record and other health information we maintain about you. We will provide a copy or summary, usually within 30 days after receiving a request that meets applicable requirements. We may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee when permitted by law.

You may ask us to correct health information you believe is incorrect or incomplete. We may deny a request when the law permits us to do so. If we deny it, we will explain the reason in writing, usually within 60 days, and describe any applicable next steps.

You may ask us to contact you in a specific way or to send communications to a different address. We will accommodate reasonable requests as required by law.

You may ask us not to use or disclose certain information for treatment, payment, or health care operations. We are generally not required to agree. If you pay for a health care item or service out of pocket in full, you may ask us not to disclose information about that item or service to your health plan for payment or health care operations. We will agree when the legal requirements are met unless another law requires disclosure.

You may ask for a list of certain disclosures made during the six years before your request. The accounting will not include every disclosure, including certain disclosures for treatment, payment, health care operations, or disclosures you authorized. We will provide one accounting in a 12-month period without charge and may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee for another during that period after notifying you.

You may request a paper copy at any time, even if you agreed to receive the notice electronically. We will provide it promptly.

A person with legal authority to act for you may exercise your rights and make choices about your health information. We will verify that authority before acting.

You may complain if you believe your privacy rights were violated by contacting our Privacy Official. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights, by writing to 200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20201; calling 1-877-696-6775; or following the current instructions on the HHS website.

We may use your health information and disclose it to professionals who are treating you or helping coordinate your care. For example, a clinician may review your health history, laboratory information, medications, and response to treatment to evaluate or coordinate your care.

We may use and disclose health information to operate our practice, improve care, train staff, conduct compliance activities, evaluate performance, manage services, and contact you when necessary.

We may use and disclose health information to bill and receive payment from you, a health plan, or another responsible party when applicable.

When legal requirements are met, we may disclose information for public health or safety activities; report adverse reactions, suspected abuse, neglect, or domestic violence; support product recalls; respond to a serious threat; cooperate with health oversight; or comply with state or federal law.

We may use or disclose health information for research only when the law permits it and all required authorizations, waivers, reviews, or safeguards are in place.

We may disclose information to organ procurement organizations or similar entities to facilitate donation and transplantation, and to coroners, medical examiners, or funeral directors when permitted or required by law.

We may use or disclose information as authorized or required for workers’ compensation; certain law-enforcement or government purposes; health oversight; or in response to a valid court or administrative order, subpoena, discovery request, or other lawful process when applicable conditions are satisfied.

Federal law may prohibit uses or disclosures of protected health information for certain investigations or proceedings concerning lawful reproductive health care or to identify a person for those purposes. For certain requests that may involve reproductive health care, federal law may require a signed attestation that the requested use or disclosure is not for a prohibited purpose.

To the extent that we maintain or receive substance use disorder patient records subject to 42 C.F.R. Part 2, we will not use or disclose those records, or testimony describing those records, in a civil, criminal, administrative, or legislative investigation or proceeding against you unless based on your written consent or on a court order accompanied by the process required by law.

When another applicable law provides greater privacy protection or more strictly limits a use or disclosure, we will follow that law. Health information disclosed under HIPAA may be redisclosed by a recipient and may no longer be protected by the HIPAA Privacy Rule, although other federal or state laws may continue to protect particular information.