Notice of Privacy Practices

This notice is effective as of January 1, 2023 and describes how your protected health information (PHI) may be used and disclosed. Please review this notice carefully – the privacy of your PHI is important to me. I reserve the right to update our Notice of Privacy Practice and to make the updated notice effective for all PHI that I maintain. I will post and you may request a written copy of the updated Notice of Privacy Practice from our office.
OUR LEGAL DUTY: I am required to give this notice about privacy practices, my legal duties, and your rights concerning your PHI. I must follow the privacy practices that are described in this notice while it is in effect. I am required by applicable federal and state laws to maintain the privacy of your protected health information. I will not use or disclose PHI about you without your written authorization – except as described in this notice. 
YOUR AUTHORIZATION: In addition, you may give me written authorization to use your PHI or to disclose it for any purpose. If you give me an authorization, you may revoke it in writing at any time (except when required by law). Your revocation will not affect any use or disclosure permitted by your authorization while it was in effect.
YOUR RIGHTS: You have the right to request restriction of PHI uses/disclosures, to reasonable requests to receive confidential communications by alternative means or at alternative locations, to inspect/copy/amend your PHI, to receive an accounting of disclosures, to obtain a paper copy of this notice upon request, to be advised if your unprotected PHI is disclosed.
When necessary, I may use and disclose PHI about you as follows: 
TREATMENT: I may use or disclose your PHI to a referring clinician for purposes of treatment planning and coordination, reporting compliance issues, and referral to another additional service provider. 
PAYMENT: I may use or disclose your PHI to obtain payment for services I provide to you. This may include such activities as verification of coverage, billing/collection, and related data processing. 
HEALTHCARE PROGRAM OPERATIONS: I may use or disclose your PHI in connection with the clinic’s healthcare program operations. This may include activities related to quality assessment/improvement, accreditation, certification, licensing/credentialing, business planning/analysis and customer service. To support these endeavors, I may also create and distribute de-identified health information only by removing all reference to individually identifiable information.
REQUIRED BY LAW: I may use or disclose your PHI when required to do so by law – including judicial and administrative proceedings, such as by court order or subpoena. 
ABUSE OR NEGLECT: I am required to disclose your PHI to appropriate authorities if I reasonably believe that you are in imminent danger to harm yourself or others. I am also required to disclose your PHI if I reasonably believe a child or elderly person is being abused or neglected.
PATIENT REMINDERS AND NOTICES: I may use or disclose your PHI to provide you with appointment reminders or program notices. I may contact you by phone, email, patient portal, in writing or by other means to provide appointment reminders, information about treatment termination or alternatives, and other health-related benefits and services that may be of interest to you. Such activities may include voicemail messages and letters with contact information you have provided.

QUESTIONS & COMPLAINTS: You have a right to formally complain in writing to our office and to HHS if you believe your privacy rights have been violated. If you have questions, contact Andia Turner MD for more information at (949) 328-6693, in person or in writing.