HIPAA NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES

Effective Date: April 14, 2003
Revised Date: June 18, 2026

 

Center for Brain and Spine

 

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN ACCESS THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.

 

If you have questions about this Notice or would like additional information, please contact our Privacy Officer.

 

OUR COMMITMENT TO YOUR PRIVACY

 

Center for Brain and Spine is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of your protected health information ("PHI"). We create and maintain records regarding the healthcare services we provide to you. These records are used to provide quality care, obtain payment for services rendered, and comply with legal and regulatory requirements.

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Federal and state laws require us to maintain the privacy of your PHI, provide you with this Notice of our legal duties and privacy practices, and notify you following a breach of unsecured PHI when required by law.

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HOW WE MAY USE AND DISCLOSE YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION

 

Treatment

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We may use and disclose your PHI to provide, coordinate, or manage your healthcare and related services. For example, we may share information with physicians, specialists, hospitals, laboratories, imaging centers, pharmacies, therapists, or other healthcare providers involved in your care.

We may also use your PHI to contact you regarding treatment alternatives, follow-up care, appointment scheduling, and other health-related services.

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Payment

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We may use and disclose your PHI to obtain payment for healthcare services provided to you. This may include submitting claims to insurance companies, Medicare, Medicaid, workers' compensation programs, or other third-party payers.

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Health Care Operations

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We may use and disclose your PHI for healthcare operations necessary to run our practice. Examples include:

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• Quality assessment and improvement activities
• Staff training and education
• Licensing and accreditation activities
• Business planning and administration
• Audits and compliance reviews
• Customer service and patient support

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Appointment Reminders and Communications

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We may contact you by phone, voicemail, text message, email, mail, or patient portal regarding appointments, treatment information, billing matters, or other healthcare-related communications.

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Individuals Involved in Your Care

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Unless you object, we may disclose relevant information to a family member, friend, caregiver, or other person involved in your care or payment for your care when appropriate.

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USES AND DISCLOSURES REQUIRED OR PERMITTED BY LAW

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Public Health Activities

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We may disclose your PHI for public health activities, including:

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• Preventing or controlling disease, injury, or disability
• Reporting births and deaths
• Reporting adverse reactions to medications or medical devices
• Reporting suspected abuse, neglect, or domestic violence when required by law

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Health Oversight Activities

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We may disclose PHI to government agencies authorized to oversee healthcare systems, government programs, licensing activities, investigations, inspections, audits, and regulatory compliance.

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Judicial and Administrative Proceedings

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We may disclose PHI in response to a court order, subpoena, discovery request, or other lawful process as permitted or required by law.

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Law Enforcement

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We may disclose PHI to law enforcement officials when required by law or in response to valid legal processes, including court orders, warrants, subpoenas, or similar legal requests.

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Serious Threat to Health or Safety

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We may use or disclose PHI when necessary to prevent or lessen a serious threat to the health or safety of an individual or the public.

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Workers' Compensation and Work-Related Injuries

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We may disclose PHI as authorized by workers' compensation laws or other programs providing benefits for work-related injuries or illnesses.

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Coroners, Medical Examiners, and Funeral Directors

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We may disclose PHI to coroners, medical examiners, and funeral directors as necessary to carry out their duties.

 

Military and Veterans

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If you are a member of the armed forces, we may disclose your PHI as required by military authorities. We may also disclose information to the Department of Veterans Affairs when authorized by law.

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National Security and Protective Services

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We may disclose PHI to authorized federal officials for intelligence, national security, and protective services activities authorized by law.

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Correctional Institutions

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If you are an inmate or under the custody of law enforcement, we may disclose PHI to correctional institutions or law enforcement officials as permitted by law.

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Research

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We may use or disclose PHI for research purposes only when authorized by you or when permitted by applicable laws and regulations governing research activities.

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Business Associates

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We may disclose PHI to business associates who perform services on our behalf. These business associates are required by law and contract to safeguard your PHI.

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YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION

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Right to Request Restrictions

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You have the right to request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures of your PHI. While we are not required to agree to every request, we will comply with restrictions required by law.

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If you pay for a service out-of-pocket in full, you may request that we not disclose information about that service to your health plan for payment or healthcare operations purposes, and we will comply unless disclosure is otherwise required by law.

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Right to Confidential Communications

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You have the right to request that we communicate with you in a certain way or at a certain location. We will accommodate reasonable requests.

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Right to Inspect and Obtain Copies

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You have the right to inspect and obtain copies of your medical and billing records, subject to limited exceptions allowed by law.

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You may request copies in paper or electronic format when available. Reasonable cost-based fees may apply as permitted by law.

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Right to Request Amendment

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If you believe information in your medical record is inaccurate or incomplete, you may request an amendment. We may deny your request under certain circumstances but will provide a written explanation if we do so.

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Right to an Accounting of Disclosures

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You have the right to request a list of certain disclosures we have made of your PHI, excluding disclosures made for treatment, payment, healthcare operations, and certain other exceptions permitted by law.

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Right to a Paper Copy of This Notice

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You have the right to obtain a paper copy of this Notice at any time, even if you previously agreed to receive it electronically.

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Right to Be Notified of a Breach

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You have the right to be notified if a breach of your unsecured PHI occurs and notification is required by law.

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OTHER USES AND DISCLOSURES

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Marketing

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We will obtain your written authorization before using or disclosing your PHI for marketing purposes when required by law.

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Sale of Protected Health Information

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Center for Brain and Spine will not sell your PHI without your written authorization except as otherwise permitted by law.

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Psychotherapy Notes

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We will obtain your written authorization for most uses and disclosures of psychotherapy notes, when applicable.

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Authorizations

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Any authorization you provide may be revoked at any time in writing, except to the extent we have already acted in reliance on that authorization.

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COMPLAINTS

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If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with our Privacy Officer. You will not be retaliated against for filing a complaint.

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You may also file a complaint with:

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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Office for Civil Rights

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CHANGES TO THIS NOTICE

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We reserve the right to change this Notice and make the revised Notice effective for all PHI we maintain. Any revised Notice will be posted in our office and on our website and will be available upon request.

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CONTACT INFORMATION

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Privacy Officer
Center for Brain and Spine

Phone: (941) 893-4669

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Please contact our Privacy Officer if you have questions regarding this Notice or your privacy rights.