Privacy Policy / HIPAA Compliance
Our Legal Responsibilities
We are required by law to provide you with this notice, which outlines how we may use and disclose your protected health information (PHI) and describes your rights and our obligations regarding that information. We are committed to maintaining the privacy of your PHI and providing you with notice of our legal duties and privacy practices.
We reserve the right to change this policy at any time. If we make any changes, you will be promptly notified, and the updated policy will apply to all of your current and past health information. This current policy is in effect unless otherwise stated. You may request a copy of this privacy notice at any time by contacting us at admin@flammingowellness.com.
How We May Use or Disclose Your Protected Health Information
Below are examples of how we may use or disclose your PHI. Please note that not every possible use or disclosure is listed.
Treatment
We may use or disclose your PHI to provide treatment. This includes sharing your information with other healthcare providers, medical staff, or office personnel involved in your care. For example, your provider may consult with another specialist about your condition, or office staff may share information with a pharmacy to fill a prescription.
Payment
We may use or disclose your PHI to facilitate payment for your care. This includes sharing your information with insurance companies for pre-authorization of medications or procedures and for reimbursement purposes.
Healthcare Operations
Your PHI may be used for the operation of our practice. This includes activities such as training staff, quality improvement, or reviewing cases with employees. We may also contact you by phone, email, or text for appointment reminders or other communication about your care.
If we need to share your PHI with third-party “business associates” (e.g., billing services), we will have a contract in place to protect your information.
Marketing
We may use your PHI for limited marketing activities, such as sending you thank you notes or information about products or services that may interest you. You may opt-out of receiving marketing materials at any time by contacting us.
Your Authorization and Rights
We will not use or disclose your PHI for any purpose not outlined in this policy without your written authorization. You may provide written authorization for us to use or disclose your PHI to anyone for any reason, and you may revoke this authorization at any time. Revoking your authorization will not affect any disclosures made while the authorization was in effect.
Appointment Reminders
We may contact you to remind you of appointments or lab work via text, phone, or email.
Involvement in Your Care
With your verbal agreement or opportunity to object, we may disclose your PHI to family members or friends involved in your care. For example, if your spouse is present during your consultation, we may disclose relevant information to them. In cases where you are unable to agree or object, we may make disclosures based on our professional judgment if necessary for your best interest.
Other Uses and Disclosures of Your Information
Research
We will not use or disclose your health information for research without your explicit authorization.
Organ Donation
If you are an organ donor, we may disclose PHI to organizations involved in organ, eye, or tissue transplantation as necessary to facilitate this process.
Public Health Risks
We may disclose PHI to public health authorities as needed to prevent or control disease, report adverse reactions to medications, or address other public health issues. For example, we may disclose information to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to report product defects or enable recalls.
Health Oversight Activities
We may disclose PHI to governmental oversight agencies for audits, inspections, and investigations, which may be necessary for healthcare system oversight or compliance with civil law.
Required by Law
We will disclose your PHI when required by federal, state, or local law.
Worker’s Compensation
We may disclose your PHI as required to comply with worker’s compensation laws or similar programs.
Legal Proceedings
We may disclose your PHI in response to a court order, subpoena, or legal proceeding as required by law.
Law Enforcement
We may disclose PHI to law enforcement in response to legal orders such as subpoenas, warrants, or when required by applicable law.
