NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES

This notice describes how your health information may be used and disclosed to obtain access to this information. The privacy of your health information is important to us. Please review carefully.

OUR LEGAL DUTY

We are required by law to maintain the privacy of your health information. We are also required to provide you this Notice about our privacy practices, our legal duties, and your rights concerning your health information. We must follow the privacy practices that are described in this Notice.

We may change our privacy practices and the terms of this Notice at any time, provided such changes are permitted by applicable law. We may make the changes in our privacy practices and the new terms of our Notice effective for all health information that we maintain, including health information we created or received before we made the changes. A copy of our Notice is available in our office.

You may request a copy of this Notice at any time. For more information about our privacy practices, or for additional copies of this Notice, please contact the Compliance Officer whose contact information is provided at the end of this Notice.

USES AND DISCLOSURES OF HEALTH INFORMATION

We may use and disclose health information about you for treatment, payment, and health care operations. For example:

Treatment: We may use or disclose your health information to another dentist or health care provider providing treatment to you, or if we refer you to another health care provider.

Payment: We may use and disclose your health information to obtain payment for services we provide to you. We may need to share part of your health information with our billing department, your insurance company, collection agencies or attorneys assisting us with collections, and others who are responsible for your bills, such as your spouse, as necessary for us to collect payment. For example, we may give information about a dental procedure that you had to your dental insurance company so it will pay us or reimburse you for your dental procedure.

Health Care Operations: We may use and disclose your health information in connection with our health care operations. Health care operations include quality assessment and improvement activities, reviewing the competence or qualifications of health care professionals, evaluating practitioner and provider performance, conducting training programs, accreditation, certification, and licensing or credentialing activities.

To Your Family and Other Persons Involved in Your Care: We may share with a family member or other person identified by you, your health information that is directly related to that person's involvement in your care or payment for your care, or to notify such individuals of your location or general condition, but only if you agree that we may do so, or, based on our professional judgment, we determine that you would not object to the disclosure. We will also use our professional judgment and our experience in allowing a person to pick up supplies, x-rays, or other similar forms of health information on your behalf.

Use and Disclosure of Health Information Required by Law: We may use and disclose your health information when required by federal or state law; when required in court or administrative proceedings; to health oversight agencies; to the military; to federal officials for lawful intelligence and national security activities; to correctional institutions regarding inmates; to law enforcement officials; to report abuse, neglect, or domestic violence; to avert a serious threat to your health or safety or the health and safety of others; to medical examiners and coroners offices when an individual has passed away; and as authorized by state workers’ compensation laws.

Marketing Health-Related Services: We will not use your health information for marketing communications without your written authorization.

Contacting You: We may use and disclose your health information to contact you about appointments and other matters, and to send you electronic billing statements. We may contact you by telephone, email, text message, or mail. We may leave you voicemail messages or text messages at the telephone number you give us. If you wish to opt-out of any of the above-listed communication methods, you must so state using the forms provided you.

Health-Related Services: We may use and disclose your health information to send you information by mail or email about our health-related products and services available to you, general dental health news and information, and offers available only to our patients. We will tell you how to cancel these communications.

Your Authorization: As explained in this Notice, we may use and disclose your health information for treatment, payment, or health care operations; in certain situations, if you agree or object; as required by law; to contact you, and to send your health-related information, but we cannot use or disclose your health information for any other reason without your written authorization. You may give us written authorization to use your health information or to disclose it to anyone for any purpose. If you give us authorization, you may revoke it in writing at any time. Your revocation will not affect any uses or disclosures already made with your authorization while it was in effect.

PATIENT RIGHTS

Right to See and Copy Your Health Information: You have the right to see or get copies of your health information, with limited exceptions. If we deny your request due to one of these exceptions, we will respond to you in writing with the reason we cannot grant your request and describe any rights you may have to request a review of our denial. You must make a written request to us to access your health information. Your written request must be signed and dated. We may charge you a fee for expenses such as copies, staff time, and postage. Instead of providing you with a copy of your health information, we may prepare a summary or an explanation of your health information for a fee, if you agree in advance to the form and fee of the summary or explanation. With the use of our Diamond Braces app, you will have access to your records.

Right to Accounting of Disclosures of Your Health Information: You have the right to receive a list of instances in which we or our business associates disclosed your health information for purposes other than treatment, payment, health care operations, and certain other activities for the last six years. If you request this accounting more than once in a 12-month period, we may charge you a fee for responding to these additional requests. You must submit a written request that is signed and dated. Your request must be submitted to the Compliance Officer.

Right to Request Restriction: You have the right to request that we place additional restrictions on our use or disclosure of your health information, including uses or disclosures for treatment, payment, and health care operations, and to family members, or others involved in your care or payment for your care. You must submit a written request that is signed and dated to the Compliance Officer. We are not required to agree to these additional restrictions, but if we do we will abide by our agreement (except in certain situations, such as to provide you with emergency treatment).

Right to Request Alternative Communication: You have the right to request that we communicate with you about your health information by alternative means or at alternative locations. For example, you can ask that we only contact you at work, or only by mail. You must make your request in writing and your request must be signed and dated. Your request must specify the ways in which you wish to be contacted. You do not need to tell us the reason for your request. Your request must be submitted to the Compliance Officer.

Right to Request Amendment: You have the right to request that we amend your health information. You must submit a written request that is signed and dated. Your request must explain why your health information should be amended. Your request must be submitted to the Compliance Officer. If we deny your request, we will respond to you in writing with the reason we cannot grant your request and explain your options.

Right to Written Notice: If you receive this Notice on our website or by email, you are entitled to receive this Notice in written form.

OUR RESPONSIBILITIES

We are required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information. We will let you know promptly if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your information. We must follow the duties and privacy practices described in this notice and give you a copy of it. We will not use or share your information other than as described here unless you tell us we can in writing. If you tell us we can, you may change your mind at any time. Let us know in writing if you change your mind.

For more information, visit www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/ understanding/consumers/noticepp.html.

QUESTIONS AND COMPLAINTS

If you want more information about our privacy practices or have questions or concerns, please contact us.

If you are concerned that we may have violated your privacy rights, you may complain to us using the contact information listed at the end of this Notice. We support your right to the privacy of your health information. We will not retaliate in any way if you choose to file a complaint with us or another entity.

You can file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights if you feel we have violated your rights. To do so, visit www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints/

COMPLIANCE OFFICER

Should you wish to contact the Compliance Officer, you may do so at the telephone number below.

888-209-1226