HIPAA

Our Light Chiropractic is committed to protecting the privacy and security of your health information. This Notice of Privacy Practices describes how we may use and disclose your protected health information (“PHI”), your rights regarding that information, and our responsibilities under applicable federal and state privacy laws, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”).

Our Responsibilities

Our Light Chiropractic is required by law to:

• Maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information.

• Provide you with this Notice explaining our legal duties and privacy practices.

• Follow the terms of the Notice currently in effect.

• Notify you if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your protected health information.

We reserve the right to change our privacy practices and the terms of this Notice as permitted by law. Any revised Notice will apply to the health information we already maintain as well as information we receive in the future. The current version will be available in our office and on our website.

How We May Use and Disclose Your Health Information

Treatment

We may use and disclose your health information to provide, coordinate, and manage your healthcare. For example, we may share relevant information with another healthcare professional involved in your care.

Payment

We may use or disclose your health information as necessary to obtain payment for services provided to you. This may include submitting information to an insurance company or other third-party payer when applicable.

Healthcare Operations

We may use and disclose your health information for activities necessary to operate our practice. These activities may include quality assessment, staff training, business management, compliance activities, and other administrative functions.

Appointment Reminders and Communication

We may use your contact information to communicate with you regarding appointments, scheduling, treatment, follow-up care, or other healthcare-related matters.

When Required or Permitted by Law

We may use or disclose your health information without your written authorization when permitted or required by law. Examples may include:

• Public health and safety activities
• Reporting suspected abuse, neglect, or domestic violence when required by law
• Health oversight activities
• Judicial or administrative proceedings
• Certain law enforcement purposes
• Workers’ compensation matters
• Preventing or reducing a serious threat to health or safety
• Certain government functions
• Other disclosures required by federal or state law

When applicable, we will comply with any additional legal protections governing particularly sensitive health information.

Other Uses and Disclosures

Uses and disclosures of your protected health information that are not otherwise permitted by law or described in this Notice generally require your written authorization.

If you provide authorization, you may revoke that authorization in writing at any time, except to the extent that we have already taken action in reliance on it.

We will not sell your protected health information or use it for purposes requiring your authorization under HIPAA without obtaining the appropriate authorization.

Your Rights Regarding Your Health Information

You have certain rights regarding the health information we maintain about you.

Get a Copy of Your Health Records

You may request to inspect or obtain an electronic or paper copy of your health and billing records and other information we maintain about you, subject to certain legal limitations.

We may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee as permitted by law.

Ask Us to Correct Your Records

If you believe information in your record is incorrect or incomplete, you may request that we amend it.

We may deny your request in certain circumstances, but we will explain the reason for the denial in writing when required.

Request Confidential Communications

You may ask us to contact you in a specific way or at a specific location. For example, you may request that we contact you only at a particular phone number or email address.

We will accommodate reasonable requests as required by law.

Ask Us to Limit What We Use or Share

You may request restrictions on certain uses or disclosures of your health information.

We are not required to agree to every requested restriction. However, when you pay for a healthcare service or item in full out of pocket and request that we not disclose information about that service to your health plan for payment or healthcare operations, we will honor that request when required by law.

Receive an Accounting of Disclosures

You may request a list of certain disclosures of your protected health information made by our practice during the applicable period permitted by law.

This accounting does not include every type of disclosure, such as many disclosures made for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations.

Receive a Paper Copy of This Notice

You may request a paper copy of this Notice at any time, even if you have agreed to receive it electronically.

Choose Someone to Act for You

If you have given someone medical power of attorney or if someone is your legal guardian or otherwise authorized to act as your personal representative, that person may exercise your rights and make choices regarding your health information as permitted by law.

We may verify that the individual has appropriate authority before taking action.

Your Choices

For certain health information, you may tell us your preferences about what we share.

In situations involving family members, friends, or others involved in your care or payment for your care, we may ask for your permission or use professional judgment when permitted by law.

If you are unable to communicate your preference, such as during an emergency, we may share information when we determine that doing so is in your best interest and is permitted by law.

Substance Use Disorder Records

Certain records relating to substance use disorder treatment may receive additional protections under federal law, including 42 CFR Part 2. When these protections apply, such records will be used and disclosed only as permitted by applicable law.

Records protected under 42 CFR Part 2, or testimony describing information contained in those records, generally may not be used or disclosed in civil, criminal, administrative, or legislative proceedings against an individual unless permitted by applicable law or authorized by the individual as required by law.

Complaints

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with Our Light Chiropractic using the contact information below.

You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights.

We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

Contact Information

If you have questions about this Notice, would like to exercise one of your privacy rights, or wish to file a complaint with our office, please contact:

Our Light Chiropractic
Privacy Officer: Dr. Brittany Claus
14315 Inwood Rd. Suite 101
Dallas, TX 75244
(972)387-4700

Changes to This Notice

We may change the terms of this Notice as permitted by law. If we make a material change, the revised Notice will be made available in our office and posted on our website. The revised Notice will include its effective date.