HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices
HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices
Princess Center Dentistry
Your Information. Your Rights. Our Responsibilities.
At Princess Center Dentistry, we respect your privacy and understand the importance of protecting your health information. This Notice of Privacy Practices explains how we may use and disclose your protected health information (PHI), as well as the rights you have regarding that information.
This notice applies to information we maintain about you in connection with the dental care and services we provide at our practice serving patients in Scottsdale and the surrounding Phoenix, Arizona area. Please review this notice carefully so you understand how we protect your information and how you can exercise your privacy rights.
What Is Protected Health Information?
Protected health information, or PHI, is information that can identify you and relates to your health, dental care, or payment for healthcare. It can include your dental records, treatment history, and billing information.
We take reasonable steps to protect this information and use or disclose it only as permitted or required by applicable law.
Your Rights Regarding Your Health Information
You have certain rights regarding your protected health information. Depending on the circumstances and applicable law, you have the right to:
- Request a paper or electronic copy of your medical or dental record.
- Ask us to correct information that you believe is inaccurate or incomplete.
- Request confidential communications in a particular way or at a particular location.
- Ask us to limit certain uses or disclosures of your health information.
- Request an accounting of certain disclosures of your health information.
- Receive a paper copy of this Notice of Privacy Practices.
- Choose someone to act on your behalf when legally authorized.
- File a complaint if you believe your privacy rights have been violated.
Access Your Medical or Dental Records
You may request an electronic or paper copy of your health information that we maintain about you. You may also request a summary of your information when permitted by law.
To request access to your records, please contact our office and ask about the appropriate procedure. We generally will respond to an access request within the timeframe required by applicable law. Reasonable, cost-based fees may apply where permitted.
Request Corrections
If you believe information in your record is incorrect or incomplete, you may ask us to correct it. Your request should explain what information you believe is inaccurate or incomplete and why.
We may deny a request in certain circumstances permitted by law. If we deny your request, we will provide you with a written explanation and information about your available rights.
Request Confidential Communications
You may ask us to communicate with you about your health information in a specific manner or at a specific location. For example, you may request that we contact you at a particular telephone number or send correspondence to a different address.
We will consider reasonable requests and will follow applicable legal requirements regarding confidential communications.
Ask Us to Limit Certain Uses or Disclosures
You may request restrictions on how we use or disclose your health information for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations. We are not required to agree to every restriction request.
If you pay for a service or healthcare item completely out of pocket and request that we do not disclose information about that service to your health insurer for payment or healthcare operations, we generally will agree to the request unless disclosure is required by law.
Request an Accounting of Disclosures
You may request an accounting of certain disclosures of your protected health information made during the six years before your request, subject to applicable legal exceptions.
The accounting does not generally include disclosures made for treatment, payment, healthcare operations, or certain other purposes permitted by law. You may receive one accounting within a 12-month period without charge, while reasonable cost-based fees may apply to additional requests as permitted by law.
How We May Use and Disclose Your Health Information
We may use or disclose your health information in ways permitted by HIPAA and other applicable laws.
For Treatment
We may use your health information to provide, coordinate, or manage your dental care. We may also share appropriate information with other healthcare professionals involved in your treatment when permitted by law. For example, information may need to be shared with another healthcare professional when coordination of your care is necessary.
For Healthcare Operations
We may use and disclose health information as necessary to operate our dental practice, manage our services, improve the quality of care, and perform other healthcare operations permitted by law.
For Payment
We may use and disclose your health information to bill for dental services and obtain payment from insurance companies, health plans, or other entities responsible for payment.
When Required or Permitted by Law
We may disclose health information when required or permitted by federal, state, or local law. Depending on the circumstances, this may include disclosures related to public health activities, health oversight, law enforcement, workers’ compensation, legal proceedings, and certain government functions.
Public Health and Safety
We may disclose information when permitted by law to help address certain public health or safety matters, including reporting suspected abuse or neglect or preventing or reducing a serious threat to health or safety.
Legal Proceedings
We may disclose your health information when required or permitted in response to a court order, administrative order, subpoena, or other lawful process, when applicable legal requirements are satisfied.
Your Choices
In certain situations, you may have the right to tell us how you would like your health information shared.
For example, you may be able to ask us to share information with a family member, close friend, or another person involved in your care or payment for your care. If you are unable to communicate your preference, we may share appropriate information when we believe doing so is in your best interest or when necessary to address a serious and imminent threat to health or safety.
You may also have additional rights regarding certain uses and disclosures of your health information under applicable law.
Our Responsibilities
At Princess Center Dentistry, we are committed to protecting the privacy and security of your protected health information.
We are required by law to:
- Maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information.
- Provide you with this Notice of Privacy Practices describing our legal duties and privacy practices.
- Follow the privacy practices described in the current notice.
- Notify you as required by law if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your protected health information.
- Obtain your written authorization when required before using or disclosing your information for purposes not otherwise permitted by law.
If you provide written authorization for a use or disclosure that requires authorization, you generally have the right to revoke that authorization in writing, subject to actions already taken based on the authorization.
Questions or Privacy Complaints
If you have questions about this notice or believe your privacy rights have been violated, please contact Princess Center Dentistry. We will take your concerns seriously and will not retaliate against you for filing a privacy complaint.
You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights. Information about filing a HIPAA privacy complaint is available through the official HHS Office for Civil Rights website.
Changes to This Notice
We may change the terms of this Notice of Privacy Practices when permitted by law. Any changes will apply to the protected health information we maintain at the time of the change and as otherwise required by applicable law.
The most current version of this notice will be available from our office and may be posted on our website. You may request a paper copy at any time, even if you previously agreed to receive the notice electronically.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is HIPAA?
HIPAA is a federal law that establishes privacy and security protections for certain health information. It also gives patients specific rights regarding their protected health information.
Can we request a copy of our dental records?
Yes. You generally have the right to request a paper or electronic copy of your protected health information, subject to applicable legal requirements and permitted fees.
Can we ask Princess Center Dentistry to correct our records?
Yes. If you believe information in your dental record is inaccurate or incomplete, you may submit a request for an amendment. Certain legal limitations may apply.
Can we ask that our dental information be sent to a different address?
Yes. You may request confidential communications in a particular manner or at a particular location. We will consider reasonable requests in accordance with applicable law.
What should we do if we have a privacy concern?
If you have concerns about how your health information has been handled, contact Princess Center Dentistry. You also have the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights.
Contact Princess Center Dentistry
If you have questions about this notice, your health information, or your privacy rights, call our office and ask to be connected with the person responsible for privacy questions.