HIPAA Privacy Policy

At Northside Family Dentistry, safeguarding your health information is a responsibility we take seriously. In accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), we are required to maintain the privacy of your protected health information (PHI) and to provide you with this notice of our legal duties and privacy practices.

How We Use and Disclose Your Health Information

We may use and disclose your protected health information for the following purposes:

• Treatment: We may use your health information to provide, coordinate, or manage your dental care. This includes sharing information with other healthcare providers involved in your treatment when necessary.
• Payment: We may use and disclose your health information to bill and collect payment for the services we provide. This may include sharing information with your insurance company or other payers.
• Healthcare operations: We may use your health information for our internal operations, including quality assessments, staff training, and administrative functions necessary to run our practice.

Your Rights Regarding Your Health Information

You have the following rights with respect to your protected health information:

• Right to access: You have the right to inspect and obtain a copy of your health records.
• Right to amend: You may request that we correct or update your health information if you believe it is inaccurate or incomplete.
• Right to an accounting of disclosures: You may request a list of instances in which we have disclosed your health information for purposes other than treatment, payment, or healthcare operations.
• Right to request restrictions: You may ask us to limit how we use or share your health information, though we are not always required to agree to your request.
• Right to confidential communications: You may request that we communicate with you about your health information in a specific way or at a specific location.
• Right to a copy of this notice: You have the right to receive a paper copy of this notice at any time.

Our Responsibilities

Northside Family Dentistry is required by law to:

• Maintain the privacy of your protected health information
• Provide you with this notice of our privacy practices
• Abide by the terms of the notice currently in effect
• Notify you in the event of a breach of your unsecured protected health information

Uses and Disclosures Requiring Your Authorization

For uses and disclosures beyond treatment, payment, and healthcare operations, we will request your written authorization. You have the right to revoke that authorization at any time, in writing, except to the extent that we have already acted in reliance upon it.

Other Permitted Disclosures

In certain circumstances, we may be required or permitted to disclose your health information without your authorization, including:

• When required by federal, state, or local law
• For public health activities
• To report abuse, neglect, or domestic violence
• For law enforcement purposes
• In response to a court order or subpoena

Changes to This Notice

We reserve the right to change our privacy practices and the terms of this notice at any time. Any changes will apply to health information we already have on file as well as new information we receive. If we make a significant change to our privacy practices, we will update this notice and make the revised version available in our office and on our website.

Complaints

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with Northside Family Dentistry directly or 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 Us

For questions about this notice or to exercise any of your rights, please contact our office. We are happy to assist you and ensure your health information is handled with the care and respect it deserves.