Question 1

PRIVACY POLICY

Accepted Answer

This Privacy Policy explains how information is collected, used, and protected when visitors interact with this website or communicate with the practice through electronic means. By using this website, visitors agree to the terms outlined in this policy.
Information Collection and Use
Information submitted through this website, including contact forms, online scheduling tools, emails, or other electronic methods, may include personal details such as names, phone numbers, email addresses, and any other information voluntarily provided. In some cases, individuals may choose to share health-related information. The practice respects privacy and takes reasonable steps to protect submitted information, but standard website forms, email, and social media messaging are not guaranteed to be secure methods for transmitting sensitive personal health information. 
Healthcare Privacy and HIPAA Compliance
As a healthcare provider, the practice complies with applicable privacy regulations, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), when handling protected health information within secure systems. Communications initiated through this website or other general electronic methods should not be used to share confidential health details. Individuals are encouraged to contact the practice directly by phone or through a secure portal, if available, for matters involving personal health information.
Electronic Communication Consent
By submitting contact information through this website or other electronic channels, individuals consent to receive communications such as emails, phone calls, or text messages. These communications may include responses to inquiries, appointment confirmations, service updates, or occasional informational messages. Consent for electronic communication can be withdrawn at any time by notifying the practice.

Data Security
The website uses standard security measures, including encryption where applicable, to protect information submitted online. Despite these efforts, no method of transmission over the internet can be guaranteed as completely secure, and users should exercise discretion when sharing information electronically.

Cookies and Tracking Technologies
Cookies and similar technologies are used to enhance the website experience, analyze traffic, and understand user behavior. These technologies may collect non-personally identifiable information such as browser type, device information, and pages visited. Users can adjust their browser settings to manage or disable cookies if they prefer.

Third-Party Links and Social Media
The website may include links to third-party websites or social media platforms. The practice is not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these external sites. Individuals should avoid sharing personal or health-related information through social media direct messages, as these platforms are not secure for healthcare communication.

Question 2

TERMS OF USE

Accepted Answer

These Terms of Use govern your access to and use of this website ("Site"). By using this Site, you agree to these terms, conditions, and notices without modification. If you do not agree to these terms, please do not use the Site.

Modification of Terms
The terms, conditions, and notices provided here may be updated or modified at any time without prior notice. Continued use of the Site after such changes constitutes acceptance of those modifications.

Links to Third-Party Sites
This Site may contain links to other websites that are not under the control of this Site's owner. The inclusion of any such links is provided for convenience only and does not imply endorsement of the linked site or any association with its operators. The Site is not responsible for the content, changes, or updates of any linked websites, nor for any form of transmission received from them.

Prohibited Use
By using this Site, you agree not to engage in any unlawful or prohibited activities. You must not use this Site in a way that could damage, disable, overburden, or impair its functionality, or interfere with others' use of the Site. Attempts to gain unauthorized access to information, materials, or systems connected to the Site are strictly prohibited.

User-Submitted Content
This Site may offer opportunities to submit reviews, feedback, or participate in communication features such as forums, chat areas, or other interactive services ("Communication Services"). You agree to use these services responsibly and only for appropriate, relevant communications.
You must not submit content that includes personal or confidential information, offensive language, threats, discriminatory remarks, false representations, unrelated promotions, advertising, illegal content, or references to legal matters. Additionally, uploading files containing viruses, protected intellectual property (without permission), or engaging in activities such as chain letters, surveys, or harvesting user information is prohibited.

The Site owner reserves the right, but not the obligation, to monitor and remove content that violates these terms. Access to Communication Services may be terminated at any time without notice for misuse.

If you wish to remove content you have submitted, such as a review, you should contact the Site owner.

Liability Disclaimer
The information, software, products, and services available through this Site may include inaccuracies or typographical errors. Changes are periodically made to the information provided. The Site owner may make improvements or updates at any time.
Information on this Site should not be considered professional advice, whether medical, legal, financial, or otherwise. You should consult an appropriate professional for advice specific to your situation.
All content and services on this Site are provided "as is" without warranty of any kind. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Site owner disclaims all warranties, including implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement.
In no event shall the Site owner be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising out of or related to the use or inability to use this Site or its services, even if advised of the possibility of such damages. If you are dissatisfied with any part of this Site or these terms, your sole remedy is to stop using the Site.
Copyright and Trademarks
All content on this Site is protected by copyright laws. Trademarks, service marks, and logos displayed on this Site are the property of their respective owners. No content from this Site may be copied, reproduced, or distributed without prior written consent, except where permitted by law.

Messaging Summary
By opting into SMS messaging services offered through this Site or associated businesses, you agree to receive text messages regarding appointments, feedback requests, and important notifications. Message frequency will depend on your interactions and services used. Standard message and data rates may apply based on your mobile carrier.

Your privacy is important, and all personal information is handled in accordance with the Site’s Privacy Policy. You may opt out of messaging services at any time by following the instructions provided in the messages.

Question 3

ANTI-DISCRIMINATION DISCLAIMER

Accepted Answer

This office complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. This office does not exclude people or treat them differently because of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.

You can file a grievance in person or by mail, fax, or email. If you need help filing a grievance, our Doctor and staff are available to help you.

You can also file a civil rights compliant with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights, electronically through the Office for Civil Rights Complaint Portal, available at https://ocrportal.hhs.gov/ocr/portal/lobby.jsf,(https://ocrportal.hhs.gov/ocr/portal/lobby.jsf) or by mail or phone at:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 200 Independence Avenue, SW Room 509F, HHH Building Washington, D.C. 20201 1-800-368-1019, 800-537-7697 (TDD)

Complaint forms are available at http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/office/file/index.html(http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/office/file/index.html)

Question 4

HEALTHCARE DISCLAIMER

Accepted Answer

The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. The purpose of this website is to promote broad consumer understanding and knowledge of various health topics. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.

Question 5

NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES

Accepted Answer

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.

We understand the importance of privacy and are committed to maintaining the confidentiality of your medical information. We make a record of the medical care we provide and may receive such records from others. We use these records to provide or enable other health care providers to provide quality medical care, to obtain payment for services provided to you as allowed by your health plan and to enable us to meet our professional and legal obligations to operate this medical practice properly. We are required by law to maintain the privacy of protected health information, to provide individuals with notice of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to protected health information, and to notify affected individuals following a breach of unsecured protected health information. This notice describes how we may use and disclose your medical information. It also describes your rights and our legal obligations with respect to your medical information. If you have any questions about this Notice, please contact our Privacy Officer listed above.

A. How This Medical Practice May Use or Disclose Your Health Information
This medical practice collects health information about you and stores it in a chart and on a computer. This is your medical record. The medical record is the property of this medical practice, but the information in the medical record belongs to you. The law permits us to use or disclose your health information for the following purposes:
1. Treatment. We use medical information about you to provide your medical care. We disclose medical information to our employees and others who are involved in providing the care you need. For example, we may share your medical information with other physicians or other health care providers who will provide services that we do not provide. Or we may share this information with a pharmacist who needs it to dispense a prescription to you, or a laboratory that performs a test. We may also disclose medical information to members of your family or others who can help you when you are sick or injured, or after you die.
2. Payment. We use and disclose medical information about you to obtain payment for the services we provide. For example, we give your health plan the information it requires before it will pay us. We may also disclose information to other health care providers to assist them in obtaining payment for services they have provided to you.
3. Health Care Operations. We may use and disclose medical information about you to operate this medical practice. For example, we may use and disclose this information to review and improve the quality of care we provide, or the competence and qualifications of our professional staff. Or we may use and disclose this information to get your health plan to authorize services or referrals. We may also use and disclose this information as necessary for medical reviews, legal services and audits, including fraud and abuse detection and compliance programs and business planning and management. We may also share your medical information with our "business associates," such as our billing service, that perform administrative services for us. We have a written contract with each of these business associates that contains terms requiring them and their subcontractors to protect the confidentiality and security of your protected health information. We may also share your information with other health care providers, health care clearinghouses or health plans that have a relationship with you, when they request this information to help them with their quality assessment and improvement activities, their patient-safety activities, their population-based efforts to improve health or reduce health care costs, their protocol development, case management or care-coordination activities, their review of competence, qualifications and performance of health care professionals, their training programs, their accreditation, certification or licensing activities, or their health care fraud and abuse detection and compliance efforts. We may also share medical information about you with the other health care providers, health care clearinghouses and health plans that participate with us in "organized health care arrangements" (OHCAs) for any of the OHCAs' health care operations. OHCAs include hospitals, physician organizations, health plans, and other entities which collectively provide health care services. A listing of the OHCAs we participate in is available from the Privacy Official.
4. Appointment Reminders. We may use and disclose medical information to contact and remind you about appointments. If you are not home, we may leave this information on your answering machine or in a message left with the person answering the phone.
5. Sign In Sheet. We may use and disclose medical information about you by having you sign in when you arrive at our office. We may also call out your name when we are ready to see you.
6. Notification and Communication With Family. We may disclose your health information to notify or assist in notifying a family member, your personal representative or another person responsible for your care about your location, your general condition or, unless you had instructed us otherwise, in the event of your death. In the event of a disaster, we may disclose information to a relief organization so that they may coordinate these notification efforts. We may also disclose information to someone who is involved with your care or helps pay for your care. If you are able and available to agree or object, we will give you the opportunity to object prior to making these disclosures, although we may disclose this information in a disaster even over your objection if we believe it is necessary to respond to the emergency circumstances. If you are unable or unavailable to agree or object, our health professionals will use their best judgment in communication with your family and others.
7. Marketing. Provided we do not receive any payment for making these communications, we may contact you to give you information about products or services related to your treatment, case management or care coordination, or to direct or recommend other treatments, therapies, health care providers or settings of care that may be of interest to you. We may similarly describe products or services provided by this practice and tell you which health plans this practice participates in. We may also encourage you to maintain a healthy lifestyle and get recommended tests, participate in a disease management program, provide you with small gifts, tell you about government sponsored health programs or encourage you to purchase a product or service when we see you, for which we may be paid. Finally, we may receive compensation which covers our cost of reminding you to take and refill your medication, or otherwise communicate about a drug or biologic that is currently prescribed for you. We will not otherwise use or disclose your medical information for marketing purposes or accept any payment for other marketing communications without your prior written authorization. The authorization will disclose whether we receive any compensation for any marketing activity you authorize, and we will stop any future marketing activity to the extent you revoke that authorization.
8. Sale of Health Information. We will not sell your health information without your prior written authorization. The authorization will disclose that we will receive compensation for your health information if you authorize us to sell it, and we will stop any future sales of your information to the extent that you revoke that authorization.Required by Law. As required by law, we will use and disclose your health information, but we will limit our use or disclosure to the relevant requirements of the law. When the law requires us to report abuse, neglect or domestic violence, or respond to judicial or administrative proceedings, or to law enforcement officials, we will further comply with the requirement set forth below concerning those activities.
9. Public Health. We may, and are sometimes required by law, to disclose your health information to public health authorities for purposes related to: preventing or controlling disease, injury or disability; reporting child, elder or dependent adult abuse or neglect; reporting domestic violence; reporting to the Food and Drug Administration problems with products and reactions to medications; and reporting disease or infection exposure. When we report suspected elder or dependent adult abuse or domestic violence, we will inform you or your personal representative promptly unless in our best professional judgment, we believe the notification would place you at risk of serious harm or would require informing a personal representative we believe is responsible for the abuse or harm.
10. Health Oversight Activities. We may, and are sometimes required by law, to disclose your health information to health oversight agencies during the course of audits, investigations, inspections, licensure and other proceedings, subject to the limitations imposed by law.
11. Judicial and Administrative Proceedings. We may, and are sometimes required by law, to disclose your health information in the course of any administrative or judicial proceeding to the extent expressly authorized by a court or administrative order. We may also disclose information about you in response to a subpoena, discovery request or other lawful process if reasonable efforts have been made to notify you of the request and you have not objected, or if your objections have been resolved by a court or administrative order.
12. Law Enforcement. We may, and are sometimes required by law, to disclose your health information to a law enforcement official for purposes such as identifying or locating a suspect, fugitive, material witness or missing person, complying with a court order, warrant, grand jury subpoena and other law enforcement purposes.
13. Coroners. We may, and are often required by law, to disclose your health information to coroners in connection with their investigations of deaths.
14. Organ or Tissue Donation. We may disclose your health information to organizations involved in procuring, banking or transplanting organs and tissues.
15. Public Safety. We may, and are sometimes required by law, to disclose your health information to appropriate persons in order to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to the health or safety of a particular person or the general public.
16. Proof of Immunization. We will disclose proof of immunization to a school that is required to have it before admitting a student where you have agreed to the disclosure on behalf of yourself or your dependent.
17. Specialized Government Functions. We may disclose your health information for military or national security purposes or to correctional institutions or law enforcement officers that have you in their lawful custody.
18. Workers’ Compensation. We may disclose your health information as necessary to comply with workers’ compensation laws. For example, to the extent your care is covered by workers' compensation, we will make periodic reports to your employer about your condition. We are also required by law to report cases of occupational injury or occupational illness to the employer or workers' compensation insurer.
19. Change of Ownership. In the event that this medical practice is sold or merged with another organization, your health information/record will become the property of the new owner, although you will maintain the right to request that copies of your health information be transferred to another physician or medical group.
20. Breach Notification. In the case of a breach of unsecured protected health information, we will notify you as required by law. If you have provided us with a current e-mail address, we may use e-mail to communicate information related to the breach. In some circumstances our business associate may provide the notification. We may also provide notification by other methods as appropriate.

B. When This Medical Practice May Not Use or Disclose Your Health Information Except as described in this Notice of Privacy Practices, this medical practice will, consistent with its legal obligations, not use or disclose health information which identifies you without your written authorization. If you do authorize this medical practice to use or disclose your health information for another purpose, you may revoke your authorization in writing at any time.

C. Your Health Information Rights
1. Right to Request Special Privacy Protections. You have the right to request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures of your health information by a written request specifying what information you want to limit, and what limitations on our use or disclosure of that information you wish to have imposed. If you tell us not to disclose information to your commercial health plan concerning health care items or services for which you paid for in full out-of-pocket, we will abide by your request, unless we must disclose the information for treatment or legal reasons. We reserve the right to accept or reject any other request, and will notify you of our decision.
2. Right to Request Confidential Communications. You have the right to request that you receive your health information in a specific way or at a specific location. For example, you may ask that we send information to a particular e-mail account or to your work address. We will comply with all reasonable requests submitted in writing which specify how or where you wish to receive these communications.
3. Right to Inspect and Copy. You have the right to inspect and copy your health information, with limited exceptions. To access your medical information, you must submit a written request detailing what information you want access to, whether you want to inspect it or get a copy of it, and if you want a copy, your preferred form and format. We will provide copies in your requested form and format if it is readily producible, or we will provide you with an alternative format you find acceptable, or if we can’t agree and we maintain the record in an electronic format, your choice of a readable electronic or hardcopy format. We will also send a copy to any other person you designate in writing. We will charge a reasonable fee which covers our costs for labor, supplies, postage, and if requested and agreed to in advance, the cost of preparing an explanation or summary. We may deny your request under limited circumstances. If we deny your request to access your child's records or the records of an incapacitated adult you are representing because we believe allowing access would be reasonably likely to cause substantial harm to the patient, you will have a right to appeal our decision. If we deny your request to access your psychotherapy notes, you will have the right to have them transferred to another mental health professional.
4. Right to Amend or Supplement. You have a right to request that we amend your health information that you believe is incorrect or incomplete. You must make a request to amend in writing, and include the reasons you believe the information is inaccurate or incomplete. We are not required to change your health information, and will provide you with information about this medical practice's denial and how you can disagree with the denial. We may deny your request if we do not have the information, if we did not create the information (unless the person or entity that created the information is no longer available to make the amendment), if you would not be permitted to inspect or copy the information at issue, or if the information is accurate and complete as is. If we deny your request, you may submit a written statement of your disagreement with that decision, and we may, in turn, prepare a written rebuttal. All information related to any request to amend will be maintained and disclosed in conjunction with any subsequent disclosure of the disputed information.
5. Right to an Accounting of Disclosures. You have a right to receive an accounting of disclosures of your health information made by this medical practice, except that this medical practice does not have to account for the disclosures provided to you or pursuant to your written authorization, or as described in paragraphs 1 (treatment), 2 (payment), 3 (health care operations), 6 (notification and communication with family) and 18 (specialized government functions) of Section A of this Notice of Privacy Practices or disclosures for purposes of research or public health which exclude direct patient identifiers, or which are incident to a use or disclosure otherwise permitted or authorized by law, or the disclosures to a health oversight agency or law enforcement official to the extent this medical practice has received notice from that agency or official that providing this accounting would be reasonably likely to impede their activities.
6. Right to a Paper or Electronic Copy of this Notice. You have a right to notice of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to your health information, including a right to a paper copy of this Notice of Privacy Practices, even if you have previously requested its receipt by e-mail.

If you would like to have a more detailed explanation of these rights or if you would like to exercise one or more of these rights, contact our Privacy Officer listed at the top of this Notice of Privacy Practices.

D. Changes to this Notice of Privacy Practices We reserve the right to amend this Notice of Privacy Practices at any time in the future. Until such amendment is made, we are required by law to comply with the terms of this Notice currently in effect. After an amendment is made, the revised Notice of Privacy Protections will apply to all protected health information that we maintain, regardless of when it was created or received. We will keep a copy of the current notice posted in our reception area, and a copy will be available at each appointment. We will also post the current notice on our website.

E. Complaints
Complaints about this Notice of Privacy Practices or how this medical practice handles your health information should be directed to our Privacy Officer listed at the top of this Notice of Privacy Practices.
 If you are not satisfied with the manner in which this office handles a complaint, you may submit a formal complaint to: OCRMail@hhs.gov
(mailto:OCRMail@hhs.gov)
The complaint form may be found at www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints/hipcomplaint.pdf. You will not be penalized in any way for filing a complaint.

Question 6

GOOD FAITH ESTIMATE

Accepted Answer

You have the right to receive a "Good Faith Estimate" explaining how much your medical care will cost Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don't have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.
 • You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees.
 • Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your healthcare provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service.
 • If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.
 • Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate.
 
For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises.
(http://www.cms.gov/nosurprises)