HIPAA Privacy Practices
Last Updated: April 17th, 2025
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”) requires us to ask each patient to acknowledge receipt of our Notice of HIPAA Privacy Practices. This Notice is available on the FeMD Gynecology website and at the FeMD Gynecology clinic. You can obtain a copy of the Notice by requesting one at any FeMD Gynecology clinic or by printing it from our website at your convenience.
This Notice of HIPAA Privacy Practices (“Notice”) describes how your Protected Health Information (“PHI”) may be used and disclosed by FeMD Gynecology PLLC (FeMD Gynecology), and how you can access this information. Please review it carefully.
FeMD Gynecology PLLC designate themselves as a single Affiliated Covered Entity (“ACE”) for compliance with HIPAA. FeMD Gynecology along with their respective site, location, and care providers, will adhere to the terms outlined in this Notice. Additionally, FeMD Gynecology PLLC may share medical information with each other for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations related to the ACE. This designation may be updated periodically to include new covered entities that join the Affiliated Covered Entity under HIPAA.
1. Our Commitment to Safeguard Your Health Information
We are committed to protecting your medical information. The “HIPAA Privacy Rule” mandates that we provide a detailed written notice of our privacy practices. Your PHI is any information that identifies you and relates to your past, present, or future healthcare. By law, we must maintain the confidentiality of your PHI and provide this notice elaborating your rights as our patient, as well as how, when, and why we may use or disclose your PHI.
While we are legally obligated to follow the privacy practices described in this Notice, we may amend our policies at any time. Changes will apply to information we already have, as well as new information collected after the update. We will notify you of any changes by posting the revised Notice on our website, prominently indicating the date of the last update at the top of the Notice. Please review this Notice periodically to stay informed of our HIPAA privacy practices.
2. How We May Use and Disclose Your PHI
Treatment, payment, and healthcare operations: We will use or disclose your PHI for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations as outlined below. The examples provided are not exhaustive of every possible use or disclosure in these categories.
Treatment: We may use or disclose your PHI to facilitate, coordinate, or manage your healthcare and related services. This may involve consulting with other healthcare providers about your treatment or coordinating your care with others. For instance, we may use and disclose your PHI when you require a prescription, lab work, or other healthcare services, and we may share information with other healthcare providers involved in your care.
Payment: We may use and disclose your PHI for billing and collection processes related to the treatment and services provided to you. This includes sending bills to your insurance company or releasing certain medical information to assist in determining your treatment coverage.
Healthcare operations: We may also use and disclose your PHI for various business activities known as healthcare operations, which include accounting, management, quality assurance, utilization review, and internal auditing, such as evaluating the qualifications and performance of healthcare providers. If another healthcare provider or entity that must comply with the HIPAA Privacy Rule has a prior relationship with you, we may disclose your PHI for their healthcare operations.
Business associates: We may collaborate with individuals and entities (business associates) to perform functions on our behalf or provide specific services. These associates may handle, create, or disclose your PHI while performing their duties. We require them to comply with written agreements designed to safeguard your information.
Communication to you: We may use or disclose your PHI, including your email address or phone number, to contact you for follow-ups after discharge, appointment reminders, or to inform you about treatment options or health-related benefits that may interest you, via email, phone, or text message.
Your patient account: Certain PHI, such as care or treatment details, appointment history, and medication records, may be accessible to you through online tools, such as your FeMD Gynecology PLLC account (if applicable).
Communication to others: We may disclose your PHI to your relatives, close friends, or others identified by you if the PHI is related to their involvement in your care. In emergencies, if you are unable to agree or object, we may disclose necessary information based on our professional judgment.
Other disclosures authorized by HIPAA: We may also use or disclose your PHI in various circumstances as permitted by law, including:
Required by law: Disclosures mandated by federal, state, or local law.
Public health activities: Notifications to public health authorities for disease prevention or control, reporting abuse, and other related activities.
Legal proceedings: Compliance with court orders or legal processes.
Law enforcement: Disclosures to law enforcement officials under specific conditions.
Research: Your PHI may be used for research purposes with appropriate safeguards, and we may seek your written authorization when necessary.
3. Your Rights Regarding Your Protected Health Information
The HIPAA Privacy Rule grants you several rights concerning your PHI, including:
Right to request restrictions. You may request limitations on the PHI we use or disclose about you for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations.
Right to receive confidential communications. You can request that we contact you in a specific manner or location.
Right to inspect and copy. You have the right to inspect and receive copies of your PHI in our records.
Right to amend. You may request amendments to your medical information if you believe it is incorrect or incomplete.
Right to receive an accounting of disclosures. You can request a list of certain disclosures of your PHI made by us over a specified period.
Right to a paper copy of this notice. You are entitled to receive a paper copy of this notice at any time.
4. Complaints
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with us or the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. To file a complaint with our office, please contact our Privacy Officer. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.
5. Communication Platforms
We may use PHI to send appointment reminders and other communications related to your care and treatment or inform you about treatment alternatives or other health-related services that may interest you, via email, phone, or text message.
We may provide you access to certain PHI through secured online tools such as your FeMD Gynecology account (if applicable). If you choose to communicate with us through email, text, or chat, please understand that these methods may not be secure. If you prefer not to share PHI through these channels, you may notify us at info@femdgynecology.com.
Questions
If you have any questions or need additional information about this Notice, please contact our Privacy Officer.