Notice of Privacy Practices

Our Commitment to Your Privacy

North Texas Surgical Arts is required by law to maintain the privacy of your protected health information (PHI), to provide you with this notice of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to PHI, and to follow the terms of the notice currently in effect. This notice applies to the medical and health information we create and maintain as part of providing your care, whether collected in person, by phone, or through this website.

How We May Use and Share Your Health Information

• For treatment. We may share your health information with other doctors, nurses, technicians, or medical staff involved in your care, and with the facilities listed on our Facilities & Affiliates page where your procedures are performed.
• For payment. We may use and share your health information to bill and collect payment from you, an insurer, or a financing partner such as Cherry or PatientFi for the treatment and services you receive.
• For health care operations. We may use and share your information to run our practice, improve your care, and contact you for appointment reminders, treatment alternatives, or other health-related benefits and services.
• With business associates. We may share your information with contractors who perform services on our behalf — such as scheduling, billing, hosting, and financing partners — under a written agreement that requires them to protect it.
• As required by law. We will share information about you if state or federal law requires it, including with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services if it wants to see that we are complying with federal privacy law.
• To avert a serious threat to health or safety. We may share health information about you when necessary to prevent a serious threat to your health and safety or the health and safety of the public or another person.
• For public health and safety, health oversight, and legal proceedings. We may share information for public health activities, with a health oversight agency for activities authorized by law, in response to a court or administrative order, or a subpoena, and with law enforcement or coroners/medical examiners as permitted or required by law.

We will not use or share your information for marketing purposes, sell your information, or share most psychotherapy notes without your written authorization.

Your Rights Regarding Your Health Information

• Get a copy of your health and billing records. You may ask to see or get a copy of your health and billing records and other health information we have about you. We will provide a copy or a summary of your health information, usually within 30 days of your request, and may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee.
• Ask us to correct your records. You may ask us to correct health and billing records you think are incorrect or incomplete. We may say “no” to your request, but we will tell you why in writing within 60 days.
• Request confidential communications. You may ask us to contact you in a specific way, such as a personal cell phone rather than a home phone, or to send mail to a different address, and we will agree to all reasonable requests.
• Ask us to limit what we use or share. You may ask us not to use or share certain health information for treatment, payment, or our operations. We are not required to agree, except that if you pay for a service out of pocket in full, you can ask us not to share that information with your health insurer, and we will agree unless required by law to disclose it.
• Get a list of those we’ve shared information with. You can ask for a list (accounting) of the times we’ve shared your health information for six years prior to the date you ask, who we shared it with, and why, excluding disclosures for treatment, payment, and health care operations.
• Get a copy of this privacy notice. You can ask for a paper copy of this notice at any time, even if you 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, that person can exercise your rights and make choices about your health information.
• File a complaint if you feel your rights are violated. You can file a complaint with us using the contact information below, or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights by sending a letter to 200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20201, calling 1-877-696-6775, or visiting www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

Our Responsibilities

• We are required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information.
• We will let you know promptly if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your information.
• We must follow the duties and privacy practices described in this notice and give you a copy of it.
• We will not use or share your information other than as described here unless you tell us we can in writing, and you may revoke that permission in writing at any time.

Changes to the Terms of This Notice

We can change the terms of this notice, and the changes will apply to all information we have about you. The new notice will be available upon request, in our office, and on this page, with a revised effective date at the top.

Contact Us

To exercise any of the rights above, or with questions about this Notice of Privacy Practices, contact North Texas Surgical Arts at info@northtexassurgicalarts.com, +1 (469) 887-1508, or 2091 Summer Lee Drive N101, Rockwall, Texas 75032.