HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices

Miami Lakes Doctors LLC is committed to maintaining the privacy and security of your protected health information. This Notice of Privacy Practices describes how we may use and disclose your health information and outlines your rights regarding that information.

We are required by federal law to provide this notice and to maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and other applicable regulations.

This notice is effective for all protected health information we maintain, whether created or received by our practice. Please review this notice carefully and contact us if you have any questions.

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

• Treatment: To provide medical services to you and coordinate your care with other healthcare providers.
• Payment: To bill for services provided and process insurance claims and payments.
• Healthcare Operations: To conduct practice operations including quality assurance, staff training, licensing, accreditation, and administrative functions.
• Appointment Reminders: To contact you about upcoming appointments, test results, or treatment alternatives.
• Legal Compliance: When required by federal, state, or local law, court orders, or legal proceedings.
• Public Health: To report communicable disease information to public health authorities as required by law.
• Business Associates: To third-party vendors who assist us in providing healthcare services under confidentiality agreements.

Treatment: We use your health information to provide medical care and coordinate your treatment with specialists and healthcare providers. This includes clinical notes, test results, diagnoses, and treatment plans.

Payment: We use your health information to bill your insurance company or to collect payment for services. This may include sharing information with your insurance provider to verify coverage and process claims.

Healthcare Operations: We may use your health information for administrative purposes including quality improvement, credentialing, accreditation, licensing, training, and practice management.

Unless you provide authorization or object, we may disclose your health information to healthcare providers, hospitals, and other entities involved in your treatment.

You have the following rights regarding your protected health information:

• Right to Access: You have the right to inspect and obtain a copy of your medical records maintained by our practice. You may request this in writing.
• Right to Amendment: You have the right to request an amendment or correction to your health information if you believe it is inaccurate or incomplete.
• Right to Restrict Disclosures: You have the right to request restrictions on how your health information is used or disclosed, although we are not required to agree to all requests.
• Right to Confidential Communications: You have the right to request that we contact you using specific methods or at specific addresses for appointment reminders and other communications.
• Right to Accounting of Disclosures: You have the right to request a list of entities to which we have disclosed your health information.
• Right to a Paper Copy: You have the right to obtain a paper copy of this Notice of Privacy Practices upon request.

To exercise these rights, please submit your request in writing to Miami Lakes Doctors LLC at the address listed below. We will respond to your request within the timeframe required by law, generally within 30 days.

Miami Lakes Doctors LLC is responsible for:

• Maintaining the privacy and security of your protected health information
• Providing you with this Notice of Privacy Practices
• Providing you with notice if there is a breach of your health information
• Responding to your requests to exercise your rights under HIPAA
• Maintaining policies and procedures to ensure compliance with HIPAA
• Training our workforce on privacy and security requirements
• Implementing appropriate administrative, physical, and technical safeguards

We may use your phone number, email address, or mailing address to contact you about:

• Appointment reminders and scheduling changes
• Test results and follow-up instructions
• Refill reminders for prescriptions
• Other healthcare-related information

If you would like to restrict how we contact you, please notify us in writing at the address listed below. We will accommodate reasonable requests for alternative communication methods.

We reserve the right to modify this Notice of Privacy Practices at any time. Changes will be effective for all protected health information we maintain. We will provide you with a revised notice via mail or email, and the updated notice will be posted on our website. Your continued receipt of healthcare services indicates your acceptance of the updated notice.

If you believe we have violated your privacy rights or failed to comply with HIPAA, you have the right to file a complaint:

• With Miami Lakes Doctors LLC: Contact us at the address or phone number listed below.
• With the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (OCR): You may file a complaint with the OCR if you believe we have violated your privacy rights. You will not be retaliated against for filing a complaint.

To file a complaint with the OCR, visit their website at www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy or call 1-800-537-7697.

If you have questions about this Notice of Privacy Practices or your privacy rights, please contact us: