Effective Date: Jan 5, 2025

This Privacy Policy describes how TelemedicinePractitioners.com (“we,” “us,” or “our”) collects, uses, and protects your Protected Health Information (PHI) in compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and other applicable laws. Please review this notice carefully.

Your Information. Your Rights. Our Responsibilities.

Your Rights

When it comes to your health information, you have certain rights. These include:

  • Get an electronic or paper copy of your medical record:
    You can ask to see or get a copy of your medical record and other health information we have about you. We will provide a copy or summary, usually within 30 days of your request. A reasonable, cost-based fee may apply.
  • Ask us to correct your medical record:
    If you believe your health information is incorrect or incomplete, you may request a correction. We may deny your request, but will provide a written explanation within 60 days.
  • Request confidential communications:
    You can ask us to contact you in a specific way (e.g., home or office phone) or to send mail to a different address. We will accommodate reasonable requests.
  • Ask us to limit what we use or share:
    You may request that we not use or share certain health information for treatment, payment, or operations. We are not required to agree to your request and may say “no” if it would affect your care. If you pay for a service in full out-of-pocket, you can request that information not be shared with your health insurer; we will comply unless required by law.
  • Get a list of those with whom we’ve shared information:
    You can request an accounting of disclosures for six years prior to your request, excluding disclosures for treatment, payment, and operations. One accounting per year is free; additional requests may incur a reasonable fee.
  • Get a copy of this privacy notice:
    You can request 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 may 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. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

Your Choices

For certain health information, you have the right and choice to tell us to:

  • Share information with your family, close friends, or others involved in your care
  • Share information in a disaster relief situation

We will never share your information for marketing purposes, sale of your information, or most sharing of psychotherapy notes unless you give us written permission.

Our Uses and Disclosures

We typically use or share your health information in the following ways:

  • Treat you:
    We can use your health information and share it with other professionals who are treating you.
  • Run our organization:
    We use and share your health information to run our practice, improve your care, and contact you when necessary.
  • Bill for your services:
    We use and share your health information to bill and obtain payment from health plans or other entities.

We may also use or share your information for purposes such as:

  • Public health and safety (e.g., preventing disease, reporting adverse reactions)
  • Research (under certain conditions)
  • Compliance with law (e.g., sharing with HHS to demonstrate HIPAA compliance)
  • Organ and tissue donation requests
  • Working with medical examiners or funeral directors
  • Addressing workers’ compensation, law enforcement, and other government requests
  • Responding to lawsuits and legal actions

We will only use or share your information as described above, or as otherwise permitted or required by law.

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 your information.
  • We must follow the duties and privacy practices described in this notice and provide you with a copy.
  • We will not use or share your information other than as described here unless you authorize us in writing. You may revoke your authorization at any time in writing.

Special Notes

  • We do not create or maintain psychotherapy notes at this practice.
  • We will never share substance abuse treatment records without your written permission, as required by law.

Legal Duties

TelemedicinePractitioners.com is required by law to:

  • Maintain the privacy and security of your PHI.
  • Provide you with this notice of our legal duties and privacy practices.
  • Abide by the terms of this notice currently in effect.
  • Notify you if we cannot agree to a requested restriction.
  • Notify you promptly if a breach occurs that may have compromised your information.

Changes to This Notice

We may change the terms of this notice, and the changes will apply to all information we have about you. The new notice will be available on our website and upon request.

Contact Information

If you have questions about this policy or your privacy rights, or wish to file a complaint, please contact our Privacy Official:

Privacy Official: Barbara Grubbs
Email: barbaragrubbs@telemedicinepractitioners.com

Complaints

You may file a complaint with us or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights if you believe your privacy rights have been violated. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.