Notice Of Privacy Practices/Terms

NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES/TERMS AND CONDITIONS

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.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA'') is a federal statute that requires that all protected health information used or disclosed by Dr. REGINA M FEARMONTI MD PA, DBA ALON AESTHETICS PLASTIC SURGERY (“Practice”)—in any form, whether electronically, on paper, or orally—be kept confidential. Protected health information (PHI) includes information about you, including demographic information, that may identify you and that relates to your past, present, or future physical or mental health condition and related health care services.

As required by HIPAA, this Notice of Privacy Practices (“Notice”) describes how the Practice is required to maintain the privacy of your PHI, how it may use and disclose PHI, and your rights regarding your PHI, including access and control.

USE AND DISCLOSURE OF PHI

Your PHI may be used or disclosed by the Practice’s physicians, office staff, employees, or third parties involved in your care and treatment, including electronic disclosures. We implement security measures to protect your personal and medical information from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. These measures include encryption, secure servers, and strict access controls. However, no system is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security. The Practice ensures that all uses or disclosures comply with HIPAA as detailed in this Notice.

REQUIRED DISCLOSURES

The Practice is required to disclose PHI:

To you directly when requested, in accordance with your rights described below.
To the Department of Health and Human Services when investigating or determining compliance with HIPAA.

Information We Collect

We are committed to protecting the privacy and security of your personal information. Any information collected will not be shared with third parties for marketing purposes without your explicit consent. Additionally, we do not disclose or transfer your personal data to external organizations without your authorization, except as required by law. Any mobile information collected for SMS registration will not be shared with third parties for marketing purposes without your explicit consent. To prevent unauthorized access, disclosure, or misuse of your data, we have implemented strict security measures. That includes access controls that limit information to authorized personnel only and strict confidentiality agreements for employees and third-party service providers. Additionally, our staff undergoes regular training on HIPAA regulations and data privacy practices to ensure compliance and safeguard your information; maintaining full compliance with HIPAA and other applicable regulations.

The types of information we may collect include:

Personal Information: Name, date of birth, contact details (phone number, email, address), payment information, and insurance information.
Medical Information: Health history, treatment records, photos for medical documentation, and other details relevant to your care.
Communication Data: Emails, text messages, and phone calls related to appointment scheduling, consultations, follow-ups, or any other patient care support.

How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

Provide and manage treatments and services.
Schedule appointments and send reminders.
Process payments and submit insurance claims
Improve patient experience and customer service.
Send promotional offers and marketing communications (with your consent).
Comply with legal and regulatory requirements.

NO AUTHORIZATION REQUIRED

The following uses and disclosures of your PHI do not require separate authorization:

Treatment: PHI may be used to provide, coordinate, or manage your healthcare and any related services. This includes the coordination or management of your health care with a third party, consultation between physicians relating to your care, or your referral for health care to another physician. For example, your PHI may be provided to a physician to whom you have been referred to ensure that the physician has the necessary information to provide you the proper care or to a pharmacy to fill a prescription.
Payment: The Practice will use and disclose your PHI, as needed, as it relates to payment for your health care services. This may include obtaining reimbursement information for the health care services you are receiving, confirming coverage or co-pay amounts under your health plan, billing and collecting from you, an insurance company, or a third party for your health care services, or obtaining precertification or preauthorization for specific health care services. For example, the Practice may send a claim for payment to your insurance company and that claim may contain PHI such as a code describing your diagnosis or medical treatment.
Healthcare Operations: The Practice will use and disclose your PHI, as needed, in order to support the business operations of the Practice. These activities include, but are not limited to, quality assessment and improvement activities, auditing functions, cost-management analysis, or training. For example, the Practice may use or disclose your PHI during an adult or its billing practice or HIPAA compliance. In addition, the Practice may use a sign-in sheet at the registration desk where you will be asked to sign your name. The Practice may also call you by name in the waiting room when your physician is ready to see you. The Practice may also contact you to provide appointment reminders or information about treatment alternatives or other health-related benefits and services that may be of interest to you. The Practice may also contact you for the Practice’s fundraising purposes which you will have the opportunity to opt-out.
Business Associates: The Practice will use and disclose your PHI, as needed to business associates. There are some services provided in the Practice through contracts with business associates (i.e. the Practice may disclose PHI to a company who bills insurance companies on the Practice’s behalf to enable that company to assist in obtaining payment for the health care services provided). To protect your PHI the practice will require its business associates to appropriately safeguard the information.
Other Uses or Disclosures: The Practice may also disclose your PHI for the following additional purposes without your authorization: when required by law (statute, law enforcement, judicial or administrative order); for public health activities (to public health or legal authorities charged with preventing or controlling disease, injury, disability, child abuse or neglect, etc., as required by law); when there is a belief you are a victim of abuse, neglect or domestic violence; for health oversight activities (to public agencies or legal authorities charged with overseeing the health care system, government programs in which health information is necessary to determine eligibility or compliance, or to enforce civil rights); for judicial or administrative proceedings (pursuant to court order or subpoena if assurances are received); for law enforcement purposes; to funeral directors, coroners, or organ procurement organizations; for research; if there is a belief of a serious threat to health and safety: for certain essential government functions (national security, military, etc.): to comply with workers’ compensation.

AUTHORIZATION REQUIRED

Any uses or disclosures outside the scope described about will be made only with your written authorization. Most uses or disclosures of psychotherapy notes, and of PHI for marketing purposes and the sale of PHI require an authorization. You may revoke such authorization in writing at any time and the Practice is required to honor and abide by that revocation, except to the extent that it has already taken actions relying on your authorization.

Messaging Terms and Conditions/Marketing & Communication Preferences

By opting in to receive SMS messages, emails, and phone calls from Dr. REGINA M FEARMONTI MD PA, DBA ALON AESTHETICS PLASTIC SURGERY (“we,” “us,” “our”), you agree to these Terms and Conditions:

By opting in to receive emails or phone calls, you consent to receive emails and phone calls from Dr. REGINA M FEARMONTI MD PA, DBA ALON AESTHETICS PLASTIC SURGERY regarding appointments, follow ups, office updates and important notifications, and special promotions/events.
By opting in to receive SMS messages, you consent to receive SMS messages from Dr. REGINA M FEARMONTI MD PA, DBA ALON AESTHETICS PLASTIC SURGERY for appointments, follow ups, and any other general two-way communication.
You will receive multiple messages from Dr. REGINA M FEARMONTI MD PA, ALON AESTHETICS PLASTIC SURGERY unless you choose to opt out. Message frequency may vary and could be sent daily, weekly, or monthly, depending on the nature of the communication. Dr. REGINA M FEARMONTI MD PA, DBA ALON AESTHETICS PLASTIC SURGERY reserves the right to alter the frequency of messages at any time to increase or decrease the total number of messages. Dr. REGINA M FEARMONTI MD PA, DBA ALON AESTHETICS PLASTIC SURGERY and carriers are not liable for delays or undelivered messages.
You can opt out of marketing communications at any time by clicking 'UNSUBSCRIBE' in emails.
You can opt out of receiving text messages by replying 'STOP'. After you opt out of text messaging, you will receive one additional message confirming your request has been processed.
For assistance, text the word 'HELP' for support. You may also contact us directly at fearmontiplasticsurgery@gmail.com or 210-343-1089
Your information will be handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy
We are not responsible for any charges, errors, or delays in SMS delivery or undelivered messages caused by your carrier or third-party service providers.

Message and data rates may apply. You may opt out at any time by replying "STOP" to any message, clicking ‘Unsubscribe’ in emails, or by contacting our office. Opting out will not affect your ability to receive healthcare services.

YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING YOUR PHI

You have the right to:

Request a paper or electronic copy of this Notice and you may exercise any of the rights described below by contacting the Practice and requesting to speak with the Privacy Officer.
Request confidential communications in a specific manner (e.g., only by email or phone).
Request restrictions on PHI disclosures for treatment, payment, healthcare operations, or disclosures to family members, other relatives, close personal friends, or any other person identified by you. Generally, the Practice is not legally required to agree to a requested restriction. However, if the request is made to restrict disclosure to a health plan for purposes of carrying out Payment or Health Care Operations and the PHI pertains solely to a health care item or service for which you have paid out of pocket in full, the Practice is legally required to agree to the requested restriction.
Read or obtain a copy of your PHI or choose to get a summary of your PHI in lieu of a copy. There are some reasons why the Practice may deny such a request which will be delivered to you in writing stating the reason. If a summary or a copy of your PHI is provided, you may have to pay a reasonable fee.
Request the Practice to amend or correct your PHI to the extent legally and ethically permissible. If the Practice denies the request, it will do so in writing and you will have the ability to file a statement of disagreement. You also have the right to amend your records by providing us with a written addendum with respect to any item or statement in your record that you believe to be incomplete or incorrect (limited to 250 words per alleged incomplete or incorrect item).
Receive an accounting of the disclosures of PHI by the Practice in the last six years but it will not include certain disclosures including those made for treatment, payment, healthcare operations or where you specifically authorized a use or disclosure.
Opt out of text messaging and other non-essential communications.

COMPLAINTS

You have recourse if you feel that the privacy of your PHI has been violated. If you feel there has been a violation, you have the right to file a complaint by submitting your complaint in writing by mail to the address above or by fax at the number above. You may also contact the Practice directly by telephone. For all complaints, please ask for or direct attention to the Privacy Officer. There will be no retaliation for filing a complaint. You may also file a complaint with or contact the Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights act: Office of Civil Rights, DHHS, Region IX by mail at 701 W 51st St, Austin, TX 78751, by telephone at (512) 438-4313

EFFECTIVE DATE

The Practice is required by law to maintain the privacy of your PHI, to provide you with notice of its legal duties and privacy practices with respect to PHI, and to notify affected individuals following a breach of unsecured PHI. This Notice is effective as of November 1, 2013. The Practice reserves the right to change the terms of this Notice and to make any such changes or amendments effective for all PHI that it maintains. The Practice will periodically post from time to time, and you may request a written copy of any updated versions of this Notice.

Alon Aesthetics Plastic Surgery

11503 NW MILITARY HWY STE. 114, San Antonio TX 78231

Tel:210-343-1089 F: 210-247-0021

Email: fearmontiplasticsurgery@gmail.com

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