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.

Our Legal Duty

Praxis Private Physician, A Medical Corporation (“Practice,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) 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, and to follow the terms of this Notice currently in effect.

What Is Protected Health Information (PHI)?

Protected Health Information is information that identifies you and relates to your past, present, or future physical or mental health condition, the provision of healthcare to you, or payment for healthcare services.

How We May Use and Disclose Your Health Information

We may use and disclose your PHI for purposes permitted or required by law, including the following:

1. Treatment
We may use and disclose your PHI to provide, coordinate, or manage your medical care. This includes sharing information with specialists, laboratories, imaging centers, pharmacies, and other healthcare providers involved in your care.

2. Payment
We may use and disclose your PHI for billing and payment-related activities, including providing information to you or a third party regarding charges for services. Praxis operates on a membership-based model and does not bill Medicare or commercial insurance for most services; however, payment-related disclosures may still be necessary for coordination with third-party providers.

3. Health Care Operations
We may use and disclose your PHI for practice operations, including quality assessment, clinical improvement, training, compliance, and administrative activities.

4. Business Associates
We may disclose your PHI to third parties (“Business Associates”) who perform services on our behalf — such as electronic medical records or billing services — provided they are required by law to safeguard your information.

5. Legal & Regulatory Requirements
We may disclose your PHI as required by law, including for public health activities, health oversight activities, judicial or administrative proceedings, or law enforcement purposes.

6. Emergencies
We may disclose your PHI when necessary to prevent or lessen a serious threat to your health or safety or the health or safety of others.

Electronic Health Information Exchange

We may make your PHI available electronically through a secure health information exchange or other authorized electronic systems to healthcare providers and entities involved in your care, for purposes of treatment, payment, or health care operations, as permitted by law. In all cases, the requesting provider or entity must have, or must have had, a treating relationship with you or another lawful basis to access your information. Participation in electronic health information exchange systems may also allow us to access health information created by other providers involved in your care for our treatment, payment, and health care operations purposes.

Other Permitted or Required Uses and Disclosures

We may also use or disclose your PHI in the following circumstances:

• As Required by Law — When federal, state, or local law requires disclosure

• Public Health Activities — Reporting diseases, injuries, or health threats

• Health Oversight Activities — Audits, inspections, licensure, investigations

• Judicial / Administrative Proceedings — As permitted by law or court order

• Law Enforcement — Under certain legally authorized conditions

• Serious Threat to Health or Safety — To prevent or lessen a serious threat

• Workers’ Compensation — As authorized by law

• Research — When approved and permitted by law
  

Uses and Disclosures Requiring Your Authorization

We will not use or disclose your PHI for purposes outside those described above without your written authorization, including:

• Most disclosures of psychotherapy notes (if applicable)

• Uses of PHI for marketing purposes

• Sale of PHI

• Other uses not described in this Notice

You may revoke an authorization at any time in writing, except to the extent that action has already been taken in reliance on it.

Your Rights Regarding Your Health Information

You have the following rights under HIPAA:

Right to Inspect and Copy
You may request access to your medical records and obtain copies in paper or electronic form, subject to certain limitations and reasonable cost-based fees permitted by law.

Right to Amend
You may request correction or amendment of your PHI if you believe it is inaccurate or incomplete.

Right to an Accounting of Disclosures
You may request a list of certain disclosures of your PHI made by the Practice.

Right to Request Restrictions
You may request limitations on how we use or disclose your PHI. We are not required to agree to all requested restrictions.

Right to Confidential Communications
You may request that we communicate with you in a specific way or at a specific location — for example, by phone rather than email, or at a particular address.

Right to a Paper Copy of This Notice
You have the right to receive a paper copy of this Notice at any time, even if you previously agreed to receive it electronically. You may also request an electronic copy at any time.

Our Duties

We are required to:

• Maintain the privacy and security of your PHI

• Provide you with this Notice

• Follow the terms of this Notice currently in effect

• Notify you following a breach of unsecured PHI, as required by federal and California law
  

Changes to This Notice

We reserve the right to change this Notice at any time. Any revised Notice will apply to all PHI we maintain and will be made available upon request and on our website.

Complaints

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with us or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights. You will not be penalized for filing a complaint, and filing a complaint will not affect your care or membership.

Contact Us
For privacy questions, concerns, or to submit a complaint:

Privacy Officer — Praxis Private Physician
32565 B Golden Lantern #210
Dana Point, CA 92629
949.339.0498
info@praxisprivatemd.com