Notice of Privacy Practices

1. Who This Notice Covers

This notice applies to protected health information (“PHI”) created or received by the independent, state-licensed healthcare providers who evaluate and treat you, and to the PHI that Suncoast Trim handles on their behalf as a business associate under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”).

PHI is individually identifiable health information: your clinical intake responses, medical and health history, provider notes, prescriptions, lab results, and the messages you exchange with your care team. Information you give us that is not connected to your care, such as a marketing inquiry submitted from suncoasttrimclinic.com, is governed by our Privacy Policy rather than by this notice.

2. How Health Information About You May Be Used and Disclosed

2.1 For treatment

Your PHI is used to evaluate you, to decide whether treatment is appropriate for you, to prescribe and adjust that treatment, and to coordinate your care. It may be shared with the licensed pharmacy that dispenses your medication, with a laboratory that performs testing ordered for you, and with other providers involved in your care.

2.2 For payment

Your PHI may be used to bill and collect payment for services and products. Services are self-pay; we do not bill insurance.

2.3 For healthcare operations

Your PHI may be used for quality review, provider credentialing and evaluation, care coordination, training, audits, and the general administration of the practice.

2.4 As required or permitted by law

Your PHI may be used or disclosed without your authorization where the law requires or permits it, including:

• To public health authorities, for purposes such as reporting adverse events related to a medication;
• To health oversight agencies for audits, investigations, licensure, and similar activities;
• In response to a court order, subpoena, warrant, or other lawful process;
• To avert a serious and imminent threat to your health or safety or to the health or safety of another person;
• For workers' compensation, organ donation, coroners, and similar purposes recognized by HIPAA.

3. Uses and Disclosures That Require Your Written Authorization

Your written authorization is required before your PHI is used or disclosed for marketing, before it is sold, and before most psychotherapy notes are disclosed. Your PHI is never sold.

You may revoke an authorization in writing at any time. A revocation does not apply to uses or disclosures already made in reliance on it.

4. Your Rights Regarding Your Health Information

You have the right to:

• Inspect and copy the health information used to make decisions about your care, in the form and format you request where it is readily producible;
• Request an amendment to information you believe is incorrect or incomplete, with an explanation of your request;
• Receive an accounting of certain disclosures made in the six years before your request;
• Request a restriction on how your information is used or disclosed for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations, which may be declined except where the law requires it to be honored;
• Request confidential communications by a particular method or at a particular address;
• Be notified of a breach of unsecured protected health information affecting you;
• Receive a paper copy of this notice on request, even if you agreed to receive it electronically.

To exercise any of these rights, write to health@suncoasttrimclinic.com or 1101 S Tamiami Trl, Suite 103Q, Venice, FL 34285. Your request is routed to the provider or practice that holds the information.

5. Our Responsibilities

The independent providers and Suncoast Trim are required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your PHI, to give you notice of their legal duties and privacy practices, to follow the terms of the notice currently in effect, and to notify you if a breach of unsecured PHI affecting you occurs.

Your PHI is not used or disclosed for any purpose other than those described in this notice without your written authorization.

6. Changes to This Notice

The terms of this notice may change. A revised notice applies to all PHI held at the time of the change, and the current version is always posted at suncoasttrimclinic.com/notice-of-privacy-practices with a new effective date.

7. Complaints

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, write to health@suncoasttrimclinic.com. You may also file a complaint with the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights. You will not be retaliated against for filing a complaint.

8. How to Contact Us

Questions about this notice may be directed to health@suncoasttrimclinic.com, by phone at (941) 900-4290, or by mail at 1101 S Tamiami Trl, Suite 103Q, Venice, FL 34285.