HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices

Our Pledge Regarding Your Health Information

Meridian Integrative Wellness is required by law to maintain the privacy of your protected health information (PHI), provide you with this notice of our legal duties and privacy practices, and follow the terms of the notice currently in effect. We are required to notify you if a breach of your unsecured PHI occurs.

How We May Use and Disclose Your Health Information

Treatment

We may use your health information to provide, coordinate, or manage your healthcare and related services. This includes sharing information with other providers involved in your care, such as referring physicians, specialists, laboratories, or other healthcare facilities.

Payment

We may use and disclose your health information to obtain payment for services provided. This may include submitting claims to your health insurance plan, verifying coverage, and collecting outstanding balances.

Healthcare Operations

We may use and disclose your health information for our healthcare operations, including quality assessment, staff training, compliance activities, auditing, and business planning.

Other Permitted Uses and Disclosures

• As required by law, including reporting certain diseases and injuries
• For public health activities, such as preventing or controlling disease
• To report suspected abuse, neglect, or domestic violence
• For health oversight activities, such as audits and investigations
• In response to a court order or lawful legal process
• To law enforcement officials under limited circumstances
• To coroners, medical examiners, and funeral directors
• For organ and tissue donation purposes
• For research purposes, subject to approval processes
• To avert a serious threat to health or safety
• For specialized government functions, including military and veterans activities
• For workers' compensation as authorized by law

Uses and Disclosures Requiring Your Authorization

We will obtain your written authorization before using or disclosing your health information for purposes other than those described above, including:

• Marketing purposes
• Sale of your health information
• Most uses of psychotherapy notes, if applicable
• Other uses not described in this notice

You may revoke an authorization at any time by submitting a written request. Revocation will not affect any actions taken before we received your request.

Your Rights Regarding Your Health Information

Right to Access

You have the right to inspect and obtain a copy of your health information maintained by our practice. Requests must be submitted in writing. We may charge a reasonable fee for copying and mailing. We will respond within 30 days of receiving your request.

Right to Request Amendment

If you believe your health information is incorrect or incomplete, you may request an amendment. Requests must be submitted in writing with a reason for the amendment. We may deny the request under certain circumstances and will provide a written explanation if denied.

Right to Request Restrictions

You may request restrictions on how we use or disclose your health information for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations. We are not required to agree to your request except when the disclosure is to a health plan for payment or healthcare operations and relates to a service you have paid for in full out of pocket.

Right to an Accounting of Disclosures

You have the right to request a list of certain disclosures we have made of your health information. This accounting will not include disclosures made for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations, or disclosures you authorized in writing. Your first request within a 12-month period is free; additional requests may incur a fee.

Right to Request Confidential Communications

You may request that we communicate with you at a specific address or by a specific means (for example, only by mail or at a specific phone number). We will accommodate reasonable requests.

Right to a Copy of This Notice

You have the right to obtain a paper copy of this notice at any time, even if you have previously agreed to receive it electronically.

Our Duties

• We are required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your PHI
• We will notify you promptly if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your information
• We must follow the terms of this notice currently in effect
• We will not use or disclose your information without your authorization except as described in this notice

Filing a Complaint

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with our practice or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights. You will not be retaliated against for filing a complaint.

To file a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights, visit www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints or call 1-877-696-6775.

Changes to This Notice

We reserve the right to change the terms of this notice at any time. Any changes will apply to all information we already have about you as well as any information we receive in the future. A revised notice will be made available at our office and on our website.

Contact Information

For questions about this notice or to exercise any of your rights, please contact our Privacy Officer: