HIPAA Privacy Policy

HIPAA Privacy Policy - I Want Dental Implants

HIPAA NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES

I Want Dental Implants
This Notice describes how your protected health information (PHI) may be used and disclosed, and how you can access your information. Please review it carefully.

This Notice remains in effect until replaced. We may revise this Notice and the terms of our privacy practices at any time, as permitted by law. The new Notice will apply to PHI we already have as well as any we receive in the future.

1. Our Legal Duties & Promise to You

• We are required by federal and state laws to maintain the privacy and security of your PHI.
• We must provide you this Notice describing our privacy practices and your rights.
• We must follow the terms of this Notice (or the version currently in effect).
• We reserve the right to change our privacy practices and the terms of this Notice at any time, provided that those changes comply with applicable law.
• If we make material changes, we will post the revised Notice on our website and make it available at our office.
• You may request a copy of our current Notice at any time by contacting our Privacy Officer (contact information given below).

2. Uses and Disclosures of PHI (How We May Use or Share Your Health Information)

Below are examples (not exhaustive) of how we may use or disclose your PHI without your express written authorization:

A. Treatment
We may use and disclose PHI to provide, coordinate, or manage your dental care or related services. For example, we may share relevant medical/dental information with specialists, laboratories, or other health care providers involved in your treatment.

B. Payment
We may use and disclose PHI to obtain payment for services provided to you. This may involve billing your insurance, submitting claims, verifying eligibility, or collecting payment.

C. Health Care Operations
We may use and disclose PHI for operational functions necessary to run our practice. This includes quality assessment, training staff, accreditation, licensing, audits, business planning, and administrative tasks.

D. Individuals Involved in Your Care
With your consent (or if allowed by law), we may share PHI with family members, friends, or other persons you designate who are involved in your care or payment. If you are present, we will provide an opportunity to object. In emergencies or incapacitated situations, disclosures will be based on professional judgment.

E. Appointment Reminders & Health Notifications
We may contact you via phone, mail, email, or text to remind you of appointments, to inform you of treatment alternatives or other health-related benefits or services that may interest you.

F. Required by Law
We may disclose PHI when required to do so by law, such as reporting for public health, responding to law enforcement requests, compliance with court orders, reporting abuse or neglect, or to government oversight agencies.

G. Public Health & Safety
As required or permitted, we may disclose PHI to public health authorities for preventing or controlling disease, injury, or disability, or notifying persons who may have been exposed to disease, or in response to a product recall.

H. Research
In certain situations, we may disclose PHI to researchers when their project is approved by an Institutional Review Board (IRB) and has privacy protections in place.

I. Organ or Tissue Donation
If applicable, we may share PHI with organizations involved in organ, eye, or tissue procurement or transplantation.

J. Law Enforcement & Judicial Proceedings
We may disclose PHI in response to a subpoena, court order, or for law enforcement purposes, as allowed by law.

K. Military, National Security, & Government Functions
When required, we may disclose PHI for national security, intelligence, or military purposes, or to correctional institutions if you are an inmate.

L. Workers' Compensation
We may disclose PHI as necessary to comply with workers’ compensation or similar programs.

M. Change of Ownership
If our practice is sold or merged, your PHI may be transferred to the success or entity, subject to applicable protections. You will be notified.

3. Uses & Disclosures That Require Your Authorization

Except as described above, other uses or disclosures of PHI will be made only with your written authorization. These include, but are not limited to:

• Use or disclosure of psychotherapy notes (if maintained separately).
• Use or disclosure for marketing purposes (unless narrowly allowed).
• Sale of PHI.
• Any other uses or disclosures not permitted by law.

You may revoke an authorization in writing at any time, except to the extent we have already acted in reliance on it.

4. Your Rights Regarding Your PHI

You have the following rights under HIPAA. To exercise any right, send a written request to our Privacy Officer (see contact section below):

1. Right of Access / Inspection / Copy - You can inspect or request copies of your PHI in the designated record set (with some exceptions). We will provide the information in the form you request if feasible (e.g. electronic or paper). We may charge reasonable cost-based fees for copying, postage, or labor.
2. Right to Amend - If you believe information is incorrect or incomplete, you may request an amendment. We may deny the request under certain conditions (e.g. if the information was not created by us or is not part of the records held). If denied, you may submit a statement of disagreement.
3. Right to an Accounting of Disclosures - You may request a listing of disclosures of your PHI made by us (excluding certain types, such as those for treatment, payment, or operations) over the last six years (or as otherwise required by law). The first accounting in a 12-month period is free; we may charge a reasonable fee for subsequent requests.
4. Right to Request Restrictions - You may request restrictions on how we use or disclose your PHI (for treatment, payment, or operations). We are not required to agree to your requested restriction, except in limited cases (e.g. you pay out-of-pocket in full for a service and ask that we not share the PHI with your health plan). If we agree, we must abide by that restriction (unless in emergency).
5. Right to Confidential Communications / Alternative Means or Locations - You may request that communications of PHI occur by alternative means (e.g. no mail to home address, use email, etc.) or at alternative locations. We will accommodate reasonable requests.
6. Right to a Paper Copy of this Notice - Even if you have agreed to receive this Notice electronically, you have the right to request a paper copy.
7. Right to Notification of a Breach - We are required to notify you (and, in some cases, regulatory authorities) if we discover a breach of unsecured PHI. The notification will include a brief description of what occurred, the time period involved, steps to     protect yourself, and what we are doing to remedy it.

5. Special Privacy Protections

Certain categories of health information may be subject to additional safeguards or legal restrictions under federal or state laws (for example: HIV/AIDS, mental health, substance abuse, genetic data, etc.). When applicable, we will comply with these stricter rules.

6. Authorization &Consent (Optional Consent Form Section)

You may ask to sign a consent or acknowledgment form stating that you have received this Notice. However, signing does not mean you waive your rights.

7. Miscellaneous Provisions

• Effective Period: This Notice is effective from the date listed above until replaced.
• Applicability: This Notice covers PHI that we create, receive, or maintain.
• Business Associates: We may use third-party vendors or service providers (known as “business associates”) to perform functions on our behalf (e.g. billing, IT support, record storage). These associates must agree to safeguard your PHI in compliance with HIPAA.
• Inadvertent Disclosures / Incidental Uses: Unintentional or incidental uses or disclosures that occur as a by-product of permissible     uses/disclosures are allowed, as long as reasonable safeguards are in place.
• State Law Supremacy: If a state law offers greater protection than HIPAA, we will comply with the more protective standard.

8. Complaints & Contact Information

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may

• Submit a complaint in writing to our Privacy Officer (contact below).
• File a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights (OCR).
• You will not be retaliated against for filing a complaint.

Privacy Officer / Contact for I Want Dental Implants

Website: https://www.iwantdentalimplants.com/
Address: 110 Nut Tree Pkwy, Vacaville, CA 95687, United States
Phone: 707-416-4875
Email: info@nextgendentalsmiles.com

Last Updated: October 8, 2025