HIPAA Notice

Effective Date: January 1, 2024

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.

Leg Pain and Vascular Institute (the “Practice”) is required by law to maintain the privacy and confidentiality of information about you, your health, your health care, and payment for the services we provide. Information regarding your health care, including payment for your care, is protected by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”).

Your Health Information Rights

The health and billing records we maintain are the physical property of the Practice. The information in them, however, belongs to you. You have the right to:

  • Obtain a paper copy of this Notice of Privacy Practices at any time, even if you have agreed to receive it electronically.
  • Receive notification of a breach of your unsecured protected health information (PHI).
  • Request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures of your health information. We are not required to grant most requests, but we will comply with any request with which we agree. We will agree to your request to refrain from sending your PHI to your health plan for payment or operations purposes if you pay in full and out-of-pocket at the time of service.
  • Request that you be allowed to inspect and copy the information about you that we maintain in our designated record set. We will provide a copy or a summary of your health information within 15 working days of your request. We may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee.
  • Appeal a denial of access to your PHI, except in certain circumstances.
  • Request that your health care record be amended to correct incomplete or incorrect information by delivering a written request to the Practice.
  • Request that communication of your health information be made by alternative means or at alternative locations.
  • Obtain a list of instances in which we have shared your health information with outside parties for the six years prior to your request.
  • Opt out of any future fundraising communications if we contact you to raise funds for our Practice.
  • Revoke any prior authorisation to use or disclose information by delivering a written revocation to the Practice, except to the extent action has already been taken.
  • File a complaint if you feel your rights have been violated by contacting our Privacy Officer at 713-242-1139 or in writing to: Dr. Bilal Anwer, Privacy Officer, Leg Pain and Vascular Institute, 11240 FM 1960 Road W, Suite 406, Houston, TX 77065.

Our Responsibilities

The Practice is required to:

  • Maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information as required by law.
  • Notify you promptly following a breach of your unsecured PHI.
  • Provide you with this Notice describing our duties and privacy practices and abide by its terms.
  • Notify you if we cannot accommodate a requested restriction.
  • Accommodate your reasonable requests regarding methods for communicating with you about your health information.

We reserve the right to amend, change, or eliminate provisions of our privacy practices and to enact new provisions regarding the PHI we maintain about you. If our information practices change, we will amend our Notice. You are entitled to receive a copy of the revised Notice upon request.

How We Use and Disclose Your Health Information

Treatment

We may use and disclose your PHI to provide you with medical treatment and services, and to coordinate your care with other healthcare professionals involved in your treatment.

Payment

We may use and disclose your PHI to obtain payment for services we provide to you, including billing your insurance carrier and processing claims.

Healthcare Operations

We may use and disclose your PHI for our healthcare operations, including quality assessment, training, and business management activities necessary to operate the Practice.

Communication with Family

Using our best judgment, we may disclose to a family member, other relative, close personal friend, or any other person you identify, health information relevant to that person’s involvement in your care or payment for care, if you do not object or in an emergency.

Other Permitted Uses and Disclosures

We may also use or disclose your PHI in the following circumstances without your authorisation:

  • Public Health: To public health authorities to prevent or control disease, injury, or disability.
  • Research: To researchers if an institutional review board has reviewed and approved the research proposal.
  • As Required by Law: To comply with applicable federal, state, or local laws.
  • Law Enforcement: In response to a court order, subpoena, or other lawful process.
  • Health Oversight: To appropriate health oversight agencies for audits and other oversight activities.
  • Workers Compensation: As necessary to comply with Workers Compensation laws.
  • Disaster Relief: To assist in disaster relief efforts.
  • Organ Procurement: To organ procurement organisations consistent with applicable law.
  • Coroners and Medical Examiners: As necessary to identify a deceased person or determine cause of death.
  • Serious Threat to Health or Safety: To prevent or diminish a serious, imminent threat to the health or safety of a person or the public.

Uses and Disclosures Requiring Your Authorisation

Other uses and disclosures of your PHI not described in this Notice will only be made with your written authorisation. This includes most uses and disclosures of psychotherapy notes, uses and disclosures of your PHI for marketing purposes, and disclosures that constitute a sale of PHI. You may revoke any authorisation at any time by submitting a written revocation to the Practice.

SMS Communication Policy

SMS opt-in or phone numbers provided for the purpose of SMS are not shared with any third parties or affiliate companies for marketing purposes. If you have consented to receive text messages, you may receive SMS communications related to appointment reminders, follow-up messages, and billing inquiries. Standard message and data rates may apply. You can opt out at any time by replying STOP to any message.

How to Contact Us or File a Complaint

If you have questions, would like additional information, want to exercise a patient right described above, or believe your privacy rights have been violated, please contact:

Privacy Officer: Dr. Bilal Anwer
Leg Pain and Vascular Institute
11240 FM 1960 Road W, Suite 406
Houston, TX 77065
Phone: 713-242-1139
Email: admin@legpainclinic.com

You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights, by sending a letter to 200 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, D.C. 20201, calling 1-877-696-6775, or visiting hhs.gov/hipaa.

We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint with the Secretary of HHS.

We reserve the right to change this Notice. Changes will be available upon request, at our office, and on our website at legpainclinic.com.