Synergy Health Network (“Synergy,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is committed to protecting the privacy of your health information. This Notice of Privacy Practices (the “Notice”) describes how we may use and disclose your protected health information (“PHI”) under the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”) and applicable state laws, and describes your rights regarding that information.
Our Commitments
We are required by law to:
- Maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information.
- Provide you with this Notice describing our legal duties and privacy practices regarding your PHI.
- Follow the terms of the Notice currently in effect.
- Notify you in the event of a breach of your unsecured PHI.
How We May Use and Disclose Your Health Information
The following describes the ways we may use and disclose your PHI without your written authorization. Not every use or disclosure in a category will be listed; however, all permitted ways we may use or disclose information will fall within one of the categories.
For Treatment
We may use your PHI to provide, coordinate, or manage your healthcare and related services. This includes sharing information with our clinicians, nurses, pharmacists, laboratories, specialists, and other providers involved in your care, including through our telehealth platform and electronic prescribing partners.
For Payment
We may use and disclose your PHI to obtain payment for the services we provide, including verifying coverage, billing your membership or subscription, and resolving disputes.
For Healthcare Operations
We may use and disclose your PHI to support our business activities, including quality assessment and improvement, training, accreditation, credentialing, legal services, audits, and general administrative activities.
Appointment Reminders, Health-Related Communications, and Treatment Alternatives
We may contact you by phone, secure email, or text message to remind you of appointments, deliver test results, share refill or aftercare information, or inform you about treatment options or health-related services that may be of interest. You may opt out of non-essential communications at any time.
Required by Law
We will disclose your PHI when required to do so by federal, state, or local law, including in response to court orders, subpoenas, public health reporting, or to prevent serious harm.
Public Health, Safety, and Specialized Government Functions
We may disclose PHI to public health authorities for disease prevention or control, to report abuse or neglect, to the FDA in connection with adverse events or product safety, to law enforcement as permitted by law, for national security activities, and for organ donation purposes.
Health Oversight, Workers' Compensation, Coroners
We may disclose PHI to health oversight agencies, workers' compensation programs, coroners, medical examiners, and funeral directors as permitted or required by law.
Business Associates
We contract with vendors (such as e-prescribing services, payment processors, hosting providers, and pharmacy networks) who may receive PHI to perform services on our behalf. These business associates are required by written agreement to safeguard your information consistent with HIPAA.
Uses and Disclosures Requiring Your Authorization
Other uses and disclosures of your PHI not described above will be made only with your written authorization. In particular, we will obtain your written authorization before:
- Using or disclosing psychotherapy notes (when applicable).
- Using or disclosing your PHI for marketing purposes (other than face-to-face communications and certain promotional gifts of nominal value).
- Selling your PHI.
You may revoke an authorization in writing at any time, except to the extent we have already taken action in reliance on it.
Your Rights Regarding Your Health Information
Right to Access and Receive a Copy
You have the right to inspect and obtain a copy of your PHI in our designated record set, including in an electronic format if we maintain it electronically. We may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee for copies.
Right to Request Amendment
If you believe your PHI is inaccurate or incomplete, you may request that we amend it. We may deny the request in certain circumstances permitted by law.
Right to an Accounting of Disclosures
You have the right to request an accounting of certain disclosures we have made of your PHI, generally for the six years preceding the date of your request, excluding disclosures for treatment, payment, healthcare operations, or those made with your authorization.
Right to Request Restrictions
You have the right to request restrictions on how we use or disclose your PHI for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations. We are not required to agree to a requested restriction, except in the case of a disclosure to a health plan when you have paid for the service in full out of pocket.
Right to Confidential Communications
You have the right to request that we communicate with you about medical matters in a specific way or at a specific location (for example, by mobile phone instead of home phone).
Right to Notification of a Breach
You have the right to be notified in the event of a breach of your unsecured PHI.
Right to a Paper Copy of This Notice
You may request a paper copy of this Notice at any time, even if you have agreed to receive it electronically.
Changes to This Notice
We reserve the right to change this Notice and to make the revised Notice effective for PHI we already have about you as well as any information we receive in the future. We will post the current Notice on our website and make a copy available upon request. The effective date will be shown at the top.
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. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.
Synergy Health Network — Privacy Officer
Email: privacy@synergyhealthdpc.com
General inquiries: info@synergyhealthdpc.com
To file a complaint with the federal government, visit https://www.hhs.gov/ocr/complaints/.