Notice Of Privacy Practices

This Notice Describes How Medical Information May Be Used And Disclosed

This Notice of Privacy Practices applies to Wallace Skin & Body Institute in its delivery of care through Skin Hair & Body Wellness Spa (the “Practice”). It describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can obtain access to this information. Please review it carefully.

Uses And Disclosures For Treatment, Payment, And Health Care Operations

Treatment

We may use or disclose your medical information to provide, coordinate, or manage your care. For example, members of your care team may use information to assess a concern, plan or provide treatment, coordinate follow-up, or communicate with other providers involved in your care.

Payment

We may use or disclose medical information to obtain payment for services, determine coverage where applicable, bill for care, or support related payment activities.

Health Care Operations

We may use or disclose medical information for practice operations, such as quality assessment, training, credentialing, compliance, auditing, planning, and improving services. Where required, we use safeguards or limited information for these purposes.

Other Uses And Disclosures Allowed Or Required By Law

We may use or disclose medical information without your written authorization when permitted or required by law, including for public-health activities, reporting abuse or neglect where required, health oversight, judicial or administrative proceedings, law enforcement purposes, coroners or medical examiners, organ donation, research subject to required protections, workers’ compensation, specialized government functions, and to avert a serious threat to health or safety when permitted by law. California law may provide additional protections or impose additional requirements for particular categories of medical information.

Uses And Disclosures That Generally Require Your Written Authorization

We will obtain your written authorization before using or disclosing your medical information for purposes not described in this Notice when authorization is required by law. This generally includes most uses and disclosures of psychotherapy notes, most marketing uses, and disclosures constituting a sale of protected health information. You may revoke an authorization in writing at any time, except to the extent we have already acted in reliance on it.

Substance Use Disorder Records

To the extent the Practice maintains records subject to the federal substance use disorder confidentiality law, those records receive additional protection under 42 CFR Part 2. We will use or disclose Part 2 records only as permitted by applicable law, including with appropriate consent or as otherwise specifically allowed. A person may not use or disclose Part 2 records in a manner that violates federal law. This section does not mean the Practice provides a federally assisted substance use disorder treatment program.

Your Rights Regarding Your Medical Information

• Get a copy of your records. You may ask to inspect or obtain a paper or electronic copy of medical or billing records that we maintain. We will respond as required by applicable law and may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee where permitted.
• Ask us to correct your record. You may request an amendment to medical or billing information you believe is incorrect or incomplete. We may deny a request in certain circumstances, and we will provide a written explanation when required.
• Request confidential communications. You may ask us to contact you in a particular way or at a particular location. We will accommodate reasonable requests and will accommodate requests when required by law.
• Ask us to limit certain uses or disclosures. You may request a restriction on uses or disclosures for treatment, payment, or operations. We are not required to agree to every request, except as required by law, including certain restrictions related to services paid in full out of pocket.
• Get a list of certain disclosures. You may request an accounting of certain disclosures of your medical information, subject to legal exceptions and limits.
• Get a copy of this Notice. You may request a paper copy at any time, even if you agreed to receive it electronically.
• Choose a representative. If you have given someone medical power of attorney or if another person is your legal representative, that person may exercise rights and make choices about your information, subject to verification of authority.

Your Choices

For certain communications, you can tell us your preferences about sharing medical information with family members, close friends, or others involved in your care or payment for your care, and about sharing information in a disaster-relief situation. If you are unable to communicate your preference, we may share information if we believe it is in your best interest or as otherwise permitted by law.

California Medical Privacy

California law, including the Confidentiality of Medical Information Act, may give you rights or protections that are more protective than federal law for particular information or circumstances. Where California law is more protective or provides additional rights, we will follow the applicable California requirement. Nothing in this Notice reduces rights provided by California law.

Our Contact Information And Complaint Process

If you have questions, want to exercise a privacy right, or believe your privacy rights have been violated, contact the Practice Privacy Contact by telephone at (323) 296-3376 or by mail at: Skin Hair & Body Wellness Spa / Wallace Skin & Body Institute, Attention: Privacy Contact, 5120 W Goldleaf Circle, Suite 20, Ladera Heights, CA 90056.

You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint. Information about filing a complaint is available at hhs.gov/hipaa/filing-a-complaint.

Changes To This Notice

We may change the terms of this Notice, and the new Notice will apply to medical information we already have and to information received after the change. A current version will be available at the Practice and on this website. The effective date above identifies the effective date of this Notice.