Privacy Policy

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.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) is a federal program that requires that all medical and dental records and other individually identifiable health information used or disclosed by us in any form, whether electronically, on paper or orally, are kept properly confidential. This Act gives you, the patient, significant new rights to understand and control how your health information is used. HIPAA provides penalties for covered entities that misuse Protected Health Information (PHI).

This Notice of Privacy Practices describes how we may use and disclose your Protected Health Information (PHI) to carry out treatment, payment or health care operations (TPO) and for other purposes that are permitted or required by law. It also describes your rights to access and control your protected health information. “Protected health information” is information about you, including demographic information, that may identify you and that relates to your past, present or future physical or mental health or condition and related health care services.

Uses and Disclosures of Protected Health Information
Your Protected Health Information may be used and disclosed by your physician, our office staff and others outside of our office that are involved in your care and treatment for the purpose of providing health care services to you, to pay your health care bills, to support the operation of the practice, and any other use required by law.
Treatment: We will use and disclose your Protected Health Information to provide, coordinate, or manage your health care and any related services. This includes the coordination or management of your health care with a third party. For example, your protected health information may be provided to a physician to whom you have been referred to ensure that the health care professional has the necessary information to diagnose or treat you.
Payment: Your protected health information will be used, as needed, to obtain payment for health care services. For example, obtaining approval for a hospital stay may require that your relevant protected health information be disclosed to the health plan to obtain approval for the hospital admission.
Healthcare Operations: We may use or disclose, as-needed, your protected health information in order to support the business activities of your physician’s practice. These activities include, but are not limited to, quality assessment activities, employee review activities, and conducting or arranging for other business activities. We may use or disclose, as needed, your protected health information to support the business activities of this practice. In addition, we may use a sign-in sheet at the registration desk where you will be asked to sign your name and indicate your physician. We may also call you by name in the waiting room when your physician is ready to see you. We may use or disclose your protected health information, as necessary, to contact you to remind you of your appointment. We may call your home and leave a message (either on an answering machine or with the person answering the phone) to remind you of an upcoming appointment, the need to schedule a new appointment or to call our office. We may also mail a postcard reminder to your home address. If you would prefer that we call or contact you at another telephone number or location, please let us know.
We may use or disclose your protected health information in the following situations without your authorization. These situations include: as Required By Law, Public Health issues required by law, Communicable Diseases: Health Oversight: Abuse or Neglect: Food and Drug Administration requirements: Legal Proceedings: Law Enforcement: Coroners, Funeral Directors, and Organ Donation: Research: Criminal Activity: Military Activity and National Security: Workers’ Compensation: Inmates: Required Uses and Disclosures: Under the law, we must make disclosures to you and when required by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to investigate or determine our compliance with the requirements of HIPAA.
Other Permitted and Required Uses and Disclosures
 Will Be Made Only With Your Consent, Authorization or Opportunity to Object unless required by law.
You may revoke this authorization, at any time, in writing, except to the extent that your physician or the physician’s practice has taken an action in reliance on the use or disclosure indicated in the authorization.

Your Rights
The Following is a statement of your rights with respect to your protected health information.
You have the right to inspect and copy your protected health information. Under federal law, however, you may not inspect or copy the following records; psychotherapy notes; information compiled in reasonable anticipation of, or use in, a civil, criminal, or administrative action or proceeding, and protected health information that is subject to law that prohibits access to protected health information.
You have the right to request a restriction of your health information. This means you may ask us not to use or disclose any part of your protected health information for the purposes of treatment, payment or healthcare operations. You may also request that any part of your protected health information not be disclosed to family members or friends who may be involved in you care or for notification purposes described in this Notice of Privacy Practices. Your request must state the specific restriction and to whom you want the restriction to apply.
Your physician is not required to agree to a restriction you may request. If your physician believes it is in your best interest to permit use and disclosure of your protected health information, your protected health information will not be restricted. You then have the right to use another Healthcare Professional.
You have the right to request to receive confidential communications from us by alternative means or at an alternative location. You have the right to obtain a paper copy of this Notice from us, upon request, even if you have agreed to accept this Notice alternatively (i.e. electronically).
You may have the right to have your physician amend your protected health information. If we deny your request for amendment, you have the right to file a statement of disagreement with us and we may prepare a rebuttal to your statement and will provide you with a copy of any such rebuttal.
You have the right to receive an accounting of certain disclosures we have made, if any, of your protected health information.
We reserve the right to change the terms of this Notice and will inform you of any changes. You then have the right to object or withdraw as provided in this Notice.

Additional Privacy Practices

Information Collection and Use
In addition to Protected Health Information (PHI), we may collect other personal information such as your name, contact details, payment information, and any other information you choose to provide. This information is used to provide you with the best possible care and service, including appointment scheduling, billing, and communication.

How We Use Your Information
– Appointments and Services: We use your personal information to schedule and confirm appointments, remind you of upcoming appointments, and provide you with relevant health information.
– Billing and Payments: Your payment information is used to process transactions for the services provided.
– Communication: We may use your contact information to send you newsletters, updates, or promotional materials related to our services. You will only receive such communications if you have opted in to receive them.

Opt-In and Opt-Out
– Opt-In: When you provide your contact information, you may be asked to opt-in to receive communications from us. This includes newsletters, appointment reminders, and promotional materials. You have the option to agree or decline at the time of providing your information. Our intake form is used to collect your phone number.
– Opt-Out: If you choose to opt-in, you have the right to opt-out at any time. You can opt-out by following the instructions provided in the communications you receive, or by contacting our office directly. Replying ‘STOP’ to any SMS message will also opt you out of future messages.

Data Security
We implement a variety of security measures to protect your personal information. These include secure servers, encryption, and access controls. We are committed to ensuring that your information is safe and secure.

User Rights
In addition to your rights concerning PHI, you also have the following rights concerning your personal information:
– Access and Correction: You can request access to the personal information we hold about you and request corrections if there are inaccuracies.
– Deletion: You can request the deletion of your personal information under certain circumstances.
– Restriction: You can request restrictions on the processing of your personal information.
– Portability: You can request a copy of your personal information in a portable format.

WE DO NOT SELL YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION OR SHARE YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION FOR CROSS-CONTEXTUAL BEHAVIORAL ADVERTISING.

SMS Privacy Policy

At myDental, we respect and value your privacy. This SMS Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, disclose, and manage the personal data or information you provide when you opt into and participate in our SMS program. By opting into our SMS program, you agree to the terms set forth in this policy.

Information We Collect

When you opt into our SMS program, we may collect the following information:

  • Phone Number: To send SMS messages.
  • Name: To personalize our communications.
  • Preferences and Interests: To tailor our messages to your interests.
  • Interaction Data: Information about your interactions with our messages (e.g., whether you opened a message, clicked a link, etc.).

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

  • Send you promotional messages, updates, and notifications.
  • Personalize your experience with tailored content and offers.
  • Respond to your inquiries and provide customer support.
  • Analyze and improve our SMS program and services.

Disclosure of Your Information

We may share your information with:

  • Service Providers: Third-party vendors who assist us in operating our SMS program (e.g., messaging platforms, customer support services).
  • Legal Compliance: When required by law or to protect the rights, property, or safety of MyDental our users, or others.
  • Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of all or a portion of our assets.

Data Security

We implement appropriate security measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. However, please be aware that no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure.

Your Choices

You have the following options regarding your information:

  • Opt-Out: You can opt-out of our SMS program at any time by replying “STOP” to any of our messages.
  • Update Information: If your information changes, you can update it by contacting our customer support team.
  • Request Deletion: You can request the deletion of your personal information by contacting us.

Changes to This Privacy Policy
We reserve the right to update this privacy policy to reflect changes in our practices and services. We will notify you of any significant changes by posting the updated policy on our website and updating the effective date at the bottom of the policy. We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.


Complaints

You may complain to us or to the Secretary of Health and Human Services if you believe your privacy rights have been violated by us. You may file a complaint with us by notifying our privacy officer of your complaint at our office and main telephone number. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

This Notice was published and becomes effective on/or before 2/28/2018.

myDental


13000 N Interstate Hwy 35 suite 206
Austin, TX 78753