Notice of Privacy Practices

HIPAA · Effective August 8, 2026

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN OBTAIN ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.

Avarbock Chamorro Dermatology ("Practice," "we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting the privacy of your protected health information ("PHI"). Federal law requires us to maintain the privacy of your PHI, provide you with this Notice of our legal duties and privacy practices, and follow the terms of the Notice currently in effect.

Our Responsibilities

We are required by law to:

• Maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information.
• Provide you with this Notice of Privacy Practices.
• Notify you if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your PHI, as required by law.
• Follow the privacy practices described in this Notice.

We reserve the right to revise this Notice. Any revised Notice will apply to all protected health information we maintain and will be posted in our office and on our website.

How We May Use and Disclose Your Health Information

Federal law permits us to use and disclose your health information without your written authorization for the following purposes:

1. Treatment

We may use or disclose your medical information to provide, coordinate, or manage your healthcare. Examples include:

• Diagnosing skin conditions
• Prescribing medications
• Consulting with other healthcare providers
• Referring you to specialists
• Reviewing pathology or laboratory results

2. Payment

We may use and disclose your information to obtain payment for healthcare services. Examples include:

• Billing insurance companies
• Processing patient payments
• Verifying insurance coverage
• Collecting unpaid balances
• Responding to insurance inquiries

3. Healthcare Operations

We may use your information to operate and improve our practice. Examples include:

• Quality improvement
• Staff training
• Medical record reviews
• Accreditation
• Compliance activities
• Risk management
• Business planning

Appointment Reminders

We may contact you regarding upcoming appointments. Unless you instruct us otherwise, we may contact you by:

• Telephone
• Voicemail
• Mail
• Email, when appropriate

We will make reasonable efforts to protect your privacy when leaving messages.

Treatment Alternatives and Health-Related Benefits

We may contact you regarding:

• Follow-up care
• Preventive care
• Treatment options
• Health-related services that may benefit you

Individuals Involved in Your Care

Unless you object, we may disclose relevant medical information to:

• Family members
• Friends
• Caregivers
• Others involved in your care or payment for your care

if, in our professional judgment, doing so is in your best interest.

Business Associates

We may share protected health information with third-party companies that perform services on our behalf, including:

• Billing companies
• Electronic health record vendors
• Information technology providers
• Accountants
• Attorneys
• Consultants

These organizations are required by law and contract to safeguard your information.

Uses Required or Permitted by Law

We may disclose your information when required or permitted by law, including:

• Public health reporting
• FDA reporting
• Law enforcement
• Court orders
• Workers' compensation
• Government audits
• Health oversight agencies
• Organ donation
• Medical examiners or funeral directors
• Serious threats to health or safety
• Military or national security activities

Uses Requiring Your Written Authorization

We will obtain your written authorization before using or disclosing your protected health information for purposes not otherwise permitted by law. This includes, when applicable:

• Marketing communications requiring authorization
• Sale of protected health information
• Most psychotherapy notes (if maintained)

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

Your Rights Regarding Your Health Information

You have the following rights:

Right to Inspect and Obtain Copies

You may request access to your medical records and obtain copies as permitted by law. Reasonable fees may apply.

Right to Request Corrections

If you believe your medical record contains incorrect or incomplete information, you may request that we amend it. We may deny certain requests as permitted by law.

Right to an Accounting of Disclosures

You may request a list of certain disclosures we have made of your protected health information. This right does not apply to disclosures for treatment, payment, healthcare operations, or certain other exceptions permitted by law.

Right to Request Restrictions

You may request restrictions on certain uses or disclosures of your information. Although we are not required to agree to every request, we will comply when required by law.

If you pay for a healthcare service entirely out-of-pocket, you may request that we not disclose information about that service to your health insurer for payment or healthcare operations, and we will honor that request unless otherwise required by law.

Right to Confidential Communications

You may request that we communicate with you by:

• A specific telephone number
• A specific mailing address
• Another reasonable method

We will accommodate reasonable requests.

Right to Receive a Paper Copy

You may request a paper copy of this Notice at any time, even if you have agreed to receive it electronically.

Electronic Communications

Electronic communications, including email, may not always be secure. Please discuss secure communication options with our office if you have privacy concerns.

Patient Portal

If you use our secure patient portal, communications transmitted through the portal are subject to applicable privacy and security protections. Please safeguard your username and password.

Our Website

Our website contains a separate Website Privacy Policy that explains how information collected through the website is handled. The Website Privacy Policy does not replace this Notice of Privacy Practices.

Complaints

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with us. Please contact:

Privacy Officer · Avarbock Chamorro Dermatology

You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights. You will not be retaliated against for filing a complaint.

Questions

If you have questions about this Notice or your privacy rights, please contact our Privacy Officer using the information above.

Changes to This Notice

We reserve the right to change this Notice at any time. The revised Notice will become effective for all protected health information maintained by our Practice and will be posted in our office and on our website.

Acknowledgment of Receipt

Patients may be asked to sign an acknowledgment confirming receipt of this Notice of Privacy Practices. Signing the acknowledgment does not indicate agreement with the Notice; it only confirms that the Notice was made available.