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Privacy Policy for Liv HRT
Effective Date: July 17, 2025
This Privacy Policy describes how Liv HRT ("we," "us," or "our") collects, uses, discloses, and protects your Protected Health Information (PHI) and other personal information. As a healthcare provider, we are committed to maintaining the privacy and security of your information in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and other applicable federal and state laws. Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. By accessing or using our services, you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy.
1. Our Commitment to Your Privacy
We are dedicated to safeguarding your health information. We are required by law to:
- Maintain the privacy of your PHI.
- Provide you with this Notice of Privacy Practices regarding your PHI.
- Notify you following a breach of unsecured PHI.
- Adhere to the terms of this Notice of Privacy Practices.
2. What is Protected Health Information (PHI)?
PHI is individually identifiable health information that relates to your past, present, or future physical or mental health or condition, the provision of healthcare to you, or the past, present, or future payment for the provision of healthcare to you. This includes demographic information, medical history, diagnoses, treatment plans, lab results, and billing information.
3. Information We Collect
We collect various types of information from you, including:
Identifiable Information: Name, date of birth, address, email address, phone number, gender, insurance information, and other contact details.
Medical Information: Medical history, current health conditions, medications, allergies, family history, lifestyle information, laboratory results, diagnostic images, treatment plans, and progress notes related to your hormone replacement therapy.
Payment Information: Billing address, credit card details, and insurance policy information for processing payments for our services.
Technical and Usage Information: IP address, device type, browser type, operating system, and information about your interactions with our website or digital platforms (e.g., pages viewed, time spent). This information may be collected through cookies and similar technologies.
4. How We Collect Information
We collect information directly from you when you:
Register as a patient.
Complete medical history forms.
Communicate with us in person, by phone, email, or text message.
Use our website or patient portal.
Participate in telehealth consultations.
We may also collect information from:
Other healthcare providers involved in your care (with your consent or as permitted by law).
Your insurance company for payment purposes.
5. How We Use and Disclose Your Information
We may use and disclose your PHI for the following purposes, primarily for Treatment, Payment, and Healthcare Operations (TPO), without your specific authorization:
Treatment: To provide, coordinate, and manage your healthcare and related services. This includes sharing your PHI with our staff, other healthcare professionals involved in your care (e.g., specialists, pharmacists, laboratories) to ensure you receive comprehensive and appropriate HRT.
Payment: To obtain payment for the healthcare services we provide.
Healthcare Operations: For our internal operations to ensure we provide quality care. This includes activities such as quality assessment and improvement, staff training, credentialing, business planning, and general administrative functions.
Appointment Reminders: To contact you with reminders about your appointments. We may leave messages on your answering machine or with the person answering the phone if you are not available.
Health-Related Communications: To inform you about health-related products, services, or treatment alternatives that may be of interest to you.
As Required by Law: When required by federal, state, or local law, such as for public health activities, judicial and administrative proceedings, law enforcement purposes, or to avert a serious threat to health or safety.
Public Health Activities: For public health activities and purposes, such as preventing or controlling disease, injury, or disability, or reporting vital events like births and deaths.
Research: In limited circumstances, for research purposes, provided that the research is approved by an institutional review board and safeguards are in place to protect your privacy.
Workers' Compensation: As authorized by and to the extent necessary to comply with laws relating to workers' compensation or other similar programs established by law.
Other Uses and Disclosures Requiring Your Authorization:
Any other uses and disclosures of your PHI not described above will only be made with your written authorization. You may revoke this authorization at any time, in writing, except to the extent that we have already acted in reliance on the authorization.
6. Your Health Information Rights
You have the following rights regarding your PHI:
Right to Access: You have the right to inspect and obtain a copy of your medical and billing records. We may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee for providing the copies.
Right to Amend: You have the right to request an amendment to your PHI if you believe it is incorrect or incomplete. We may deny your request under certain circumstances, but we will provide you with a written explanation for the denial.
Right to an Accounting of Disclosures: You have the right to request an accounting of certain disclosures of your PHI made by us.
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 all requested restrictions, except in certain cases where you pay out-of-pocket in full for a service and request that we not disclose PHI related solely to that service to your health plan.
Right to Request Confidential Communications: You have the right to request that we communicate with you about medical matters in a certain way or at a certain location. For example, you can ask that we only contact you at work or by mail. We will accommodate all reasonable requests.
Right to a Paper Copy of This Notice: You have the right to a paper copy of this Privacy Policy at any time, even if you have agreed to receive it electronically.
7. Text Messaging (SMS) Privacy Disclosures
Liv HRT may use text messaging (SMS) to communicate with you for healthcare-related purposes, such as appointment reminders, scheduling updates, prescription notifications, and general information about your HRT.
By opting in to receive text messages from Liv HRT, you understand and agree to the following:
Consent: Your consent to receive text messages is obtained explicitly. This may be through a signed consent form, an online opt-in, or by initiating text communication with us. You understand that consent is not a condition of receiving treatment.
Nature of Messages: Messages may include Protected Health Information (PHI) related to your treatment, payment, or healthcare operations.
Potential Risks: While we implement security measures to protect your information, standard text messages (SMS) are not always fully encrypted and may not be entirely secure. There is a risk that PHI contained in text messages could be intercepted or accessed by unauthorized third parties. This risk includes, but is not limited to, the possibility of messages being viewed by others if your phone is lost or stolen, or if your mobile service provider has security vulnerabilities.
Data and Message Rates: Standard message and data rates may apply to text messages sent and received by your mobile device. Please check with your mobile carrier for details.
Opt-Out Option: You can opt-out of receiving text messages at any time by replying "STOP" to any message you receive from us. Upon receiving your "STOP" message, we will send a final confirmation text to confirm that you have been unsubscribed. After this, you will no longer receive text messages from us. You may also contact our office directly to opt-out.
No Sharing for Marketing: We will not sell, rent, or share your mobile phone number or text messaging consent with third parties for marketing purposes.
Secure Messaging Platform (if applicable): If we utilize a secure messaging platform for text communication that offers enhanced encryption and security features beyond standard SMS, we will inform you of its use and any specific requirements for accessing or using it.
Limiting PHI in Texts: While we strive to limit the amount of sensitive PHI in text messages, certain essential information related to your care may be included. We encourage you to contact us by phone or through our secure patient portal for highly sensitive discussions.
8. Security of Your Information
We implement reasonable administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to protect your PHI from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. These measures include, but are not limited to, secure electronic health record systems, data encryption, access controls, staff training, and physical security of our premises. Despite our efforts, no security system is completely impenetrable.
9. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We reserve the right to amend this Privacy Policy at any time. Any changes will be effective immediately upon posting the revised Privacy Policy on our website and making it available in our office. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we are protecting your information.
10. Complaints
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with us or with the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.
To file a complaint with Liv HRT, please contact:
Adolfo Bernal
Liv HRT
4107 Medical Pkwy
Suite 208
Austin, TX 78756
512-814-6642
office@livhrt.com
To file a complaint with the Department of Health and Human Services:
Office for Civil RightsU.S. Department of Health and Human Services200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201
1-877-696-6775
www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints/
Thank you for trusting Liv HRT with your healthcare needs. We are committed to protecting your privacy.
This Privacy Policy describes how Liv HRT ("we," "us," or "our") collects, uses, discloses, and protects your Protected Health Information (PHI) and other personal information. As a healthcare provider, we are committed to maintaining the privacy and security of your information in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and other applicable federal and state laws. Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. By accessing or using our services, you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy.
1. Our Commitment to Your Privacy
We are dedicated to safeguarding your health information. We are required by law to:
- Maintain the privacy of your PHI.
- Provide you with this Notice of Privacy Practices regarding your PHI.
- Notify you following a breach of unsecured PHI.
- Adhere to the terms of this Notice of Privacy Practices.
2. What is Protected Health Information (PHI)?
PHI is individually identifiable health information that relates to your past, present, or future physical or mental health or condition, the provision of healthcare to you, or the past, present, or future payment for the provision of healthcare to you. This includes demographic information, medical history, diagnoses, treatment plans, lab results, and billing information.
3. Information We Collect
We collect various types of information from you, including:
Identifiable Information: Name, date of birth, address, email address, phone number, gender, insurance information, and other contact details.
Medical Information: Medical history, current health conditions, medications, allergies, family history, lifestyle information, laboratory results, diagnostic images, treatment plans, and progress notes related to your hormone replacement therapy.
Payment Information: Billing address, credit card details, and insurance policy information for processing payments for our services.
Technical and Usage Information: IP address, device type, browser type, operating system, and information about your interactions with our website or digital platforms (e.g., pages viewed, time spent). This information may be collected through cookies and similar technologies.
4. How We Collect Information
We collect information directly from you when you:
Register as a patient.
Complete medical history forms.
Communicate with us in person, by phone, email, or text message.
Use our website or patient portal.
Participate in telehealth consultations.
We may also collect information from:
Other healthcare providers involved in your care (with your consent or as permitted by law).
Your insurance company for payment purposes.
5. How We Use and Disclose Your Information
We may use and disclose your PHI for the following purposes, primarily for Treatment, Payment, and Healthcare Operations (TPO), without your specific authorization:
Treatment: To provide, coordinate, and manage your healthcare and related services. This includes sharing your PHI with our staff, other healthcare professionals involved in your care (e.g., specialists, pharmacists, laboratories) to ensure you receive comprehensive and appropriate HRT.
Payment: To obtain payment for the healthcare services we provide.
Healthcare Operations: For our internal operations to ensure we provide quality care. This includes activities such as quality assessment and improvement, staff training, credentialing, business planning, and general administrative functions.
Appointment Reminders: To contact you with reminders about your appointments. We may leave messages on your answering machine or with the person answering the phone if you are not available.
Health-Related Communications: To inform you about health-related products, services, or treatment alternatives that may be of interest to you.
As Required by Law: When required by federal, state, or local law, such as for public health activities, judicial and administrative proceedings, law enforcement purposes, or to avert a serious threat to health or safety.
Public Health Activities: For public health activities and purposes, such as preventing or controlling disease, injury, or disability, or reporting vital events like births and deaths.
Research: In limited circumstances, for research purposes, provided that the research is approved by an institutional review board and safeguards are in place to protect your privacy.
Workers' Compensation: As authorized by and to the extent necessary to comply with laws relating to workers' compensation or other similar programs established by law.
Other Uses and Disclosures Requiring Your Authorization:
Any other uses and disclosures of your PHI not described above will only be made with your written authorization. You may revoke this authorization at any time, in writing, except to the extent that we have already acted in reliance on the authorization.
6. Your Health Information Rights
You have the following rights regarding your PHI:
Right to Access: You have the right to inspect and obtain a copy of your medical and billing records. We may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee for providing the copies.
Right to Amend: You have the right to request an amendment to your PHI if you believe it is incorrect or incomplete. We may deny your request under certain circumstances, but we will provide you with a written explanation for the denial.
Right to an Accounting of Disclosures: You have the right to request an accounting of certain disclosures of your PHI made by us.
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 all requested restrictions, except in certain cases where you pay out-of-pocket in full for a service and request that we not disclose PHI related solely to that service to your health plan.
Right to Request Confidential Communications: You have the right to request that we communicate with you about medical matters in a certain way or at a certain location. For example, you can ask that we only contact you at work or by mail. We will accommodate all reasonable requests.
Right to a Paper Copy of This Notice: You have the right to a paper copy of this Privacy Policy at any time, even if you have agreed to receive it electronically.
7. Text Messaging (SMS) Privacy Disclosures
Liv HRT may use text messaging (SMS) to communicate with you for healthcare-related purposes, such as appointment reminders, scheduling updates, prescription notifications, and general information about your HRT.
By opting in to receive text messages from Liv HRT, you understand and agree to the following:
Consent: Your consent to receive text messages is obtained explicitly. This may be through a signed consent form, an online opt-in, or by initiating text communication with us. You understand that consent is not a condition of receiving treatment.
Nature of Messages: Messages may include Protected Health Information (PHI) related to your treatment, payment, or healthcare operations.
Potential Risks: While we implement security measures to protect your information, standard text messages (SMS) are not always fully encrypted and may not be entirely secure. There is a risk that PHI contained in text messages could be intercepted or accessed by unauthorized third parties. This risk includes, but is not limited to, the possibility of messages being viewed by others if your phone is lost or stolen, or if your mobile service provider has security vulnerabilities.
Data and Message Rates: Standard message and data rates may apply to text messages sent and received by your mobile device. Please check with your mobile carrier for details.
Opt-Out Option: You can opt-out of receiving text messages at any time by replying "STOP" to any message you receive from us. Upon receiving your "STOP" message, we will send a final confirmation text to confirm that you have been unsubscribed. After this, you will no longer receive text messages from us. You may also contact our office directly to opt-out.
No Sharing for Marketing: We will not sell, rent, or share your mobile phone number or text messaging consent with third parties for marketing purposes.
Secure Messaging Platform (if applicable): If we utilize a secure messaging platform for text communication that offers enhanced encryption and security features beyond standard SMS, we will inform you of its use and any specific requirements for accessing or using it.
Limiting PHI in Texts: While we strive to limit the amount of sensitive PHI in text messages, certain essential information related to your care may be included. We encourage you to contact us by phone or through our secure patient portal for highly sensitive discussions.
8. Security of Your Information
We implement reasonable administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to protect your PHI from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. These measures include, but are not limited to, secure electronic health record systems, data encryption, access controls, staff training, and physical security of our premises. Despite our efforts, no security system is completely impenetrable.
9. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We reserve the right to amend this Privacy Policy at any time. Any changes will be effective immediately upon posting the revised Privacy Policy on our website and making it available in our office. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we are protecting your information.
10. Complaints
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with us or with the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.
To file a complaint with Liv HRT, please contact:
Adolfo Bernal
Liv HRT
4107 Medical Pkwy
Suite 208
Austin, TX 78756
512-814-6642
office@livhrt.com
To file a complaint with the Department of Health and Human Services:
Office for Civil RightsU.S. Department of Health and Human Services200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201
1-877-696-6775
www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints/
Thank you for trusting Liv HRT with your healthcare needs. We are committed to protecting your privacy.
Centrally located in Austin, TX
Hours
Mon-Fri: 9 am - 5 pm
Sat & Sun: 9 am - 12 pm