Notice of Privacy Practices

Get an electronic or paper copy of your medical record

You may ask to see or receive a copy of your medical record and other health information we maintain about you.

Requests must be made in writing. We will respond as promptly as required by law. In Washington, providers generally must respond to a written request to examine or copy health care information no later than 15 working days after receiving the request, unless a lawful delay or denial applies.

We may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee when allowed by law.

We may deny access to certain information in limited circumstances allowed by law. If we deny access, we will tell you why in writing and explain any review rights that may apply.

Ask us to correct your medical record

You may ask us to correct health information about you that you believe is incorrect or incomplete.

Your request must be made in writing and should explain why you believe the information should be corrected.

We may deny your request in certain circumstances. If we deny your request, we will explain why in writing. You may submit a written statement of disagreement, which may be included in your record as allowed by law.

Request confidential communications

You may ask us to contact you in a specific way, such as calling a certain phone number, mailing information to a specific address, or limiting the details left in voicemail messages.

We will accommodate reasonable requests when possible. We will accommodate requests required by law.

Ask us to limit what we use or share

You may ask us not to use or disclose certain health information for treatment, payment, or health care operations.

We are not required to agree to every request. If we agree, we will follow the restriction unless the information is needed for emergency treatment or unless another law allows or requires disclosure.

If you pay for a health care item or service in full out of pocket and ask us not to share information about that item or service with your health plan for payment or health care operations, we will honor that request unless a law requires us to share the information.

Get a list of certain disclosures

You may ask for an accounting of certain disclosures of your health information.

This list will not include all disclosures. For example, it generally will not include disclosures made for treatment, payment, or health care operations, disclosures made to you, disclosures made with your written authorization, or disclosures otherwise excluded by law.

Get a copy of this Notice

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

Choose someone to act for you

If you have given someone medical power of attorney, if someone is your legal guardian, or if another person has legal authority to act for you, that person may exercise your rights and make choices about your health information.

We may ask for documentation showing that the person has authority to act for you.

For minors, parents or legal guardians usually have access to health information and may exercise privacy rights on behalf of the minor, except when state or federal law gives the minor independent confidentiality rights or otherwise limits parental access.

File a complaint

You may file a complaint if you believe your privacy rights have been violated.

You may file a complaint with us by contacting:

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.

Family, friends, caregivers, and others involved in your care or payment

You may tell us whether we may share information with family members, friends, caregivers, or others involved in your care or payment for your care.

For example, with your permission, we may discuss appointment scheduling, billing, insurance, treatment recommendations, or care instructions with your spouse, parent, adult child, caregiver, or another person you identify.

If you are present and able to make your preference known, we will follow your instructions. If you are not present or are unable to make your preference known, we may use professional judgment to determine whether sharing limited information is in your best interest.

We may also share limited information with someone who helps pay for your care, helps transport you, assists with scheduling, or is otherwise involved in your care, as permitted by law.

You may change your mind at any time by telling us in writing.

Appointment reminders and communication preferences

We may contact you to remind you of appointments, follow up about care, discuss billing or insurance, or provide information related to your treatment.

Depending on your preferences and the contact information you provide, we may contact you by phone, voicemail, text message, email, mail, or patient portal if available.

Text message and email may not be fully secure. By choosing these methods, you understand there may be some privacy risk unless secure messaging is used.

Marketing, sale of information, and public use of your information

We will not sell your protected health information.

We will not use or disclose your health information for marketing purposes without your written authorization when authorization is required by law.

We will not use your name, image, testimonial, review, or health information in public advertising, website content, social media, or promotional materials without your written authorization.

If you leave a public review online, we will not respond in a way that confirms you are a patient or reveals health information.

Fundraising

We do not currently use patient health information for fundraising.

If we ever contact patients for fundraising in the future, you will have the right to opt out of receiving such communications.

Written authorizations

We will ask for your written authorization before using or disclosing your health information for purposes not described in this Notice, unless a law permits or requires the use or disclosure.

You may revoke an authorization in writing at any time. Revocation will not affect information already used or disclosed before we received and processed your written revocation.

Information disclosed under your authorization may be redisclosed by the recipient and may no longer be protected by HIPAA.

To treat you

We may use and disclose your health information to provide, coordinate, or manage your care.

Example: A chiropractor may review your history, symptoms, imaging reports, medications, prior treatment records, and examination findings to evaluate your condition and recommend treatment. We may share information with another health care provider, such as your medical doctor, physical therapist, massage therapist, imaging facility, or referring provider, when needed for your care.

To run our clinic

We may use and disclose your health information for health care operations.

Example: We may use information in your record to review quality of care, train staff, evaluate provider performance, manage scheduling, conduct compliance activities, arrange business services, or improve clinic operations.

To bill for your services

We may use and disclose your health information to bill and obtain payment from you, your health plan, an auto insurer, a workers’ compensation program, a government program, or another responsible payer.

Example: We may send information about your diagnosis, treatment, dates of service, and charges to your health insurance company so it can process a claim.

To communicate with business associates

We may share health information with companies or individuals who perform services for us, such as billing companies, clearinghouses, electronic health record vendors, IT providers, payment processors, shredding companies, accountants, consultants, or attorneys.

When required by HIPAA, these business associates must agree to protect your information.

To help with public health and safety

We may use or disclose health information for certain public health and safety purposes, as permitted or required by law.

These may include:

• Preventing or controlling disease, injury, or disability.
• Reporting certain diseases or injuries.
• Reporting suspected abuse, neglect, or domestic violence.
• Preventing or reducing a serious threat to anyone’s health or safety.
• Reporting adverse events or product problems when applicable.

To comply with the law

We will disclose health information when federal, state, or local law requires us to do so.

This may include disclosures to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services if it wants to determine whether we are complying with federal privacy law.

For workers’ compensation, auto injury, and similar claims

We may use and disclose health information for workers’ compensation, Labor & Industries, auto injury, personal injury, disability, or similar claims as permitted or required by law.

Example: If you are treated for a work-related injury, we may provide information to the workers’ compensation program, your employer’s workers’ compensation carrier, or another legally responsible payer as permitted or required by law.

For health oversight activities

We may disclose health information to health oversight agencies for activities authorized by law.

These activities may include audits, investigations, inspections, licensure, credentialing, disciplinary actions, civil rights compliance, and other government oversight activities.

For lawsuits and legal proceedings

We may disclose health information in response to a court or administrative order, subpoena, discovery request, or other lawful process, but only as permitted or required by applicable law.

When Washington law or another applicable law requires additional notice, authorization, court order, or other protections before disclosure, we will follow those requirements.

For law enforcement

We may disclose health information for law enforcement purposes when permitted or required by law.

Examples may include responding to certain court orders, warrants, subpoenas, or other lawful requests; reporting certain injuries when required by law; or helping prevent or lessen a serious threat to health or safety.

For coroners, medical examiners, and funeral directors

We may disclose health information to coroners, medical examiners, or funeral directors when permitted or required by law.

For organ and tissue donation

We may disclose health information to organ procurement organizations or similar entities when applicable and permitted by law.

For research

We do not typically conduct research using patient records.

If we participate in research in the future, we will use or disclose health information for research only as permitted by law, which may require your written authorization or approval through a process designed to protect patient privacy.

For specialized government functions

We may disclose health information for certain specialized government functions, such as military, national security, protective services, or correctional institution purposes, when permitted or required by law.

Substance use disorder treatment records subject to 42 CFR Part 2

Valente Chiropractic PLLC is not a substance use disorder treatment program. However, we may receive or maintain records from another provider or program that are protected by federal substance use disorder confidentiality rules known as 42 CFR Part 2.

If we receive or maintain records subject to 42 CFR Part 2, we will use and disclose those records only as permitted by HIPAA, Part 2, and other applicable law.

Records subject to Part 2, or testimony describing the contents of those records, may not be used or disclosed in a civil, criminal, administrative, or legislative proceeding against you unless permitted by your written consent or by a court order after notice and an opportunity to be heard, as required by law.

Minimum necessary information

When we use, disclose, or request health information, we will make reasonable efforts to limit the information to the minimum necessary for the purpose, unless the law does not require this limitation, such as for treatment disclosures.

Paper, electronic, and oral information

This Notice applies to health information in any form, including paper records, electronic records, billing records, images, x-rays, reports, emails, text messages, phone calls, and verbal communications.

Record retention

We retain health records as required by applicable law and professional standards. Records may be stored in paper or electronic form.