This Privacy Policy is being provided pursuant to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”) and the Texas Medical Privacy Act (“TMPA”) to share the rights you have when interacting with the Harbor Health site. The Harbor Health team recognizes the importance of the confidentiality of your health information and is committed to protecting your health information. The Harbor Health team wants to also share with you some risks and responsibilities you have as a user of this site and any disclosures of information that may occur for lawful purposes. The term “Harbor Health team” in this Privacy Policy includes The Harbor Health Medical Group clinics, its healthcare providers, and any of its designated affiliates or business associates covered by regulations under HIPAA and TMPA.
You have the right to know how we protect your privacy and the rights you have with respect to
your personal health information. Your personal health information is defined as any individually
identifiable information, including demographic information that relates to the individual’s
physical or mental health condition and all healthcare provided to an individual. The Harbor
Health site does collect information that is unrelated to any personally identifying information
and is used to improve the quality and functionality of the site. The cookie is a code transferred
from your hard drive for recordkeeping purposes and allows the site to recognize you and
provide a better user experience. Acceptance or use of our cookie will never link personal
information, health information, or any identifying information. Harbor Health does not contract
with or sell data or information to third parties from information collected by the cookies or other
data collection methods. You have the right to opt out of the cookies by declining their use by
your web browser or making a request here: compliance@harborhealthteam.com.
You are entitled to a copy of this Privacy Policy and will receive one at your initial visit. You may
also request a copy at any time from compliance@harborhealth.com or from your next visit with
the Harbor Health team.
You are entitled to electronic or paper copies of your medical records. The Harbor Health team
will maintain and protect your medical records, but you have the right upon notice to the Harbor
Health team to access, inspect, or receive these records. Harbor Health may charge a
reasonable fee for providing you with these records and will strive to respond to your request as
timely as possible. You may make a request here compliance@harborhealthteam.com.
You may make a request to amend your medical records if you believe the health information
stored by Harbor Health is inaccurate or incomplete. Harbor Health may not honor a request
where information is accurate and complete as determined by Harbor Health. Harbor Health
also cannot make any amendments to records not created by Harbor Health.
You may make a request to receive your medical records or discuss medical matters in a
certain way or location. You must specify how you wish for the medical records or medical
communications are made to you and the Harbor Health team will endeavor to accommodate
reasonable requests.
You may make a request of the individuals with whom the Harbor Health team has disclosed
protected health information. Harbor Health will provide disclosures for the past six years, but is
not obligated to account for any disclosures made pursuant to the authorized uses of your
protected health information detailed herein.
You may file a complaint if you feel that your privacy rights have been violated by submitting a
complaint to the Harbor Health team by sending notice to the Harbor Health Privacy Officer at
compliance@harborhealthteam.com or to 505 W Louis Henna Blvd, STE 100 Round Rock (or
Austin), TX 78728. Privacy complaints may also be made to the Texas Health and Human
Services by calling 2-1-1 or 877-541-7905, toll-free. If you are hearing or speech impaired, you
may call 7-1-1 or 800-735-2989 (TTY). Or you may email your complaint to the HHS Privacy
Division at privacy@hhsc.state.tx.us. You may also make a health information privacy
complaint by sending an email to OCR at OCRMail@hhs.gov or call the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights toll-free at: 1-800-368-1019, TDD: 1-800-
537-7697.
Harbor Health may use and disclose your health information in certain instances for certain
purposes described below. These disclosures are authorized under HIPAA and TMPA which
allow the use of this information in these instances and authorization cannot be revoked or
limited.
Harbor Health may use and disclose health information for your treatment and treatment-related
healthcare services. Your health information may be shared by Harbor Health with other
healthcare providers in and out of the Harbor Health team to assist in your continued care.
Harbor Health may use or disclose your health information to obtain payment from your health
plan, insurance carrier, third-party payer, or any third-party administrator who facilitates
payments for your healthcare services. Your information will be protected at all times and only
disclosed as necessary to receive payment for your healthcare services or items.
Harbor Health may use and share your health information for operational purposes such as
monitoring of quality of care, teaching healthcare professionals, and improving the quality of
your experience at Harbor Health. These disclosures will be the minimum necessary to educate
and implement the education or improvements of Harbor Health.
Harbor Health may disclose your health information to individuals or entities (“Business
Associates”) who perform business services on behalf of Harbor Health. The Business
Associates may include billing companies, third party administrators, quality assurance
reviewers, accountants or attorneys to perform certain services for Harbor Health. These
disclosures will be the minimum necessary to perform these business services and all Business
Associates are covered by the privacy restrictions and requirements of this Privacy Policy,
HIPAA, and TMPA.
Harbor Health may disclose your health information to family members, relatives, or close
friends who may need the information to provide for your care or payment of your services. You
may request specific individuals you do not want Harbor Health to disclose personal information
to by submitting a request here compliance@harborhealthteam.com.
Harbor Health may participate in certain research projects, scientific studies or statistics, which
information will be de-identified in a manner that does not provide any reasonable basis to
identify you.
Harbor Health may disclose your health information in certain legal contexts such as required
notices for data breach notifications, court or administrative orders, valid or lawful subpoenas,
governmental investigation, inspections, or licensure. In response to any subpoena requests
that are not accompanied by a court order, Harbor Health will try to provide you with notice
subject to the requirements set out under HIPAA, TMPA, and other applicable federal or state
law.
Harbor Health may provide information to authorities in situations where public health or safety
issues are needed to protect the life, safety and health of you or others. Your information may
be disclosed to public health or legal authorities to assist in preventing or controlling disease.
Your information may be disclosed to authorities in response to reports of abuse, neglect, or
domestic violence.
Harbor Health may provide information to funeral directors in order for the funeral director to
carry out their duties.
Any other use of your health information will only be disclosed with your permission and written
consent. This permission or written consent may be revoked by you at any time and permission or consent may be withheld by you for any reason.