HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices

1. Our Commitment to Your Privacy

Nexcell Surgical Specialists, LLC ("Nexcell," "we," "us," or "our") is required by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 ("HIPAA") and applicable state law to maintain the privacy of your protected health information ("PHI"), provide you with this Notice of our legal duties and privacy practices, abide by the terms of this Notice currently in effect, and notify you in the event of a breach of unsecured PHI.

2. How We May Use and Disclose Your Health Information

Treatment

We use and share PHI to provide, coordinate, and manage your wound care, including communicating with your other healthcare providers (primary care, surgeons, endocrinologists, home health agencies, hospice teams) involved in your care.

Payment

We use and share PHI to bill insurance carriers, verify benefits, obtain authorizations, and collect payment for services rendered.

Healthcare Operations

We use and share PHI for activities necessary to operate Nexcell, including quality assessment, staff training, business planning, and regulatory compliance.

As Required by Law

We will disclose PHI when required to do so by federal, state, or local law.

Public Health and Safety

We may disclose PHI for public health activities, abuse or neglect reporting, communicable disease control, FDA reporting, and to prevent serious threats to health or safety.

Health Oversight Activities

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

Judicial and Administrative Proceedings

We may disclose PHI in response to court orders, subpoenas, or discovery requests as permitted by law.

Law Enforcement

We may disclose PHI to law enforcement officials when required by law or in response to a valid legal request.

Coroners, Medical Examiners, and Funeral Directors

We may disclose PHI to these entities to assist them in their lawful duties.

Organ and Tissue Donation

We may disclose PHI to organizations that handle organ procurement or transplantation.

Research

We may use or disclose PHI for research purposes when an Institutional Review Board has approved a waiver of authorization, or with your written authorization.

Workers' Compensation

We may disclose PHI as authorized by workers' compensation laws.

Specially Protected Information

Certain types of PHI (such as substance use disorder records, HIV/AIDS information, or mental health records) may be protected by additional federal or state laws, and we will follow those stricter requirements where applicable.

Business Associates

We may share PHI with business associates who perform services on our behalf (such as billing or IT). These associates are required by contract and law to safeguard PHI.

3. Uses and Disclosures Requiring Your Authorization

We will obtain your written authorization before using or disclosing PHI for: marketing communications (other than face-to-face), the sale of PHI, most uses and disclosures of psychotherapy notes, and any purpose not described in this Notice. You may revoke an authorization in writing at any time, except for actions already taken in reliance on it.

4. Your Rights Regarding Your Health Information

Right to Inspect and Copy

You have the right to inspect and copy your PHI maintained in our designated record set. We may charge a reasonable cost-based fee.

Right to Request Amendment

You have the right to request that we amend PHI you believe is inaccurate or incomplete. We may deny the request under certain circumstances.

Right to an Accounting of Disclosures

You have the right to request a list of certain disclosures we have made of your PHI.

Right to Request Restrictions

You have the right to request restrictions on how we use or disclose PHI for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations. We are not required to agree, except in the case of a disclosure to a health plan for items or services you have paid for in full out of pocket.

Right to Request Confidential Communications

You have the right to request that we communicate with you about your health matters in a specific manner or at a specific location.

Right to a Paper Copy

You have the right to a paper copy of this Notice upon request, even if you have agreed to receive it electronically.

Right to Be Notified of a Breach

You have the right to be notified following a breach of unsecured PHI.

5. Our Responsibilities

• We are required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your PHI.
• We will notify you if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your PHI.
• We must follow the duties and privacy practices described in this Notice and provide you with a copy.
• We will not use or share your information other than as described here unless you authorize it in writing.

6. Changes to This Notice

We reserve the right to change this Notice and to make the new terms effective for all PHI we maintain. We will post the revised Notice in our Albuquerque office and at /hipaa-privacy-policy.

7. Complaints

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with us at the address below or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

8. Contact

For questions about this Notice or to exercise your rights:

Privacy Officer, Nexcell Surgical Specialists, LLC
3901 Georgia St NE Suite C4
Albuquerque, NM 87110
Phone: 505-624-8340
Email: hello@nexcell.org