HARMONY FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC

Notice of Privacy Practices

Harmony Family Chiropractic and Laser Pain Center
100 Perry Highway, Unit 4
Harmony, PA 16037
(724) 452-7304

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

This Notice of Privacy Practices describes how Harmony Family Chiropractic and Laser Pain Center may use and disclose your health information and how you can access this information. It explains how we use and share your health information and describes your rights and our legal responsibilities under federal and state privacy laws.

Who This Notice Applies To

This Notice of Privacy Practices applies to Harmony Family Chiropractic and Laser Pain Center and the chiropractic, regenerative medicine, pain-relief, and related health care services we provide.

It also applies to our doctors, staff members, and Business Associates who assist us in providing or managing your care.

We follow the requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). This Notice applies to you as a patient of our practice and to the services we provide in connection with your care.

If you have questions regarding this Notice, please contact our Privacy Officer or a staff member at our office.

Privacy Officer
Harmony Family Chiropractic and Laser Pain Center
100 Perry Highway, Unit 4
Harmony, PA 16037
(724) 452-7304

OUR OBLIGATIONS

We are required by law to:

  • Maintain the privacy of your Protected Health Information (PHI).
  • Provide you with this Notice explaining our legal duties and privacy practices.
  • Follow the terms of the Notice currently in effect.

We may change the terms of this Notice from time to time. If we make a significant change, we will make the revised Notice available at our office and on our website.

You may obtain a current copy of this Notice at any time by contacting our Privacy Officer or asking a staff member at our office.

WHAT IS PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION (PHI)?

Protected Health Information, or PHI, is information about you that may identify you and relates to your past, present, or future physical or mental health condition, health care provided to you, or payment for that care.

PHI may include information contained in your medical records, treatment records, X-rays, insurance information, billing records, appointment information, and other information related to your care.

USES AND DISCLOSURES PERMITTED WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION

Federal law, including HIPAA, permits us to use and disclose your Protected Health Information for treatment, payment, and health care operations without obtaining a separate written authorization from you.

Treatment

We may use or disclose your PHI to provide, coordinate, or manage your health care and related services.

This may include sharing relevant information with another doctor, chiropractor, health care provider, specialist, or other professional involved in your care.

We may also use your PHI internally when evaluating your condition, developing a treatment plan, providing care, and monitoring your progress.

Payment

We may use or disclose your PHI to obtain payment for health care services provided to you.

This may include:

  • Billing your insurance company.
  • Verifying insurance eligibility or coverage.
  • Obtaining authorization for services when necessary.
  • Responding to requests from your health plan.
  • Processing claims.
  • Billing you for your portion of the cost of care.

Health Care Operations

We may use or disclose your PHI as necessary to support the normal operations of Harmony Family Chiropractic and Laser Pain Center.

Health care operations may include:

  • Quality assessment and improvement.
  • Staff training.
  • Internal reviews and audits.
  • Administrative activities.
  • Practice management.
  • Compliance activities.
  • Business planning.

We may also use patient sign-in procedures or call you by name in the waiting area as part of our normal office operations in a manner consistent with applicable privacy requirements.

BUSINESS ASSOCIATES

We may share your PHI with third-party Business Associates that provide services to our practice.

Examples may include companies that provide:

  • Medical billing.
  • Information technology support.
  • Electronic health record services.
  • Practice management software.
  • Record management.
  • Other administrative or professional services.

When required by HIPAA, these Business Associates are contractually required to appropriately protect the privacy and security of your PHI.

To the extent applicable, if a Business Associate receives records protected by federal substance use disorder confidentiality requirements, we will require the Business Associate to protect those records in accordance with applicable law.

USES AND DISCLOSURES REQUIRING YOUR WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION

Other uses and disclosures of your PHI will generally be made only with your written authorization unless otherwise permitted or required by law.

These may include:

  • Certain uses or disclosures of psychotherapy notes.
  • Uses and disclosures for marketing purposes.
  • Disclosures that constitute the sale of PHI.
  • Other uses or disclosures not described in this Notice.

If you provide written authorization, you may generally revoke that authorization by providing a written request to our Privacy Officer.

Revoking your authorization will not affect disclosures that were already made based on your previous authorization.

Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Records – 42 C.F.R. Part 2

Certain records relating to Substance Use Disorder treatment, if present in your medical record, may receive additional confidentiality protections under federal law.

Harmony Family Chiropractic and Laser Pain Center is primarily a chiropractic and related health care practice. We are not a Substance Use Disorder treatment program as defined by federal law.

However, we may receive or maintain information related to Substance Use Disorder treatment if you or another health care provider shares that information with us.

If our office maintains information protected by 42 C.F.R. Part 2, those records will be handled in accordance with the additional confidentiality requirements that apply to them.

When required by law, disclosure of these records may require specific written authorization. You may revoke an authorization for disclosure of protected SUD records by providing a written request to our Privacy Officer.

Most patients of our practice will not have records subject to these special rules. This section applies only when our office receives or maintains information protected under 42 C.F.R. Part 2.

OTHER PERMITTED AND REQUIRED USES AND DISCLOSURES

We may use or disclose your PHI without your authorization in certain circumstances permitted or required by law.

Public Health and Safety

We may disclose PHI for legally permitted public health activities, including reporting certain communicable diseases or helping prevent a serious threat to health or safety.

Health Oversight

We may disclose PHI to appropriate health oversight agencies for legally authorized audits, investigations, inspections, or compliance activities.

Abuse, Neglect, or Domestic Violence

We may disclose PHI to appropriate authorities when disclosure is permitted or required by law in connection with suspected abuse, neglect, or domestic violence.

Workers’ Compensation

We may disclose PHI as authorized or required to comply with workers’ compensation laws and similar programs.

Required by Law

We may disclose PHI when disclosure is required by federal, state, or local law.

Important Note About SUD Records: Certain disclosures described above may not apply in the same manner to information protected under 42 C.F.R. Part 2. Additional restrictions may apply to those records.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS & LAW ENFORCEMENT

We may disclose Protected Health Information in response to a valid court order, subpoena, discovery request, or other lawful legal process when permitted or required by law.

Records protected under federal Substance Use Disorder confidentiality regulations may be subject to additional restrictions. A subpoena or other legal request alone may not always be sufficient to authorize disclosure of information protected by 42 C.F.R. Part 2.

YOUR RIGHTS

You have certain rights regarding your Protected Health Information.

Inspect and Copy

You may request to inspect or obtain a copy of your PHI, subject to certain legal exceptions.

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

Request Restrictions

You may request that we limit certain uses or disclosures of your PHI.

We are not required to agree to every requested restriction unless otherwise required by law.

Confidential Communications

You may request that we communicate with you about your health information using an alternative method or at an alternative location.

For example, you may ask us to contact you at a specific telephone number or mailing address.

Amend Your Health Information

If you believe information in your health record is incorrect or incomplete, you may request that we amend the information.

We may deny an amendment request in certain circumstances permitted by law.

Accounting of Disclosures

You may request an accounting of certain disclosures we have made of your PHI as provided by applicable law.

Breach Notification

If there is a breach of your unsecured PHI, we will notify you when required by applicable law.

Paper Copy

You may request a paper copy of this Notice at any time, even if you have received or viewed the Notice electronically.

To exercise any of these rights, please submit your request to our Privacy Officer.

SPECIAL RIGHTS REGARDING SUD RECORDS

If Harmony Family Chiropractic and Laser Pain Center maintains information protected under 42 C.F.R. Part 2, additional confidentiality protections may apply.

Certain disclosures of this information may require your written authorization, and you may revoke that authorization as permitted by law.

Revocation will not affect disclosures already made in reliance on a valid authorization before the revocation was received.

COMPLAINTS

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with Harmony Family Chiropractic and Laser Pain Center.

To file a complaint with our office, contact:

Privacy Officer
Harmony Family Chiropractic and Laser Pain Center
100 Perry Highway, Unit 4
Harmony, PA 16037
Phone: (724) 452-7304

You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights.

You will not be penalized, denied treatment, or retaliated against for filing a privacy complaint.

EFFECTIVE DATE

This Notice of Privacy Practices is effective as of: October 1st, 2026