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Notice of Privacy Practices

Better Health Whole Wellness Center 1638 Pine Street Philadelphia, PA 19103 (215) 710-0221 info@bhwwc.com

Effective Date of this Notice: January 1, 2026

As required by the regulations created with the passage of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).

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.

A. OUR COMMITMENT TO YOUR PRIVACY

Our practice is dedicated to maintaining the privacy of your protected health information (PHI). In conducting our business, we will create records regarding you and the treatment and services we provide to you. We are required by law to maintain the privacy of your protected health information. We are also required by law to provide you with this notice of our legal duties and the privacy practices that we maintain in our practice concerning your PHI. By federal and state law, we must follow the terms of the notice of privacy practices that we have in effect at the time.

We realize that these laws are complicated, but we must provide you with the following important information:

  • How we may use and disclose your PHI
  • Your privacy rights in your PHI
  • Our obligations concerning the use and disclosure of your PHI

The terms of this notice apply to all records containing your PHI that are created or retained by our practice. We reserve the right to revise or amend this Notice of Privacy Practices. Any revision or amendment to this notice will be effective for all of your records that our practice has created or maintained in the past, and for any of your records that we may create or maintain in the future. Our practice will post a copy of our current Notice in our offices in a visible location at all times, and you may request a copy of our most current Notice at any time.

B. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS NOTICE, PLEASE CONTACT:

Better Health Whole Wellness Center 1638 Pine Street Philadelphia, PA 19103 (215) 710-0221 info@bhwwc.com

C. WE MAY USE AND DISCLOSE YOUR PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION (PHI) IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS

The following categories describe the different ways in which we may use and disclose your PHI.

1. Treatment. Our practice may use your PHI to treat you. For example, we may ask you to have laboratory tests (such as blood work, etc.), and we may use the results to help us reach a diagnosis. We might use your PHI to write a prescription for you, or we might disclose your PHI to a pharmacy when we order a prescription for you. Many of the people who work for our practice — including, but not limited to, our doctors, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants — may use or disclose your PHI to treat you or to assist others in your treatment. Additionally, we may disclose your PHI to others who may assist in your care, such as your spouse, children, or parents. Finally, we may also disclose your PHI to other health care providers for purposes related to your treatment.

2. Payment. Our practice may use and disclose your PHI to bill and collect payment for the services and items you may receive from us. For example, we may contact your health insurer to certify that you are eligible for benefits (and for what range of benefits), and we may provide your insurer with details regarding your treatment to determine if your insurer will cover, or pay for, your treatment. We also may use and disclose your PHI to obtain payment from third parties that may be responsible for such costs, such as family members. Also, we may use your PHI to bill you directly for services and items. We may disclose your PHI to other health care providers and entities to assist in their billing and collection efforts.

3. Appointment Reminders. Our practice may use and disclose your PHI to contact you and remind you of an appointment.

4. Treatment Options. Our practice may use and disclose your PHI to inform you of potential treatment options or alternatives.

5. Release of Information to Family/Friends. Our practice may release your PHI to a friend or family member that is involved in your care, or who assists in taking care of you.

6. Disclosures Required By Law. Our practice will use and disclose your PHI when we are required to do so by federal, state, or local law.

D. USE AND DISCLOSURE OF YOUR PHI IN CERTAIN SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES

The following categories describe unique scenarios in which we may use or disclose your identifiable health information without an authorization from you:

1. Public Health Risks. Our practice may disclose your PHI to public health authorities that are authorized by law to collect information for the purpose of:

  • Maintaining vital records, such as births and deaths
  • Reporting child abuse or neglect
  • Preventing or controlling disease, injury, or disability
  • Notifying a person regarding potential exposure to a communicable disease
  • Notifying a person regarding a potential risk for spreading or contracting a disease or condition
  • Reporting reactions to drugs or problems with products or devices
  • Notifying individuals if a product or device they may be using has been recalled
  • Notifying appropriate government agency(ies) and authority(ies) regarding the potential abuse or neglect of an adult patient (including domestic violence); however, we will only disclose this information if the patient agrees or we are required or authorized by law to disclose this information
  • Notifying your employer under limited circumstances related primarily to workplace injury or illness or medical surveillance

2. Health Oversight Activities. Our practice may disclose your PHI to a health oversight agency for activities authorized by law. Oversight activities can include, for example, investigations, inspections, audits, surveys, licensure and disciplinary actions; civil, administrative, and criminal procedures or actions; or other activities necessary for the government to monitor government programs, compliance with civil rights laws and the health care system in general.

3. Victims of Abuse, Neglect, or Domestic Violence. We may disclose your PHI to a government agency (including a social service or protective services agency) if we reasonably believe you to be the victim of abuse, neglect, or domestic violence, and the agency is authorized by law to receive such reports. We will only do so if you agree to the disclosure, or if we are expressly authorized by law to make the disclosure and either believe the disclosure to be necessary to prevent serious harm to you or other potential victims, or if you are unable to agree because of incapacity and a law enforcement or other authorized public official represents that the PHI is not intended to be used against you.

4. Lawsuits and Similar Proceedings. Our practice may use and disclose your PHI in response to a court or administrative order, if you are involved in a lawsuit or similar proceeding. We also may disclose your PHI in response to a discovery request, subpoena, or other lawful process by another party involved in the dispute, but only if we have made an effort to ensure that you have been informed of the request or to obtain either an order protecting the information the party has requested or satisfactory assurances that you have been notified in accordance with federal regulations.

5. Law Enforcement. We may release PHI if asked to do so by a law enforcement official:

  • Regarding a crime victim with the victim’s permission, or if we are unable to obtain the person’s agreement
  • Concerning a death we believe has resulted from criminal conduct
  • Regarding criminal conduct at our offices
  • As required by law, in response to a warrant, summons, court order, subpoena or similar legal process
  • To identify or locate a suspect, material witness, fugitive, or missing person
  • In an emergency, to report a crime (including the location or victim(s) of the crime, or the description, identity, or location of the perpetrator)

6. Serious Threats to Health or Safety. Our practice may use and disclose your PHI when necessary to reduce or prevent a serious threat to your health and safety or the health and safety of another individual or the public. Under these circumstances, we will only make disclosures to a person or organization able to help prevent the threat.

7. Military. Our practice may disclose your PHI if you are a member of U.S. or foreign military forces (including veterans) and if required by the appropriate authorities.

8. National Security. Our practice may disclose your PHI to federal officials for intelligence and national security activities authorized by law. We also may disclose your PHI to federal officials in order to protect the President, other officials, or foreign heads of state, or to conduct investigations.

9. Decedents. Our practice may disclose your PHI to a coroner or medical examiner for identification purposes or determining cause of death, as authorized by law, or to a funeral director as necessary to carry out their duty, consistent with applicable law.

10. Research. If our practice participates in research and obtains approval from an institutional review board or a privacy board, we may disclose your PHI for certain research purposes.

11. Workers’ Compensation. Our practice may disclose your PHI as authorized by law, and to the extent necessary to comply with laws relating to workers’ compensation.

E. YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING YOUR PHI

You have the following rights regarding the PHI that we maintain about you:

1. Confidential Communications. You have the right to request that our practice communicate with you about your health and related issues in a particular manner or at a certain location. For instance, you may ask that we contact you at home rather than at work. In order to request a type of confidential communication, you must make a written request to Better Health Whole Wellness Center, 1638 Pine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, or email info@bhwwc.com, specifying the requested method of contact or the location where you wish to be contacted. Our practice will accommodate reasonable requests. You do not need to give a reason for your request.

2. Requesting Restrictions. You have the right to request a restriction in our use or disclosure of your PHI for treatment, payment, or health care operations. Additionally, you have the right to request that we restrict our disclosure of your PHI to only certain individuals involved in your care or the payment for your care, such as family members and friends. We are not required to agree to your request; however, if we do agree, we are bound by our agreement except when otherwise required by law, in emergencies, or when the information is necessary to treat you. In order to request a restriction, you must make your request in writing to Better Health Whole Wellness Center, 1638 Pine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, or email info@bhwwc.com.

3. Inspection and Copies. You have the right to inspect and obtain a copy of the PHI that may be used to make decisions about you, including patient medical records and billing records, but not including psychotherapy notes. You must submit your request in writing to Better Health Whole Wellness Center, 1638 Pine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, or email info@bhwwc.com. Our practice may charge a fee for the costs of copying, mailing, labor, and supplies associated with your request.

4. Amendment. You may ask us to amend your health information if you believe it is incorrect or incomplete. To request an amendment, your request must be made in writing and submitted to Better Health Whole Wellness Center, 1638 Pine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, or email info@bhwwc.com. You must provide us with a reason that supports your request for amendment.

5. Accounting of Disclosures. All of our patients have the right to request an “accounting of disclosures” — a list of certain nonroutine disclosures our practice has made of your PHI for non-treatment, non-payment, or non-operations purposes. In order to obtain an accounting of disclosures, you must submit your request in writing to Better Health Whole Wellness Center, 1638 Pine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, or email info@bhwwc.com. All requests must state a time period, which may not be longer than six (6) years from the date of disclosure and may not include dates before April 14, 2003. The first list you request within a 12-month period is free of charge, but our practice may charge you for additional lists within the same 12-month period.

6. Right to a Paper Copy of This Notice. You are entitled to receive a paper copy of our Notice of Privacy Practices at any time. To request a paper copy, contact Better Health Whole Wellness Center at 1638 Pine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, call (215) 710-0221, or email info@bhwwc.com.

7. Right to File a Complaint. If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with our practice or with the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. To file a complaint with our practice, contact Better Health Whole Wellness Center, 1638 Pine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, or email info@bhwwc.com. All complaints must be submitted in writing. You will not be penalized for filing a complaint.

8. Right to Provide an Authorization for Other Uses and Disclosures. Our practice will obtain your written authorization for uses and disclosures that are not identified by this notice or permitted by applicable law. Any authorization you provide to us regarding the use and disclosure of your PHI may be revoked at any time in writing. After you revoke your authorization, we will no longer use or disclose your PHI for the reasons described in the authorization. Please note, we are required to retain records of your care.

Uses which require an authorization include: certain uses or disclosures of psychotherapy notes; uses and disclosures made for marketing purposes; or the sale of your protected health information.

If you have any questions regarding this notice or our health information privacy policies, please contact us at:

Better Health Whole Wellness Center 1638 Pine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103 (215) 710-0221 | info@bhwwc.com