Privacy Policy
HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices
Effective Date: February 16, 2026
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. THE PRIVACY OF YOUR MEDICAL INFORMATION IS IMPORTANT TO US.
We are required by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 and its implementing regulations, as amended from time to time (collectively, “HIPAA”), to maintain the privacy and security of your health information. As part of our commitment to protecting your information, we utilize encryption and other safeguards for our electronic records containing protected health information. In the event that a breach of unsecured protected health information occurs, we will notify you as required by applicable law.
We are also required to provide you with this Notice of Privacy Practices (“Notice”), which describes our privacy practices and legal responsibilities, as well as your rights regarding your health information. We are required to follow the privacy practices described in this Notice while it remains in effect. We will not use or disclose your health information except as described in this Notice or as otherwise permitted or required by law.
This Notice becomes effective on February 16, 2026, and will remain in effect until it is revised or replaced.
We reserve the right to change our privacy practices and to update this Notice at any time. If we make material changes to this Notice, we will revise the Notice and update it on our website. The revised Notice will include a new effective date and will apply to all health information we maintain. The most current version of this Notice will always be available on our website and upon request.
If you have questions about our privacy practices or would like an additional copy of this Notice, please contact us using the information provided at the end of this Notice.
USES AND DISCLOSURES OF HEALTH INFORMATION WITHOUT WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION
A. Uses and Disclosures for Treatment, Payment, and Health Care Operations
We are required to disclose your health information to you, as described in this Notice. We may also use and disclose your health information, in electronic or other form, for purposes of treatment, payment, and health care operations. The following are examples of situations in which we may use or disclose your health information without your written authorization.
Treatment: We may use your health information to provide treatment and services to you. We may disclose your health information to our employees and others involved in your care. We may also share your health information with physicians, specialists, pharmacists, laboratories, dental laboratories, or other health care providers involved in your treatment, including those who perform diagnostic testing or fabricate dental prostheses and orthodontic appliances.
Payment: We may use and disclose your health information to obtain payment for the services we provide, including submitting claims to your health or dental insurance plan. However, if you pay for a service in full out-of-pocket and request that we not disclose information about that service to your health plan, we will honor that request unless disclosure is otherwise required by law.
Health Care Operations: We may use and disclose your health information for our health care operations. These activities include quality assessment and improvement, staff training, performance evaluations, credentialing, licensing, accreditation, certification, compliance activities, and other business management functions necessary to operate our practice.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Technology-Assisted Services: As part of our health care operations, we may use technology tools, including artificial intelligence (AI), to assist with patient communications, appointment scheduling, call routing, call documentation, quality assurance, staff training, and administrative support functions. These tools may be used during telephone communications and other operational workflows to improve efficiency and support the delivery of care and related services. We take reasonable measures to protect your information and limit its use to what is necessary for these purposes.
Individuals Involved in Your Care or Payment for Your Care: Unless you object, we may disclose relevant health information to a family member, friend, or other person you identify as being involved in your care or payment for your care. If you are unavailable or unable to agree or object, we may use our professional judgment to determine whether a disclosure is in your best interest and will limit the information disclosed to what is reasonably necessary. We may also share information with individuals involved in your care to notify them of your location, general condition, or death. In addition, we may allow a person acting on your behalf to pick up prescriptions, medical supplies, X-rays, appliances, or similar items when appropriate.
Business Associates: We may disclose your health information to third parties, known as “business associates,” that perform services on our behalf and require access to the information to carry out those services. Business associates are required by law and contract to safeguard your health information and use it only for the purposes for which it was provided. Examples include billing companies, information technology providers, cloud storage providers, practice management consultants, and other service providers that support our operations.
Appointment Reminders, Treatment Alternatives, and Health-Related Benefits and Services: We may use and disclose your health information to contact you with appointment reminders, including by voicemail, text message, email, mail, patient portal message, or other electronic communications. We may also use your health information to inform you about treatment alternatives, preventive care recommendations, and health-related benefits or services that may be of interest to you.
Patient-Related Communications: We may use and disclose your health information in connection with patient care communications and services, including intraoral photography, prescription communications, patient education programs, preventive care initiatives, and similar activities that support your treatment and ongoing oral health.
B. Uses and Disclosures for the Public Need
We may use or disclose your health information as required by law and to meet important public needs, including the following:
Required by Law: We may use or disclose your health information when required to do so by federal, state, or local law.
Public Health Activities: We may disclose your health information to authorized public health authorities for purposes such as preventing or controlling disease, injury, or disability, reporting adverse events, or carrying out other public health activities authorized by law.
Health Oversight Activities: We may disclose your health information to government agencies authorized to conduct audits, inspections, investigations, licensure reviews, and other oversight activities, including agencies responsible for monitoring programs such as Medicare and Medicaid.
Abuse, Neglect, or Domestic Violence: We may disclose your health information to appropriate government authorities if we reasonably believe you may be a victim of abuse, neglect, domestic violence, or certain other crimes, as permitted or required by law.
Product Monitoring, Repair, and Recall: We may disclose your health information to entities regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for purposes including reporting or tracking product defects, facilitating product recalls, monitoring product performance, repairing or replacing products, or reporting adverse reactions to medications or medical devices.
Lawsuits and Disputes: We may disclose your health information in response to a court order, administrative order, subpoena, discovery request, or other lawful process, provided that applicable legal requirements have been satisfied.
Law Enforcement: We may disclose your health information to law enforcement officials as permitted or required by law, including in response to court orders, warrants, subpoenas, or to assist in locating a suspect, fugitive, material witness, missing person, or victim of a crime.
To Avert a Serious Threat to Health or Safety: We may disclose your health information when necessary to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to your health or safety or the health or safety of another person, consistent with applicable law and professional standards.
Workers’ Compensation: We may disclose your health information as authorized by and to the extent necessary to comply with workers’ compensation laws and similar programs that provide benefits for work-related injuries or illnesses.
National Security and Specialized Government Functions: We may disclose health information to authorized federal officials for lawful intelligence, counterintelligence, national security activities, or protective services. We may also disclose health information to military authorities under circumstances permitted by law. If you are an inmate or in the lawful custody of law enforcement, we may disclose health information as necessary for your health care, safety, security, or the administration of the correctional facility.
Coroners, Medical Examiners, Funeral Directors, and Organ Donation: We may disclose health information to coroners, medical examiners, funeral directors, and organizations involved in organ, eye, or tissue donation and transplantation as authorized by law.
Research: We may use or disclose your health information for research purposes when such use or disclosure is approved or otherwise permitted by law.
C. De-Identified Health Information
We may use and disclose health information that has been de-identified in accordance with applicable federal and state law. De-identified information does not identify you and cannot reasonably be used to identify you.
We may also use or disclose limited data sets for research, public health, or health care operations purposes when permitted by law and when appropriate agreements are in place to protect the privacy and security of the information. Such information will not include direct identifiers such as your name, address, telephone number, email address, Social Security number, or other information that directly identifies you.
REQUIREMENT FOR WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION
We may use and disclose your health information for treatment, payment, health care operations, and other purposes described in this Notice. Uses and disclosures not described in this Notice will be made only with your written authorization, unless otherwise permitted or required by law.
You may authorize us in writing to use or disclose your health information for any purpose. For example, we generally must obtain your written authorization before using or disclosing your health information for marketing purposes or for disclosures that constitute a sale of your health information. Marketing generally means a communication about a product or service that encourages the purchase or use of that product or service.
You may revoke an authorization at any time by submitting a written request using the contact information provided at the end of this Notice. Your revocation will not affect any use or disclosure made in reliance on your authorization before it was revoked.
YOUR RIGHTS TO ACCESS AND CONTROL YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION
Access to Your Health Information
You have the right to inspect and obtain a copy of your health information, with limited exceptions. If we maintain your health information electronically, you may request an electronic copy in the form and format you prefer if it is readily producible in that format. If not, we will provide it in a mutually agreeable alternative format.
You may also direct us to send a copy of your health information to a third party that you clearly designate in writing.
We may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee as permitted by law. Requests for access must be made in writing. We will respond within the timeframes required by applicable federal and state law. If additional time is needed, we will notify you in writing.
If access is denied, you may have the right to have that decision reviewed by a licensed health care professional who was not involved in the original decision. If access remains denied, you will receive a written explanation of the reason for the denial.
Accounting of Disclosures
You have the right to request an accounting of certain disclosures of your health information made by us or our business associates during the six years prior to your request. This accounting will not include disclosures made for treatment, payment, health care operations, or other disclosures exempt under federal law.
One accounting in any twelve-month period will be provided at no charge. We may charge a reasonable fee for additional requests within the same twelve-month period.
Restrictions
You have the right to request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures of your health information. While we are not required to agree to all requested restrictions, we will comply with any restriction to which we agree.
We must agree to your request not to disclose information to your health plan for payment or health care operations purposes if:
- The disclosure is not otherwise required by law; and
- The information relates solely to a health care item or service that has been paid for in full out-of-pocket by you or someone on your behalf.
Confidential Communications
You have the right to request that we communicate with you in a particular manner or at a specific location. We will accommodate reasonable requests. For example, you may request that we contact you only at work, by mail, through a patient portal, or at an alternative address.
Amendment of Health Information
If you believe information in your record is incorrect or incomplete, you may request an amendment in writing. Your request must explain why the information should be changed.
We may deny your request if:
- We did not create the information;
- The information is not maintained by our practice;
- The information is accurate and complete; or
- The information is not available for inspection under applicable law.
If your request is denied, you may submit a written statement of disagreement, which will become part of your record.
Notification of a Breach
We are required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information. If a breach of unsecured protected health information occurs that may compromise the privacy or security of your information, we will notify you as required by law.
Paper Copy of This Notice
You have the right to receive a paper copy of this Notice at any time, even if you have agreed to receive it electronically.
Choose Someone to Act for You
If you have granted someone medical power of attorney, or if someone is your legal guardian or personal representative, that person may exercise your rights and make choices regarding your health information, consistent with applicable law.
Language Assistance Services
We provide language assistance services and appropriate auxiliary aids and services free of charge when required by law.
YOUR CHOICES
For certain health information, you have the right to tell us how you would like us to share information.
You may instruct us to:
- Share information with family members, close friends, or others involved in your care or payment for your care.
- Share information in disaster relief situations.
- Contact you using specific communication methods.
If you are unable to communicate your preferences, we may use our professional judgment to determine whether sharing information is in your best interest.
You may also opt out of receiving fundraising communications from us at any time.
REQUIREMENTS OF OTHER LAWS
Certain federal and state laws provide additional privacy protections for particularly sensitive information. These protections may apply to information relating to:
- HIV/AIDS and other communicable diseases;
- Genetic information;
- Mental health records and psychotherapy notes;
- Alcohol and substance use disorder treatment records protected under 42 CFR Part 2; and
- Other information protected by applicable state or federal law.
When these additional protections apply, we will use and disclose such information only as permitted or required by applicable law.
CONTACT INFORMATION
If you have any questions about this Notice, you may contact us at 561-898-1010 or write us at:
1402 Royal Palm Beach Blvd, Ste 500A
Royal Palm Beach, FL 33411
Info@lakeviewdentalfl.com
COMPLAINTS
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, or if you have questions or concerns regarding our privacy practices, you may contact us using the information provided above.
You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights. Information regarding how to file a complaint is available upon request or may be obtained directly from the Office for Civil Rights.
We will not retaliate against you or penalize you in any way for filing a complaint.
