Effective Date: February 28, 2025
Hormone Experts Clinic, operated by J&M Entrepreneurs, PLLC, doing business as The Hormone Experts (“Hormone Experts,” “Clinic,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), is committed to protecting the privacy and security of your Protected Health Information (“PHI”).
This Notice describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can access your information. Please review it carefully.
Hormone Experts Clinic is a HIPAA-covered entity and complies with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and applicable federal and state privacy laws.
1. What Is Protected Health Information (PHI)
Protected Health Information (“PHI”) includes information that identifies you and relates to:
• Your past, present, or future physical or mental health
• Healthcare services you receive
• Payment for healthcare services
Examples of PHI may include:
• Medical history
• Laboratory results
• Prescriptions
• Treatment plans
• Telehealth consultation records
• Billing and payment information related to healthcare services
2. How We May Use and Disclose Your PHI
Hormone Experts Clinic may use or disclose your PHI for the following purposes:
Treatment
We may use and disclose PHI to provide, coordinate, or manage your healthcare.
Examples include:
• Medical evaluations and consultations
• Laboratory test review
• Prescription management
• Care coordination with licensed pharmacies or laboratories
• Follow-up care and treatment monitoring
Payment
We may use PHI to obtain payment for healthcare services provided.
Examples include:
• Processing payments for services
• Verifying coverage where applicable
• Billing related healthcare services
Hormone Experts Clinic operates primarily as a cash-pay medical practice, but payment processing may still require limited use of health information.
Healthcare Operations
We may use PHI for administrative and operational purposes necessary to run our practice.
Examples include:
• Quality improvement and patient safety activities
• Staff training and clinical supervision
• Compliance and risk management
• Auditing and legal obligations
• Operational planning and management
3. Disclosures Required or Permitted by Law
We may disclose PHI when required or permitted by law, including but not limited to:
• Public health reporting
• Compliance with court orders or legal proceedings
• Health oversight activities
• Law enforcement requests permitted by law
• Preventing serious threats to health or safety
Such disclosures will be limited to the minimum amount of information necessary.
4. Telehealth & Electronic Communications
Hormone Experts Clinic may deliver healthcare services through secure telehealth technologies.
PHI may be collected, transmitted, and stored through electronic systems including:
• Secure patient portals
• Telehealth video platforms
• Electronic health record systems
• Encrypted communication systems
We implement reasonable safeguards to protect electronic PHI, but no electronic transmission can be guaranteed to be completely secure.
5. Our Commitment to Protecting Your Information
Hormone Experts Clinic uses administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect PHI.
These safeguards may include:
• Encrypted data transmission
• Secure patient portals
• Access controls and authentication systems
• Workforce privacy training
• Secure storage of medical records
• Regular system monitoring and risk assessments
Access to PHI is limited to authorized personnel and licensed providers who require the information to perform their job duties.
6. Business Associates
Hormone Experts Clinic may work with third-party service providers who assist in healthcare operations.
These providers may include:
• Telehealth platform providers
• Electronic medical record systems
• Laboratories
• Pharmacies
• Payment processors
These entities are considered Business Associates under HIPAA and are required to sign agreements to protect the confidentiality of PHI.
7. Your Rights Regarding Your Health Information
Under HIPAA, patients have specific rights regarding their PHI.
These rights include:
Right to Access Your Records
You have the right to request access to your medical records and obtain copies of your PHI.
Requests may be submitted through the patient portal or by contacting our office.
Right to Request Corrections
If you believe information in your medical record is inaccurate or incomplete, you may request a correction.
We will review the request and respond according to applicable laws.
Right to Request Restrictions
You may request restrictions on certain uses or disclosures of your PHI.
While we will consider such requests, we may not always be able to comply if the restriction interferes with treatment or legal obligations.
Right to Receive an Accounting of Disclosures
You may request a list of certain disclosures of your PHI made by Hormone Experts Clinic.
Right to Confidential Communications
You may request that we communicate with you through specific methods or at specific locations to maintain privacy.
Right to File a Complaint
You have the right to file a complaint if you believe your privacy rights have been violated.
You may file a complaint with:
Hormone Experts Clinic
or
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights
You will not face retaliation for filing a complaint.
8. Changes to This Privacy Policy
Hormone Experts Clinic reserves the right to update this Privacy Policy.
Changes will become effective when posted on our website or communicated to patients as required by law.
The most current version will always be available through our website.
9. Contact for HIPAA Concerns
If you have questions regarding this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your privacy rights, please contact:
Hormone Experts Clinic
Privacy Officer
1100 NW Loop 410
Suite 700
San Antonio, Texas 78213
United States
You may also contact the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights to file a privacy complaint.