Effective Date: May 18, 2018

1. Introduction

At CMF Surgeons, we prioritize the privacy and confidentiality of your health information. This Privacy Policy outlines our practices regarding the collection, use, and disclosure of your Protected Health Information (PHI) in compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

2. Uses and Disclosures of PHI

We may use and disclose your PHI for the following purposes:

• Treatment: To provide, coordinate, or manage your healthcare services.
• Payment: To obtain payment for healthcare services provided to you.
• Healthcare Operations: To support the daily activities related to healthcare, such as quality assessments and licensing.

We may also use or disclose your PHI in other situations permitted or required by law, such as:

• Public Health Activities
• Health Oversight Activities
• Judicial and Administrative Proceedings
• Law Enforcement Purposes
• Organ and Tissue Donation
• Research Purposes
• To Avert a Serious Threat to Health or Safety
• Specialized Government Functions
• Workers’ Compensation

3. Your Rights Regarding PHI

You have the following rights concerning your PHI:

• Right to Inspect and Copy: You can request to inspect and obtain a copy of your PHI.
• Right to Amend: You may request corrections to your PHI if you believe it is incorrect or incomplete.
• Right to an Accounting of Disclosures: You can request a list of certain disclosures of your PHI made by us.
• Right to Request Restrictions: You may request limitations on how we use or disclose your PHI.
• Right to Request Confidential Communications: You can request that we communicate with you in a specific manner or at a specific location.
• Right to a Paper Copy of This Notice: You are entitled to a paper copy of this Privacy Policy upon request.

4. Our Responsibilities

We are required by law to:

• Maintain the privacy of your PHI.
• Provide you with this Privacy Policy detailing our legal duties and privacy practices.
• Abide by the terms of this Privacy Policy currently in effect.
• Notify you in case of a breach involving your unsecured PHI.

5.Use of SMS Text Messaging

• During your course of treatment we may use SMS text messaging services to communicate with you. During your registration, we will not improperly claim consent for sharing data with third parties for marketing purposes and any data shared with third parties will be limited to your care and the business’s purposes such as insurance reimbursement or regulatory agencies. Your mobile information will not be shared with third parties for marketing purposes under any circumstances.
• If you do receive messages from CMF Surgeons you can contact us via info@cmfsurgeons.com or call at 617-286-5780 to ask questions or concerns about your data privacy. We will not transfer any consumer data to external organizations without specific consent. Any data that is transmitted to a third party such as an insurance company or other healthcare provider will be sent via secure message and in compliance with HIPAA regulations. We do not sell, trade, or otherwise transfer to outside parties your Personally Identifiable Information without your consent, except as required by law. We utilize a HIPAA-compliant electronic medical record for any internal communications regarding your care, data, and communication with health insurance companies.
• -We do not sell or share your personal information with third parties without your explicit consent, except as required by law. We implement strict access controls and data protection measures to prevent unauthorized access or sharing of your data
• -To opt out of any SMS/text message for future communications, reply STOP to any message or contact us at info@cmfsurgeons.com.

6. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We reserve the right to change this Privacy Policy at any time. Changes will apply to all PHI we maintain. The updated Privacy Policy will be available on our website and at our office.

7. Complaints

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with us or with the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. To file a complaint with us, contact our Privacy Officer at the address listed below. You will not face retaliation for filing a complaint.

8. Contact Information

For questions or concerns regarding this Privacy Policy, please contact:

• Address: 287 Middlesex Avenue, Medford, MA 02155
• Phone: (617) 286-5780
• Website: https://www.cmfsurgeons.com

By choosing CMF Surgeons, you entrust us with your healthcare needs. We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the confidentiality of your health information.