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.
Who Will Follow This Notice
This notice describes the practices of TestDepot and all TestDepot workforce members who handle your medical information.
Our Commitment to Your Privacy
TestDepot understands that medical information about you and your health is personal. We are committed to protecting your medical information while providing you with the highest level of care. This notice applies to all records of your care received or created by TestDepot.
Your protected health information (“PHI”) is information about you, including demographic information, that may identify you and relates to your past, present, or future physical or mental health and related health care services.
We are required by law to:
- Ensure that medical and other information that identifies you is protected and kept private
- Give you this notice of our legal duties and privacy practices
- Follow the terms of the notice that is currently in effect
Uses and Disclosures for Treatment, Payment, and Healthcare Operations
By becoming a patient of TestDepot, you consent to TestDepot using your protected health information for treatment, payment, and healthcare operations.
For Treatment: We may use and disclose your PHI so that TestDepot and its medical professionals can treat you. For example, we may use your past medical information to diagnose your present condition or provide information to another provider to whom we refer you.
For Payment: We may use and disclose your PHI so that we may be paid for the medical treatment we provide. For example, we will submit PHI to process payments for services provided to you.
For Healthcare Operations: We may use and disclose your PHI to perform tasks necessary to provide you with the highest quality of care. For example, we may use your PHI to evaluate how we can better meet your needs or provide information to an auditor who reviews our compliance.
Other Uses and Disclosures of Your Protected Health Information
The following uses of your PHI may be made without additional authorization from you. Not every use is listed, but all uses and disclosures made by TestDepot are only those permitted under the law.
Appointment Reminders: We may use and disclose your PHI to contact you as a reminder that you have an appointment. If you request such communications be made confidentially, please contact our office in writing.
Others Involved in Your Care: We may disclose to a family member, relative, close friend, or any other person you identify PHI that directly relates to that person’s involvement in your care. If you are unable to agree or object, we may disclose such information if we determine it is in your best interests based on our professional judgment.
Emergency Situations: We may use or disclose your PHI in an emergency treatment situation. If this happens, your provider will attempt to obtain your acknowledgment of this notice as soon as reasonably practicable after treatment.
Health-Related Benefits or Services: From time to time, TestDepot may use and disclose PHI to tell you about certain health-related benefits or services that may interest you.
Required by Law: We will use or disclose your PHI when required by federal, state, or local law. The use or disclosure will comply with the law and be limited to the relevant requirements.
Public Health Activities: We may disclose your PHI for public health activities to a public health authority permitted by law to collect or receive the information, such as controlling disease, injury, or disability.
Communicable Diseases: We may disclose your PHI, if authorized by law, to a person who may have been exposed to a communicable disease or may otherwise be at risk of contracting or spreading the disease.
Health Oversight Activities: We may disclose your PHI to a health oversight agency for activities authorized by law, including audits, investigations, and inspections necessary for government monitoring of the health care system.
Abuse or Neglect: We may disclose your PHI to a public health authority authorized to receive reports of child abuse or neglect. We may also disclose PHI if we believe you have been a victim of abuse, neglect, or domestic violence to a governmental entity authorized to receive such information.
Food and Drug Administration: We may disclose your PHI to a person or company required by the FDA to report adverse events, product defects, track products, enable recalls, or conduct post-market surveillance.
Lawsuits and Disputes: If you are involved in a lawsuit or dispute, we may disclose your PHI in response to a court order, administrative order, subpoena, discovery request, or other lawful process. If our fees are unpaid or disputed by you, or if you institute a chargeback, we may disclose your PHI in communicating with your bank or credit card company.
Law Enforcement: We may disclose your PHI if asked by a law enforcement official in response to a court order, subpoena, warrant, summons, or similar process. Other disclosures may include those relating to Armed Forces personnel, national security, and authorized federal officials for protection of the President or foreign heads of state.
Coroners, Funeral Directors, and Organ Donation: We may disclose your PHI to a coroner or medical examiner for identification purposes or to determine cause of death. We may also disclose to a funeral director to carry out legal duties or for organ donations to which you have agreed.
Research: We may disclose your PHI to researchers when their research has been approved and protocols have been established to ensure the privacy of your information.
Criminal Activity: We may disclose your PHI if we believe the disclosure is necessary to prevent or lessen a serious or imminent threat to health or safety, or if law enforcement authorities must identify or apprehend an individual.
Workers Compensation: We may release your PHI for workers’ compensation or similar programs that provide benefits for work-related injuries or illnesses.
Your Rights Regarding Your Protected Health Information
Right to Inspect and Copy: You have the right to inspect and copy PHI that may be used to make decisions about your care. This usually includes medical and billing records. Submit your request in writing. We may charge a fee for copying and mailing costs. Your request may only be denied in very limited circumstances, and you have a right to request review of any denial.
Right to Request Restrictions: You have the right to request that we restrict the use and disclosure of your PHI for treatment, payment, and healthcare operations. We are not required to agree to your request. If we do agree, we will comply unless the information is needed for emergency treatment. To request restrictions, submit your request in writing specifying how or where you wish to be contacted.
Right to Amend: If you feel that the PHI we have about you is incorrect or incomplete, you have the right to request an amendment. Only the healthcare entity that created your PHI is responsible for amending it. Contact our office for procedures to submit such a request.
Right to an Accounting of Disclosures: You have a right to an accounting of disclosures of your PHI for purposes other than treatment, payment, or healthcare operations. Submit your request in writing stating a time period not longer than six (6) years prior to your request. Your request should indicate the form in which you want the list.
Right to Request Confidential Communications: You may request that we communicate with you by specific methods or at different locations. We will accommodate all reasonable requests.
Right to a Paper Copy of This Notice: You have the right to a paper copy of this notice at any time upon request.
Other Uses of Protected Health Information
Other uses and disclosures of your PHI not covered by this notice or the laws that apply to TestDepot will be made only with your written authorization. If you provide us permission to use or disclose PHI about you, you may revoke that permission in writing at any time. If you revoke your permission, we will no longer use or disclose PHI about you for the reasons covered by your authorization. You understand that we cannot take back any disclosures we have already made with your permission and that we are required to retain our records of the care we have provided to you.
Business Associates
We may disclose your PHI to business associates who perform services on our behalf, such as compounding pharmacies, laboratory services, billing and payment processors, and technology providers. All business associates are required to protect your PHI under HIPAA.
TestDepot does not sell your protected health information.
Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of all or a portion of our assets, your PHI may be transferred as part of that transaction. The successor entity will be bound by this Notice of Privacy Practices.
Our Responsibilities
We are required by law to:
- Maintain the privacy and security of your PHI
- Provide you with this Notice of Privacy Practices
- Notify you if a breach occurs involving your unsecured health information
- Follow the terms of this notice
- Inform you if we update this notice and make it available to you
Changes to This Notice
TestDepot reserves the right to change this notice at any time. We reserve the right to make the revised notice effective for PHI we already have about you and any information we create or receive in the future. Updated versions will be available on our website and upon request.
Complaints
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with TestDepot or with the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. All complaints must be submitted in writing. You will not be penalized for filing a complaint.
Contact Information
If you have questions, requests, or complaints related to your privacy rights, contact:
Privacy Officer
TestDepot
12751 S. Cleveland Ave. #102 Fort Myers, Florida 33907
Email: support@testdepot.com
To file a complaint with the Department of Health and Human Services: Office for Civil Rights (OCR) Website: https://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy
Effective Date: January 1, 2025
