Notice of Privacy Practices

Note: 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. If you have any questions, please contact our Privacy Office at the phone number or email address listed at the bottom of this notice.

Our pledge to you

We understand that medical information about you is personal. We are committed to protecting medical information about you. We create a record of the care and services you receive to provide quality care and to comply with legal requirements. This notice applies to all of the records of your care generated by any of the separate facilities and providers described below. We are required by law to:

Keep medical information about you private and secure;
Give you this notice of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to medical information about you; and
Follow the terms of the notice that is currently in effect.

How we may use and disclose medical information about you

We may use and disclose medical information about you without your prior authorization for treatment, such as

sending medical information about you to a specialist as part of a referral (this includes psychiatric or HIV information if needed for purposes of your diagnosis and treatment);
to obtain payment for treatment, such as sending billing information to your insurance company or Medicare; and
to support our healthcare operations, such as comparing patient data to improve treatment methods or for professional education purposes.

Note: Only limited psychiatric or HIV information may be disclosed for billing purposes without your authorization

If you are treated in a specialized substance abuse program, your special authorization is required for most disclosures other than emergencies.

Other examples of such uses and disclosures include contacting you for appointment reminders and telling you about or recommending possible treatment options, alternatives, health-related benefits or services that may be of interest to you.

We may also contact you to support our fundraising efforts. It is always your choice to opt out of receiving fundraising communications from us.

We may use or disclose medical information about you without your prior authorization for several other reasons, subject to certain requirements, including for

public health purposes,
abuse or neglect reporting,
disease prevention,
health oversight audits or inspections,
working with coroners or medical examiners,
funeral arrangements and organ donation,
workers’ compensation purposes,
emergencies,
national security and other specialized government functions, and
for members of the Armed Forces as required by Military Command authorities.

We also disclose medical information when required by law, such as in response to a request from law enforcement in specific circumstances, or in response to valid judicial or administrative orders or other legal processes.

Under certain circumstances, we may use and disclose health information about you for research purposes, subject to a special approval process. We may also allow potential researchers to review information that may help them prepare for research, so long as the health information they review does not leave our facility, and so long as they agree to specific privacy protections.

We may disclose medical information about you to a friend or family member whom you designate or in appropriate circumstances, unless you request a restriction. We may also disclose information to disaster relief authorities so that your family can be notified of your location and condition.

If you are not able to tell us your preference, for example if you are unconscious, we may share your information if we believe it is in your best interest. We may also share your information when needed to lessen a serious and imminent threat to health or safety.

In any other situation not covered by this notice, including the use or disclosure of psychotherapy notes or the use or disclosure of medical information about you to sell such information or for marketing purposes, we will ask for your written authorization before using or disclosing medical information about you. If you choose to authorize use or disclosure, you can later revoke that authorization by notifying us in writing of your decision.

Who will follow this notice?

TAMU-CC University Health Center facility provides health care to our patients in partnership with other professionals and healthcare organizations. The information privacy practices in this notice will be followed by:

Any healthcare professional who treats you at any of the locations of our entities listed above; and
All employees, medical staff, affiliates, trainees, students, or volunteers of our entities listed above.

While each of these facilities and affiliates operates independently, they may share your health information with each other for coordination of care, treatment, payment, and healthcare operations purposes.

Right to be notified of a breach

We will notify you promptly in the event that the confidentiality of your information has been breached.

Right to access and or amend your records

In most cases, you have the right to look at or get an electronic or paper copy of medical information that we use to make decisions about your care. All requests for copies or access must be submitted in writing to the Medical Record or Billing Department of the respective entity, as appropriate. If your request for inspection is granted, we will arrange for a convenient time and place for you to look at your record. If you request copies, we may charge a fee for the cost of copying, mailing, or other related supplies. If we deny your request to review or obtain a copy, you may submit a written request for a review of that decision.

If you believe that information in your record is incorrect or that important information is missing, you have the right to request that we correct the records, by submitting a request in writing that provides your reason for requesting the amendment. We could deny your request to amend a record if the information is not maintained by us; or if we determine that your record is accurate. You may submit a written statement of disagreement if we decide not to amend a record.

Right to an accounting

You have the right to request a list accounting for any disclosures of your health information we have made, who we shared it with, and why we shared it, except for uses and disclosures for treatment, payment, and healthcare operations, circumstances in which you have specifically authorized such disclosure and certain other exceptions as required by law.

To request this list of disclosures, indicate the relevant period which must be within the past six (6) years. You must submit your request in writing to the Medical Record or Billing Department of the respective entity, as appropriate.

Right to request restrictions

You may request, in writing, that we not use or disclose medical information about you for treatment, payment or healthcare operations or to persons involved in your care except when specifically authorized by you, when required by law, or in an emergency. We will consider your request and work to accommodate it when possible.

If you pay all charges associated with the services you received out-of-pocket in full, you may request that your information is not shared with an insurer for purposes of payment or other purposes unrelated to your treatment. We will honor your request unless we are required by law to release your information to the insurer.

We will inform you of our decision on your request. All written requests or appeals should be submitted to our Privacy Office listed below.

Requests for confidential communications

You have the right to request that medical information about you be communicated to you in a confidential manner, such as sending mail to an address other than your home, by notifying us in writing of the specific way or location that you want us to use to communicate with you.

Right to request a paper copy of this notice

You may receive a paper copy of this notice from us upon request, even if you have agreed to receive this notice electronically. We will provide you with a paper copy promptly.

Choose someone to act for you

If you have given someone medical power of attorney or if someone is your legal guardian, that person can exercise your rights and make choices about your health information. We will make sure the person has this authority and can act for you before we take any action.

Changes to this notice

We may change our policies at any time. Changes will apply to medical information we already hold, as well as new information after the change occurs. Before we make a significant change in our policies, we will change our notice and post the new notice in waiting areas, exam rooms, and on our website.

You can receive a copy of the current notice at any time upon request. The effective date is listed at the end. Copies of the current notice will be available each time you come to receive treatment. You will be asked to acknowledge in writing your receipt of this notice.

Complaints

If you are concerned that your privacy rights may have been violated, or you disagree with a decision we made about your records, you may contact our Privacy Office listed below.

If you are not satisfied with our response, you may send a written complaint to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights. Our Privacy Office can provide you the address. Under no circumstances will you be penalized or retaliated against for filing a complaint.

Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Privacy Office
privacy@tamucc.edu
361-825-5700
Ask for the Office of Information Security

Office of Information Security
Division of Information Technology
6300 Ocean Drive, Unit 5748
Corpus Christi, Texas 78412-5748

Policy Effective Date: December 6, 2024