1. Our Legal Responsibilities

Where applicable, Blanc Health and its affiliated licensed healthcare providers are required by federal law to:

• Maintain the privacy of your Protected Health Information ("PHI");

• Provide you with this Notice of Privacy Practices;

• Comply with the terms of this Notice currently in effect;

• Notify affected individuals following a breach of unsecured Protected Health Information when required by applicable federal or state law.

Blanc Health reserves the right to revise this Notice at any time. Any revised Notice may apply to all Protected Health Information maintained by Blanc Health, as permitted by applicable law. The most current version will always be available upon request and on our website.

2. How We May Use and Disclose Your Protected Health Information

Blanc Health may use and disclose your Protected Health Information without your separate written authorization in circumstances permitted or required by applicable law.

Treatment

We may use and disclose your PHI to provide, coordinate, or manage your healthcare and related services.

Examples include:

• Medical consultations;

• Treatment planning;

• Clinical evaluations;

• Prescriptions;

• Referrals;

• Follow-up care;

• Communication among healthcare professionals involved in your care.

Payment

We may use or disclose your PHI to obtain payment for healthcare services, including:

• Processing payments;

• Billing;

• Verifying insurance benefits, where applicable;

• Collecting outstanding balances;

• Responding to payment inquiries.

Healthcare Operations

We may use your PHI for activities necessary to operate our practice, including:

• Quality assessment and improvement;

• Staff training and education;

• Licensing and accreditation;

• Risk management;

• Compliance activities;

• Internal audits;

• Business planning and administration.

3. Uses and Disclosures Required or Permitted by Law

Blanc Health may use or disclose your Protected Health Information ("PHI") without your written authorization when required or permitted by applicable federal or state law, including, but not limited to:

Public Health Activities

We may disclose PHI to public health authorities authorized to collect information for purposes such as:

• preventing or controlling disease;

• reporting communicable diseases;

• reporting adverse reactions to medications;

• monitoring medical devices;

• assisting in product recalls;

• reporting information required by public health laws.

Abuse, Neglect, or Domestic Violence

Where required or authorized by law, we may disclose PHI to appropriate governmental authorities regarding suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation, or domestic violence.

Health Oversight Activities

We may disclose PHI to government agencies responsible for healthcare oversight, licensing, accreditation, inspections, investigations, audits, or disciplinary proceedings.

Judicial and Administrative Proceedings

We may disclose PHI in response to court orders, subpoenas, discovery requests, or other lawful legal processes when permitted or required by law.

Law Enforcement

We may disclose PHI to law enforcement officials when authorized or required by applicable law.

Coroners, Medical Examiners, and Funeral Directors

We may disclose PHI to coroners, medical examiners, or funeral directors as authorized by law.

Organ and Tissue Donation

Where permitted by law, PHI may be disclosed to organizations involved in organ, eye, or tissue donation and transplantation.

Serious Threat to Health or Safety

We may disclose PHI when, in good faith, disclosure is reasonably necessary to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to the health or safety of an individual or the public, consistent with applicable law.

Workers' Compensation

PHI may be disclosed as authorized by workers' compensation or similar programs established by law.

Military, National Security, and Government Functions

Where applicable, PHI may be disclosed for specialized governmental functions authorized by law, including certain military, national security, or protective service activities.

4. Uses Requiring Your Written Authorization

Except as otherwise permitted or required by law, Blanc Health will obtain your written authorization before using or disclosing your PHI for purposes that require authorization.

This includes, where applicable:

• marketing communications involving your PHI;

• use of identifiable patient photographs or videos for advertising;

• publication of testimonials containing PHI;

• social media content identifying you;

• disclosure of PHI to third parties not otherwise permitted by law.

You may revoke your authorization at any time by providing written notice to Blanc Health. Revocation will not affect actions already taken in reliance upon your authorization before it was revoked.

5. Your Rights Regarding Your Protected Health Information

Subject to applicable law, you have the following rights regarding your PHI.

Right to Access

You may request to inspect or obtain a copy of certain PHI maintained by Blanc Health.

Reasonable fees permitted by law may apply for copies or certain administrative services.

Right to Request Amendment

If you believe information maintained by Blanc Health is inaccurate or incomplete, you may request that it be amended.

Blanc Health may deny certain requests where permitted by law and will provide an explanation if your request cannot be granted.

Right to Request Restrictions

You may request restrictions on certain uses or disclosures of your PHI.

Although Blanc Health will carefully consider every request, we are not required to agree to every requested restriction unless required by applicable law.

Right to Confidential Communications

You may request that communications regarding your healthcare be provided through alternative means or sent to an alternative location where reasonably feasible.

Right to Receive an Accounting of Certain Disclosures

You may request an accounting of certain disclosures of your PHI made by Blanc Health, as provided under applicable law.

Right to Receive a Paper Copy

You have the right to receive a paper copy of this Notice at any time, even if you previously agreed to receive it electronically.

6. Business Associates

Blanc Health may engage third-party service providers ("Business Associates") to assist in providing healthcare services or supporting business operations.

Where required by applicable law, Business Associates are contractually required to appropriately safeguard Protected Health Information and use such information only as permitted by law and their contractual obligations.

7. Security of Protected Health Information

Blanc Health maintains reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect Protected Health Information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, misuse, or destruction.

While Blanc Health continually works to protect your information, no electronic system or method of transmission over the Internet can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

8. Breach Notification

If Blanc Health becomes aware of a breach of unsecured Protected Health Information requiring notification under applicable federal or New York law, affected individuals will be notified without unreasonable delay and in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

9. Electronic Communications

Email, SMS, website forms, social media messaging, and other electronic communications may not always be secure.

Blanc Health requests that patients do not transmit urgent medical concerns or medical emergencies through electronic communications.

If you believe you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or seek immediate emergency medical care.

10. Complaints

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may submit a complaint to Blanc Health by contacting our Privacy Officer.

You may also file a complaint with the:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Office for Civil Rights

Blanc Health will not retaliate against any individual for filing a complaint in good faith or for exercising rights provided under applicable privacy laws.

11. Changes to This Notice

Blanc Health reserves the right to revise this Notice of Privacy Practices at any time.

Any revised Notice may apply to all Protected Health Information maintained by Blanc Health, as permitted by law.

The most current version of this Notice will be made available on our Website and upon request.

12. Contact Information

If you have questions regarding this Notice or wish to exercise your privacy rights, please contact:

Privacy Officer
Blanc Health
103 Reade Street
New York, NY 10013

Email: info@blanc.health 

Website: www.blanc.health