Notice of Privacy
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?
Physicians affiliated with: Renee Snyder M.D., P.A.
Physicians affiliated with: Ned Snyder M.D., P.A.
All Employees
We understand that medical information about you and your health is personal and we are committed to protecting this information. When you receive care at our facility, a record of the care and services you receive is made. Typically, this record contains your treatment plan, history and physical, test results, and billing record.
This record serves as a:
Basis for planning your treatment and services;
Means of communication among the physicians and other health care providers involved in your care;
Means by which you or a third-party payor can verify that services billed were actually received;
Source of information for public health officials; and
Tool for assessing and continually working to improve the care rendered.
This Notice tells you the ways we may use and disclose your Protected Health Information (referred to herein as “medical information”). It also describes your rights and our obligations regarding the use and disclosure of medical information.
OUR RESPONSIBILITIES.
We shall:
•Make every effort to maintain the privacy of your medical information;
•Provide you with notice of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to information we collect and maintain about you;
•Abide by the terms of this notice;
•Notify you if we are unable to agree to a requested restriction; and
•Accommodate reasonable requests you may have to communicate health information by alternative means or at alternative locations.
•We will notify you, and the Department of Health & Human Services, of any unauthorized acquisition, access, use or disclosure of your unsecured medical information that presents a significant risk of financial, reputational or other harm to you, to the extent required by law. Unsecured medical information means medical information
not secured by technology that renders the information unusable, unreadable, or indecipherable as required by law.
THE METHODS IN WHICH WE MAY USE AND DISCLOSE MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU.
The following categories describe different ways we may use and disclose your medical information. The examples provided serve only as guidance and do not include
every possible use or disclosure.
•For Treatment. We will use and disclose your medical information to provide, coordinate, or manage your health care and any related service. For example, we may
share your information with your primary care physician or other specialists to whom you are referred for follow-up care.
•For Payment. We will use and disclose medical information about you so that the treatment and services you receive may be billed and payment may be collected from
you, an insurance company, or a third party. For example, we may need to disclose your medical information to a health plan in order for the health plan to pay for the
services rendered to you.
•For Health Care Operations. We may use and disclose medical information about you for office operations. These uses and disclosures are necessary to run our facility in an efficient manner and provide that all patients receive quality care. For example, your medical records and health information may be used in the evaluation of services, and the appropriateness and quality of health care treatment. In addition, medical records are audited for timely documentation and correct billing.
•Appointment Reminders. We may use and disclose medical information in order to remind you of an appointment. For example, our facility may provide a written or
telephone reminder that your next appointment is coming up.
•Research. Under certain circumstances, we may use and disclose medical information about you for research purposes. For example, a research project may involve
comparing the surgical outcome of all patients for whom one type of procedure is used to those for whom another procedure is used for the same condition. All research
projects, however, are subject to a special approval process. Prior to using or disclosing any medical information, the project must be approved through this research
approval process. We will ask for your specific authorization if the researcher will have access to your name, address, or other information that reveals who you are, or
will be involved in your care.
•As Required by Law. We will disclose medical information about you when required to do so by federal or Texas laws or regulations.
•To Avert a Serious Threat to Health or Safety. We may use and disclose medical information about you to medical or law enforcement personnel when necessary to
prevent a serious threat to your health and safety or the health and safety of another person.
•Sale of Practice. We may use and disclose medical information about you to another health care facility or group of physicians in the sale, transfer, merger, or
consolidation of our practice.
SPECIAL SITUATIONS.
•Organ and Tissue Donation. If you have formally indicated your desire to be an organ donor, we may release medical information to organizations that handle
procurement of organ, eye, or tissue transplantations.
•Military and Veterans. If you are a member of the armed forces, we may release medical information about you as required by military command authorities.
•Workers’ Compensation. We may release medical information about you for workers’ compensation or similar programs. These programs provide benefits for workrelated injuries or illness.
•Qualified Personnel. We may disclose medical information for management audit, financial audit, or program evaluation, but the personnel may not directly or
indirectly identify you in any report of the audit or evaluation, or otherwise disclose your identity in any manner.
•Public Health Risks. We may disclose medical information about you for public health activities. These activities generally include the following activities:
•To prevent or control disease, injury, or disability;
•To report reactions to medications or problems with products;
•To notify people of recalls of products they may be using;
•To notify a person who may have been exposed to a disease or may be at risk for contracting or spreading a disease or condition; and
•To notify the appropriate government authority if we believe you have been the victim of abuse, neglect, or domestic violence. All such is closures will be made in
accordance with the requirements of Texas and federal laws and regulations.
•Health Oversight Activities. We may disclose medical information to a health oversight agency for activities authorized by law. Health oversight agencies include
public and private agencies authorized by law to oversee the health care system. These oversight activities include, for example, audits, investigations, inspections, and
licensure. These activities are necessary for the government to monitor the health care system, government programs, eligibility or compliance, and to enforce healthrelated civil rights and criminal laws.
Lawsuits and Disputes. If you are involved in certain lawsuits or administrative disputes, we may disclose medical information about you in response to a court or
administrative order.
Law Enforcement. We may release medical information if asked to do so by a law enforcement official:
o In response to a court order or subpoena; or
o If our facility determines there is a probability of imminent physical injury to you or another person, or immediate mental or emotional injury to you.
Coroners, Medical Examiners and Funeral Directors. We may release medical information to a coroner or medical examiner when authorized by law (e.g., to identify a
deceased person or determine the cause of death). We may also release medical information about patients to funeral directors.
Inmates. If you are an inmate of a correctional facility, we may release medical information about you to the correctional facility for the facility to provide you
treatment.
Other Uses or Disclosures. Any other use or disclosure of PHI will be made only upon your individual written authorization. You may revoke an authorization at any
time provided that it is in writing and we have not already relied on the authorization.
YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU.
You have the following rights regarding medical information collected and maintained about you:
Right to Inspect and Copy. You have the right to inspect and copy medical information that may be used to make decisions about your care. Usually, this includes
medical and billing records. To inspect and copy medical information that may be used to make decisions about you, you must submit your request in writing to the
Medical Records Department. If you request a copy of the information, we may charge a fee established by the Texas Medical Board for the costs of copying, mailing,
or summarizing your records. We may deny your request to inspect and copy in certain very limited circumstances. If you are denied access to medical information, you
may request that the denial be reviewed. Another licensed health care professional chosen by our facility will review your request and denial. The person conducting the
review will not be the person who denied your request. We will comply with the outcome of the review.
Right to Amend. If you feel that medical information maintained about you is incorrect or incomplete, you may ask our facility to amend the information. You have
the right to request an amendment for as long as the information is kept by our facility. To request an amendment, your request must be made in writing and submitted
to our facility. In addition, you must provide a reason that supports your request. We may deny your request for an amendment if it is not in writing or does not include
a reason to support the request. In addition, we may deny your request if you ask us to amend information that:
o Was not created by our facility, unless the person or entity that created the information is no longer available to make the amendment;
o Is not part of the medical information kept by our facility;
o Is not part of the information which you would be permitted to inspect and copy; or
o Is accurate and complete.
Right to an Accounting of Disclosures. You have the right to request an “accounting of disclosures.” This is a list of the disclosures made of your medical information
for purposes other than treatment, payment, or health care operations. To request this list you must submit your request in writing to our facility. Your request must state
a time period, which may not be longer than six (6) years. Your request should indicate in what form you want the list (for example, on paper or electronically). The
first list you request within a 12-month period will be free. For additional lists within the 12- month period, you may be charged for the cost of providing the list. We
will notify you of the cost involved and you may choose to withdraw or modify your request at that time before any costs are incurred.
Right to Request Restrictions. You have the right to request a restriction or limitation on the medical information our facility uses or discloses about you for treatment,
payment or health care operations. You also have the right to request a limit on the medical information our facility discloses about you to someone who is involved in
your care or the payment for your care. We are not required to agree to your request, unless the request pertains solely to a healthcare item or service for which our
facility has been paid out of pocket in full. Should we agree to your request, we will comply with your request unless the information is needed to provide you
emergency treatment. To request restrictions you must make your request in writing to our facility. In your request, you may indicate:
(1) what information you want to limit;
(2) whether you want to limit our facilities use and/or disclosure; and
(3) to whom you want the limits to apply.
Right to Request Confidential Communications. You have the right to request that we communicate with you about medical matters in a certain way or at a certain
location. For example, you can ask that our facility contact you only at work or by mail. To request that our facility communicate in a certain manner, you must make
your request in writing to the Medical Records Department. You do not have to state a reason for your request. Our facility will accommodate all reasonable requests.
Your request must specify how or where you wish to be contacted.
Further information about the processing of Personal Data
Data Collection Disclosure – We collect personal information such as your name, phone number, and other relevant contact details when you interact with our services, including when you opt in to receive SMS communications.
Usage of Information – Your information may be used to send you appointment reminders, updates about your care, and other important practice-related information via SMS.
Consent for Messaging – You will only receive text messages from us if you have provided prior express written consent, either via form submission, appointment scheduling, or other documented means.
Opt-Out Instructions – You can opt out of receiving SMS messages from us at any time by replying STOP to any message. Message and data rates may apply.
Third-Party Sharing – We do not share your personal information with third parties for marketing purposes. We may share your information with trusted service providers (e.g., SMS providers) solely to facilitate communication on our behalf.
Security and HIPAA – We implement appropriate administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your personal health information (PHI), in accordance with HIPAA regulations.
Data Sharing – Customer data is not shared with 3rd parties for promotional or marketing purposes. Mobile opt-in and consent are never shared with anyone for any purpose. Any information sharing that may be mentioned elsewhere in this policy excludes mobile opt-in data.
Message Frequency – Message frequency varies based on your interactions with our services. You may receive up to 10 messages per week.
SMS Communications and Consent
When you provide your mobile number and check the appropriate box (or otherwise opt in), you consent to receive recurring, automated text messages from Snyder Plastic Surgery, including appointment reminders, post-care instructions, and promotional offers. These messages may be sent using an automated system. Message frequency may vary but will not exceed 10 messages per week.
- Message and data rates may apply.
- Reply STOP to opt out at any time.
- Reply HELP for help or support.
Your consent to receive SMS messages is not a condition of any purchase or medical service.
We do not share mobile numbers or opt-in consent data with third parties for marketing purposes. Your mobile number may be shared with trusted service providers solely to facilitate SMS communications and only under contracts requiring strict data protection and confidentiality.
Data Transfer Policy – We do not transfer consumer data to any external organizations under any circumstances, even with user consent. Trusted service providers are not considered external organizations for this policy. Any data handling by trusted service providers is limited and strictly controlled.
CHANGES TO THIS NOTICE.
We reserve the right to change our practices and to make the new provisions effective for all PHI we maintain. Should our information practices change, we will post
the amended Notice of Privacy Practices in our office and on our website. You may request that a copy be provided to you by contacting the Medical Records Department.
COMPLAINTS.
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with our facility or with the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services. To file a complaint with our facility, contact the Practice Manager at (512)533-9900. Your complaint must be filed within 180 days of when you knew
or should have known that the act occurred.
The address for the Office of Civil Rights is:
Secretary of Health & Human Services
Region VI, Office for Civil Rights
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
1301 Young Street, Suite 1169
Dallas, TX 75202
All complaints should be submitted in writing.
You will NOT be penalized for filing a complaint.
7/10/2025