Our Commitment to Your Privacy

At Seal It with a Smile Pediatric Dentistry, we understand the importance of protecting your child's health information. This Notice describes how we may use and disclose your child's Protected Health Information(PHI), your rights regarding that information, and our legal responsibilities under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Protected Health Information includes information that identifies your child and relates to their past, present, or future physical or oral health, the healthcare services they receive, or payment for those services.

How We May Use and Disclose Protected Health Information

We may use or disclose your child's Protected Health Information for the following purposes:

Treatment

We may use and share information with dentists, physicians, specialists, laboratories, pharmacies, hospitals, anesthesiologists, or other healthcare providers involved in your child's care to coordinate treatment and provide high-quality dental services.

Payment

We may use and disclose information to obtain payment for services provided, including submitting claims to dental benefit plans, verifying insurance coverage, obtaining prior authorizations, collecting patient balances, and responding to requests for additional claim information.

Healthcare Operations

We may use information to support the operation of our practice, including quality improvement, staff training, licensing, accreditation, risk management, business planning, auditing, and administrative activities.

Individuals Involved in Care

Unless you object, we may share relevant information with a parent, legal guardian, caregiver, or another person involved in your child's care or payment for care, as permitted by applicable law.

Appointment Reminders and Practice Communications

We may contact you by phone, voicemail, email, text message, or mail regarding appointments, follow-up care, treatment recommendations, matters, or other healthcare-related communications.

As Required or Permitted by Law

We may disclose Protected Health Information when required or permitted by law, including for public health reporting, health oversight activities, law enforcement requests, court orders, workers' compensation matters, or to report suspected abuse or neglect.

Uses That Require Your Authorization

Certain uses and disclosures of Protected Health Information require your written authorization. These may include:

• Most uses of Protected Health Information for marketing purposes
• The sale of Protected Health Information
• Certain disclosures not otherwise permitted by HIPAA

You may revoke an authorization at any time in writing, except to the extent we have already relied upon it.

Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Inspect and obtain a copy of your child's Protected Health Information, subject to applicable legal limitations.
• Request that we correct Protected Health Information that you believe is inaccurate or incomplete.
• Request restrictions on certain uses or disclosures of Protected Health Information. While we will consider all requests, we are not required to agree except where required by law.
• Request that we communicate with you using alternative methods or at alternative locations whenever reasonably possible.
• Receive an accounting of certain disclosures of Protected Health Information made by our practice.
• Obtain a paper or electronic copy of this Notice at any time.
• File a complaint if you believe your privacy rights have been violated.

Exercising these rights will not affect the quality of care your child receives.

Our Responsibilities

We are required by law to:

• Maintain the privacy and security of Protected Health Information.

• Provide you with this Notice of Privacy Practices.
• Follow the terms of the current Notice.
• Notify affected individuals if a reportable breach of unsecured Protected Health Information occurs, as required by law.

Changes to This Notice

We reserve the right to revise this Notice at any time. Any revised Notice will apply to all Protected Health Information maintained by our practice and will become effective upon posting on our website and making it available in our office.

Questions or Complaints

If you have questions about this Notice or believe your privacy rights have been violated, please contact us.

Seal It with a Smile Pediatric Dentistry
2999 NE 191st Street, Suite 708
Aventura, FL 33180
Phone: (305) 786-5393

You also have the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.