Align Hormonal Health & Wellness PLLC
Effective Date: August 28, 2026
THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED, HOW WE PROTECT YOUR INFORMATION, AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.
Align Hormonal Health & Wellness PLLC (“Align,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) is committed to protecting the privacy and security of our patients' health information. We are required by law to maintain the privacy and security of protected health information (“PHI”), provide patients with this Notice of Privacy Practices, and follow the privacy practices described in this Notice.
We comply with applicable federal and state privacy laws and regulations, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”), the HIPAA Privacy, Security, and Breach Notification Rules, and applicable Texas medical privacy laws.
YOUR RIGHTS
You have certain rights regarding your health information.
Obtain a Copy of Your Medical Record
You may request to inspect or obtain an electronic or paper copy of your medical record and other health information we maintain about you.
We will provide a copy or summary of your health information as required by applicable law, generally within 30 days of receiving your request. We may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee when permitted by law.
Request a Correction to Your Medical Record
You may ask us to correct health information about you that you believe is incorrect or incomplete.
We may deny your request in certain circumstances permitted by law. If we deny your request, we will provide you with an explanation in writing within the time required by applicable law.
Request Confidential Communications
You may ask us to contact you in a specific way or at a specific location. For example, you may request that we contact you only on a particular telephone number or send correspondence to a particular address.
We will accommodate reasonable requests.
Request Restrictions on Uses or Disclosures
You may ask us not to use or disclose certain health information for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations.
We are generally not required to agree to all requested restrictions. However, if you pay for a healthcare service or item completely out of pocket, you may request that we not disclose information about that service or item to your health plan for payment or healthcare operations purposes. We will honor such a request when required by law unless disclosure is otherwise required by law.
Receive an Accounting of Disclosures
You may request a list, or accounting, of certain disclosures we have made of your health information during the six years preceding your request.
The accounting will not include certain disclosures excluded by law, such as many disclosures made for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations.
We will provide one accounting during any 12-month period without charge. We may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee for additional requests during the same 12-month period.
Obtain a Copy of This Notice
You may request a paper copy of this Notice at any time, even if you previously agreed to receive it electronically.
Choose Someone to Act on Your Behalf
If you have given someone medical power of attorney or another person has legal authority to act on your behalf, that person may exercise your privacy rights and make choices concerning your health information as permitted by law.
We may verify that the person has the appropriate authority before taking action.
File a Privacy Complaint
You may file a complaint with Align Hormonal Health & Wellness if you believe your privacy rights have been violated.
You may also 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 or exercising any of your privacy rights.
YOUR CHOICES
For certain health information, you may tell us your preferences about what we disclose.
In certain circumstances, you may tell us whether you want us to:
- Share information with your family, close friends, or others involved in your care;
- Share information in a disaster-relief situation; or
- Contact you regarding certain communications permitted by law.
If you are unable to tell us your preference, such as during a medical emergency, we may disclose information when we believe it is in your best interest and the disclosure is permitted by law.
MARKETING AND SALE OF INFORMATION
We will obtain your written authorization before using or disclosing your PHI for marketing purposes when authorization is required by law.
We will not sell your protected health information without your written authorization when authorization is required by law.
We do not sell patient lists or patient medical information.
OUR USES AND DISCLOSURES
We may use or disclose your health information without your written authorization in certain circumstances permitted or required by law.
Treatment
We may use and disclose your health information to provide, coordinate, or manage your healthcare.
For example, we may share relevant health information with another physician, pharmacy, laboratory, imaging facility, specialist, or other healthcare professional involved in your treatment.
Payment
We may use and disclose your health information to bill and obtain payment for healthcare services provided to you.
For example, we may provide information to your health insurance company to obtain payment for covered services or determine eligibility or benefits.
Healthcare Operations
We may use and disclose your health information to operate our practice and improve the quality of care we provide.
Examples include quality assessment, staff training, compliance activities, credentialing, auditing, business planning, and reviewing the effectiveness of our services.
Appointment Reminders and Patient Communications
We may use your contact information to communicate with you regarding appointments, laboratory testing, prescriptions, treatment follow-up, billing, or other matters related to your care.
Depending upon the communication preferences you provide to us, these communications may occur by telephone, voicemail, text message, secure electronic communication, patient portal, email, or mail.
Electronic communications may have inherent privacy risks. We use reasonable safeguards and comply with applicable privacy and security requirements when communicating with patients electronically.
Business Associates
We may disclose PHI to third-party service providers known as business associates that perform services on our behalf involving PHI, such as electronic health record services, billing services, laboratories, technology providers, or other healthcare-related vendors.
When required by law, these entities are contractually obligated to appropriately safeguard PHI.
Public Health and Safety
We may disclose health information for certain public health and safety activities when permitted or required by law, including:
- Preventing or controlling disease;
- Reporting suspected abuse, neglect, or domestic violence;
- Reporting adverse reactions or problems involving medications or medical products;
- Preventing or reducing a serious threat to someone's health or safety; and
- Complying with legally authorized public health investigations.
Health Oversight Activities
We may disclose health information to authorized health oversight agencies for activities permitted by law, including audits, investigations, inspections, licensing, credentialing, and regulatory activities.
Compliance With Law
We may disclose health information when required to do so by federal, state, or local law.
Legal Proceedings
We may disclose health information in response to certain court orders, subpoenas, discovery requests, administrative proceedings, or other lawful processes, subject to applicable privacy protections.
Law Enforcement
We may disclose health information to law enforcement officials in circumstances permitted or required by law.
Workers' Compensation
We may disclose health information as authorized by and necessary to comply with workers' compensation laws and similar programs.
Coroners, Medical Examiners, and Funeral Directors
We may disclose health information to coroners, medical examiners, or funeral directors when authorized by law.
Organ and Tissue Donation
If applicable, we may disclose health information to organizations involved in organ, eye, or tissue donation and transplantation as permitted by law.
Research
We may use or disclose health information for research only when permitted by applicable law and when appropriate privacy protections are in place.
USES AND DISCLOSURES REQUIRING YOUR AUTHORIZATION
Uses or disclosures of PHI not otherwise described in this Notice or permitted by law generally require your written authorization.
When your authorization is required, you may revoke that authorization in writing at any time, except to the extent we have already acted in reliance upon it.
Certain categories of particularly sensitive health information may be subject to additional federal or state protections. When applicable, Align Hormonal Health & Wellness will obtain additional authorization or satisfy other legal requirements before using or disclosing such information.
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE INFORMATION
We will handle PHI potentially related to reproductive healthcare in accordance with applicable federal and state law.
We will not use or disclose PHI for a purpose prohibited by applicable federal privacy law.
When required by HIPAA or other applicable law, we may require a valid attestation or other documentation before disclosing PHI potentially related to reproductive healthcare for certain purposes.
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER RECORDS
Certain records relating to substance use disorder treatment may receive additional protections under federal law, including 42 CFR Part 2.
When those protections apply to information maintained by Align Hormonal Health & Wellness, we will use and disclose that information only as permitted by applicable law.
We will not use or disclose protected substance use disorder records in civil, criminal, administrative, or legislative proceedings against a patient unless permitted by applicable law or authorized by the patient as required.
If we use Part 2 information for fundraising purposes where applicable, we will provide the notice and opportunity to opt out required by law.
TEXAS PRIVACY PROTECTIONS
Align Hormonal Health & Wellness operates in Texas and complies with applicable Texas laws governing the privacy, use, disclosure, and security of medical and health information, including the Texas Medical Records Privacy Act.
When applicable Texas law provides greater privacy protection than federal law, we will comply with the more protective applicable requirement.
Certain types of medical information may be subject to additional restrictions under Texas or federal law. We will obtain authorization or otherwise comply with applicable legal requirements before disclosing such information.
OUR RESPONSIBILITIES
Align Hormonal Health & Wellness is required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information.
We maintain reasonable and appropriate administrative, physical, and technical safeguards designed to protect PHI against unauthorized access, use, alteration, loss, or disclosure.
These safeguards include, as applicable:
- Limiting access to PHI to authorized individuals who require the information to perform their responsibilities;
- Using secure systems and reasonable technical safeguards to maintain electronic health information;
- Maintaining policies and procedures regarding the appropriate handling of PHI;
- Providing privacy and security training to workforce members as required;
- Using appropriate agreements with business associates that access PHI on our behalf;
- Maintaining procedures for responding to suspected privacy or security incidents; and
- Periodically evaluating our privacy and security practices.
We will notify affected individuals following a breach of unsecured protected health information when notification is required by law.
We are required to follow the duties and privacy practices described in the Notice currently in effect.
We will not use or disclose your information other than as described in this Notice unless you provide written authorization or another use or disclosure is permitted or required by law.
WEBSITE AND ELECTRONIC INFORMATION
Our website may collect limited information necessary for website operation, appointment requests, contact forms, or other services made available through the website.
Health information submitted through our website or electronic systems will be handled in accordance with applicable privacy and security laws.
Patients should avoid submitting sensitive medical information through ordinary, unsecured email or website functions unless specifically directed to do so through an approved method.
Our website may use standard technologies necessary for website functionality and performance. We evaluate the use of website technologies involving health-related information in accordance with applicable privacy requirements.
TELEHEALTH
Align Hormonal Health & Wellness is a Texas-based medical practice providing care primarily through face- to-face, in-office visits.
Telehealth is not our primary method of providing patient care and may be offered only on a limited, case- by-case basis when determined to be clinically appropriate by the treating provider.
Telehealth services are available only to established patients who are physically located in the State of Texas at the time of the telehealth encounter and when such services are permitted by applicable law.
Certain services, treatments, and follow-up visits require an in-person evaluation and are not eligible for telehealth.
We use reasonable administrative and technical safeguards to protect PHI during telehealth encounters. Patients should participate in telehealth visits from a private location whenever possible and take reasonable steps to protect their own privacy.
CHANGES TO THIS NOTICE
We reserve the right to change the terms of this Notice and our privacy practices as permitted by law.
Changes may apply to all PHI we maintain, including information created or received before the revised Notice became effective.
The current Notice will be available upon request, at our office, and on our website.
QUESTIONS OR PRIVACY COMPLAINTS
If you have questions about this Notice of Privacy Practices, would like to exercise your privacy rights, request access to your protected health information, or wish to file a privacy complaint with Align Hormonal Health & Wellness, please contact:
Privacy Officer / Privacy Contact Kylie Bunner
Align Hormonal Health & Wellness PLLC
3925 South Preston Road, Suite 208 Celina, Texas 75009
Phone: 940-437-0626
Email: info@alignhormonalhealthandwellness.com
You may also file a complaint with the:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Office for Civil Rights
200 Independence Avenue, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20201
Phone: 1-877-696-6775
Align Hormonal Health & Wellness will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint, exercising your privacy rights, or contacting the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services regarding a privacy concern.
Effective Date: August 28, 2026