Notice of Privacy Practices (HIPAA)
Spine Spot Chiropractic Dr. James Fraser
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.
Our Commitment to Your Privacy
At Spine Spot Chiropractic, we understand the importance of privacy and are committed to maintaining the confidentiality of your medical information. We make a record of the medical care we provide and may receive such records from others. We use these records to:
- Provide or enable other healthcare providers to provide quality medical care.
- Obtain payment for services provided to you as allowed by your health plan.
- Enable us to meet our professional and legal obligations to operate this medical practice properly.
We are required by law to maintain the privacy of protected health information (PHI), to provide individuals with notice of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to PHI, and to notify affected individuals following a breach of unsecured PHI.
This notice describes how we may use and disclose your medical information. It also describes your rights and our legal obligations with respect to your medical information. If you have any questions about this Notice, please contact our Privacy Officer listed at the end of this document.
A. How This Medical Practice May Use or Disclose Your Health Information
Spine Spot Chiropractic collects health information about you and stores it in a chart and on a computer. This is your medical record. The medical record is the property of this medical practice, but the information in the medical record belongs to you. The law permits us to use or disclose your health information for the following purposes:
1. Treatment We use medical information about you to provide your medical care. We disclose medical information to our employees and others who are involved in providing the care you need.
- Example: We may share your medical information with other physicians or healthcare providers who will provide services that we do not provide.
- Example: We may share information with a pharmacist to dispense a prescription or a laboratory performing a test.
- Example: We may disclose medical information to members of your family or others who can help you when you are sick or injured.
2. Payment We use and disclose medical information about you to obtain payment for the services we provide.
- Example: We give your health plan the information it requires before it will pay us.
- Example: We may disclose information to other healthcare providers to assist them in obtaining payment for services they have provided to you.
3. Health Care Operations We may use and disclose medical information about you to operate this medical practice.
- Example: Reviewing and improving the quality of care or the competence of our staff.
- Example: Getting your health plan to authorize services or referrals.
- Business Associates: We may share your medical information with our "business associates" (e.g., billing services) that perform administrative services for us. We have written contracts with these associates requiring them to protect your privacy.
4. Appointment Reminders We may use and disclose medical information to contact and remind you about appointments. If you are not home, we may leave this information on your answering machine or in a message left with the person answering the phone.
5. Sign-In Sheet We may use and disclose medical information about you by having you sign in when you arrive at our office. We may also call out your name when we are ready to see you.
6. Notification and Communication With Family We may disclose your health information to notify or assist in notifying a family member, your personal representative, or another person responsible for your care about your location or general condition.
- Permission: If you are able and available, we will give you the opportunity to agree or object prior to making these disclosures.
- Emergency: If you are unable or unavailable, our health professionals will use their best judgment in communication with your family.
7. Marketing We will not use or disclose your medical information for marketing purposes or accept any payment for other marketing communications without your prior written authorization.
- Exceptions: We may contact you to give you information about products or services related to your treatment, case management, or to direct you to other therapies. We may provide small gifts or encourage you to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
8. Sale of Health Information We will not sell your health information without your prior written authorization.
9. Required by Law We will use and disclose your health information when required by federal, state, or local law.
10. Public Health We may disclose your health information to public health authorities for purposes related to preventing or controlling disease, injury, or disability; reporting abuse or neglect; or reporting problems with products/medications to the FDA.
11. Health Oversight Activities We may disclose your health information to health oversight agencies during audits, investigations, inspections, licensure, and other proceedings.
12. Judicial and Administrative Proceedings We may disclose your health information in the course of any administrative or judicial proceeding to the extent expressly authorized by a court or administrative order, or in response to a subpoena if reasonable efforts have been made to notify you.
13. Law Enforcement We may disclose your health information to a law enforcement official for purposes such as identifying a suspect, complying with a court order, or other law enforcement purposes.
14. Coroners & Organ Donation We may disclose health information to coroners in connection with investigations of deaths or to organizations involved in procuring/transplanting organs.
15. Public Safety We may disclose information to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to the health or safety of a particular person or the general public.
16. Workers’ Compensation We may disclose your health information as necessary to comply with workers’ compensation laws (e.g., reporting occupational injury to your employer).
17. Change of Ownership In the event that Spine Spot Chiropractic is sold or merged with another organization, your health information/record will become the property of the new owner, although you will maintain the right to request that copies be transferred to another physician.
18. Breach Notification In the case of a breach of unsecured protected health information, we will notify you as required by law.
B. When We May Not Use or Disclose Your Health Information
Except as described in this Notice of Privacy Practices, Spine Spot Chiropractic will, consistent with its legal obligations, not use or disclose health information that identifies you without your written authorization. If you do authorize us to use or disclose your health information for another purpose, you may revoke your authorization in writing at any time.
C. Your Health Information Rights
1. Right to Request Special Privacy Protections You have the right to request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures of your health information by a written request. If you tell us not to disclose information to your commercial health plan concerning items or services for which you paid in full out-of-pocket, we will abide by your request. We reserve the right to accept or reject any other request.
2. Right to Request Confidential Communications You have the right to request that you receive your health information in a specific way or at a specific location (e.g., only to your work address). We will comply with all reasonable requests submitted in writing.
3. Right to Inspect and Copy You have the right to inspect and copy your health information, with limited exceptions. You must submit a written request. We will charge a reasonable fee that covers our costs for labor, supplies, and postage.
4. Right to Amend or Supplement You have a right to request that we amend your health information that you believe is incorrect or incomplete. You must make a request in writing and include the reasons. We are not required to change your health information if we believe it is accurate and complete.
5. Right to an Accounting of Disclosures You have a right to receive an accounting of disclosures of your health information made by this medical practice, with exceptions for standard treatment, payment, and operations disclosures.
6. Right to a Paper or Electronic Copy of this Notice You have a right to a paper copy of this Notice of Privacy Practices, even if you have previously requested its receipt by e-mail.
D. Changes to this Notice of Privacy Practices
We reserve the right to amend this Notice of Privacy Practices at any time in the future. Until such amendment is made, we are required by law to comply with the terms of this Notice currently in effect. After an amendment is made, the revised Notice will apply to all protected health information that we maintain. We will post the current notice on our website and in our reception area.
E. Complaints & Contact Information
If you have questions about this Notice or if you would like to exercise your rights, please contact our Privacy Officer.
Contact Us:
- Privacy Officer: James R. Fraser III, D.C.
- Phone: 970-924-1015
- Address: 341 Market St, Basalt, CO 81621
Filing a Complaint: If you are not satisfied with the manner in which this office handles a complaint, you may submit a formal complaint to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. You will not be penalized in any way for filing a complaint.
Effective Date: January 1, 2026
