HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices
Effective Date: November 2026
Kenneth Schweizer, DDS
2920 Bee Ridge Rd, Suite 202
Sarasota, FL 34239
Phone: (941) 926-4888
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 Kenneth Schweizer, DDS, we are committed to protecting the privacy and security of your personal health information. We understand that information about your health and dental care is personal, and we are dedicated to safeguarding it in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and other applicable laws.
This Notice of Privacy Practices explains how we may use and disclose your protected health information (PHI), your rights regarding that information, and our legal responsibilities for protecting your privacy.
How We May Use and Disclose Your Health Information
We may use and disclose your protected health information for treatment, payment, and healthcare operations without obtaining your written authorization, as permitted by law.
1. Treatment
We may use and disclose your health information to provide, coordinate, or manage your dental care and related services. This may include sharing information with dentists, specialists, dental laboratories, and other healthcare providers involved in your treatment.
2. Payment
We may use and disclose your health information to obtain payment for dental services provided to you. This may include submitting claims to dental insurance companies, verifying coverage, determining eligibility, and collecting payments.
3. Healthcare Operations
We may use and disclose your information for activities necessary to operate our dental practice. These activities may include quality improvement, staff training, administrative services, auditing, compliance reviews, and practice management.
4. Appointment Reminders and Treatment Alternatives
We may contact you to remind you of appointments, provide information about treatment options, or inform you about health-related services that may be relevant to your dental care.
5. Business Associates
We may share protected health information with third-party service providers who perform services on our behalf, such as billing, technology support, and administrative assistance. When required, these business associates must enter into agreements to protect your information.
Other Permitted or Required Disclosures
We may use or disclose your protected health information in certain circumstances permitted or required by law, including:
- When required by federal, state, or local law.
- For public health activities, including reporting certain diseases or health conditions.
- To report suspected abuse, neglect, or domestic violence when authorized or required by law.
- For health oversight activities, including audits, investigations, and inspections.
- In response to lawful court orders, subpoenas, or other legal proceedings.
- For certain law enforcement purposes as permitted by applicable law.
- To prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to health or safety.
- For workers’ compensation purposes as authorized by law.
- For other purposes expressly permitted or required by HIPAA and applicable regulations.
Uses and Disclosures Requiring Authorization
Uses or disclosures of your protected health information that are not otherwise permitted or required by law generally require your written authorization.
This includes most uses and disclosures for marketing purposes, the sale of protected health information, and most uses and disclosures of psychotherapy notes, if applicable.
If you provide written authorization, you may revoke it at any time by submitting a written request. Revocation will not affect actions already taken in reliance on your authorization.
Your Rights Regarding Your Health Information
Under HIPAA, you have certain rights regarding your protected health information.
1. Right to Inspect and Obtain Copies
You have the right to inspect and obtain a copy of your health information maintained in a designated record set, subject to limited exceptions. You may request an electronic copy when available. Reasonable, cost-based fees may apply as permitted by law.
2. Right to Request an Amendment
If you believe information in your dental records is incorrect or incomplete, you may request an amendment. We may deny your request in certain circumstances, but we will provide an explanation as required by law.
3. Right to an Accounting of Disclosures
You have the right to request an accounting of certain disclosures of your protected health information made by our practice during the applicable period.
4. Right to Request Restrictions
You may request restrictions on how we use or disclose your health information for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations.
We are generally not required to agree to requested restrictions. However, when you pay in full out of pocket for a healthcare item or service, we must generally honor your request not to disclose information about that item or service to your health plan for payment or healthcare operations, unless disclosure is required by law.
5. Right to Confidential Communications
You have the right to request that we communicate with you about your health information in a particular way or at a specific location. We will accommodate reasonable requests.
6. Right to Receive a Paper Copy
You have the right to receive a paper copy of this Notice of Privacy Practices at any time, even if you have agreed to receive it electronically.
7. Right to Be Notified of a Breach
You have the right to receive notification following a breach of your unsecured protected health information when notification is required by applicable law.
8. Right to Choose a Personal Representative
If you have designated someone as your medical power of attorney or if someone is your legal guardian, that person may exercise your rights and make choices about your health information as permitted by law.
Our Responsibilities
Kenneth Schweizer, DDS is required by law to:
- Maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information.
- Provide you with this Notice of Privacy Practices.
- Follow the terms of the notice currently in effect.
- Notify affected individuals of breaches of unsecured protected health information when required by law.
- Comply with applicable HIPAA privacy and security requirements.
Changes to This Notice
We reserve the right to revise this Notice of Privacy Practices at any time. Any revised notice may apply to all protected health information maintained by our practice, including information collected before the revision.
The current version of this notice will be available at our office and on our website.
Questions or Complaints
If you have questions about this notice, wish to exercise your privacy rights, or believe your privacy rights have been violated, please contact our office:
Kenneth Schweizer, DDS
2920 Bee Ridge Rd, Suite 202
Sarasota, FL 34239
Phone: (941) 926-4888
Website:
Home
You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights (OCR).
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Office for Civil Rights
Website:
www.hhs.gov/ocr/complaints
You will not be retaliated against for filing a complaint or exercising your privacy rights.