Privacy Policy for Today’s Dental Nebraska

Today’s Dental Nebraska (“we,” “us,” or “our”) is committed to protecting your privacy and complying with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) as it applies to dental practices. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal and protected health information (PHI) when you use our website or communicate with us via SMS messages.

1. Information We Collect

We collect personal information and PHI necessary to provide dental care and related services, including:

  • Personal details such as your name, contact information, date of birth, and insurance information.
  • Health and dental records related to your treatment.
  • Communication data from SMS messages and other electronic communications.
  • Website usage data collected via cookies and similar technologies.

2. HIPAA Compliance and Your Rights

As a HIPAA-covered entity, Today’s Dental Nebraska adheres to the HIPAA Privacy Rule, Security Rule, and Breach Notification Rule to protect your PHI. We provide you with a Notice of Privacy Practices (NPP) at your first visit, which details how your PHI may be used or disclosed and your rights regarding your health information.

You have the right to:

  • Access and obtain copies of your health records.
  • Request corrections to your PHI.
  • Receive an accounting of disclosures of your PHI.
  • Request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures of your PHI.
  • Be informed of any breaches involving your PHI.

3. Use and Disclosure of Your Information

We use your information to:

  • Provide dental care and treatment.
  • Schedule, confirm, and remind you of appointments via SMS, phone, or email.
  • Communicate important health information and updates.
  • Comply with legal and regulatory requirements.

We do not disclose your PHI without your authorization except as permitted or required by HIPAA, such as for treatment, payment, healthcare operations, or as required by law.

4. SMS Communication and Security

We use SMS messaging to communicate appointment reminders, confirmations, and other relevant information. Because SMS is not inherently secure, we:

  • Obtain your explicit consent before sending SMS messages containing PHI.
  • Inform you of the risks of SMS communication, including potential interception.
  • Use secure messaging platforms and encryption where feasible to protect your information.
  • Require that devices used to access SMS messages are password-protected to prevent unauthorized access.

You may opt out of promotional SMS messages at any time by replying STOP; however, opting out of appointment reminders may affect your ability to receive timely notifications.

5. Safeguards to Protect Your Information

We implement administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your PHI, including:

  • Conducting regular risk assessments and audits to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities.
  • Training our staff annually on HIPAA policies and privacy practices.
  • Using encryption, firewalls, and secure data storage to protect electronic PHI.
  • Restricting physical access to paper and electronic records.
  • Maintaining Business Associate Agreements with any third-party service providers who handle PHI on our behalf.

6. Breach Notification

In the unlikely event of a breach of your PHI, we will notify you and the Department of Health and Human Services as required by HIPAA regulations and take steps to mitigate any harm.

7. Your Choices and Responsibilities

You may request restrictions on certain uses or disclosures of your PHI.

You are responsible for keeping your mobile devices secure to protect SMS communications.

You can manage cookie preferences on our website via your browser settings.

You may revoke your consent for SMS communications at any time, understanding the impact on service delivery.

8. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in legal requirements or our practices. The updated policy will be posted on our website with the effective date.

9. Contact Information

For questions about this Privacy Policy, your rights, or HIPAA compliance, please contact:

Today’s Dental Nebraska
Email: marketing@mytodaysdental.com
Address: 260 Regency Pkwy Drive, Suite 220, Omaha, NE 68114

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