Your Privacy Protected: Understanding HIPAA & Your Rights

HIPAA Information & Patient Privacy Policy

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) provides important safeguards to protect the privacy and security of your personal health information. Since its implementation in 2003, HIPAA has been expanded through federal updates such as the HITECH Act and the HIPAA Omnibus Rule, strengthening patient rights and increasing protections for both physical and electronic health records.

At Wayne Lee MD Plastic Surgery, protecting your confidentiality is a core part of our commitment to providing quality care. We follow all current federal guidelines to ensure your Protected Health Information (PHI) is handled responsibly, securely, and with transparency.

Understanding Your Privacy

HIPAA establishes rules regarding who may access, use, or receive your health information. These protections are designed to safeguard your privacy while still allowing the necessary sharing of information required to provide treatment, process payments, and manage healthcare operations.

We balance these responsibilities by maintaining strict privacy standards while ensuring efficient, high-quality care. Additional information regarding HIPAA regulations is available through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Our Privacy Policies

We have adopted the following policies to protect your information:

Patient information will be kept confidential and will only be used or disclosed as necessary to provide care, coordinate treatment, or manage administrative functions related to your healthcare. This may include sharing information with healthcare providers, laboratories, insurance companies, and other entities involved in your care.

We may contact you regarding appointments, reminders, or important updates using phone calls, text messages, email, or mail. These communications are considered part of your ongoing care and service.

We work with trusted third-party vendors who assist in our operations. These partners may have access to limited health information but are required to comply with HIPAA privacy and security standards.

Your information may be subject to review by authorized government agencies or insurance providers as part of routine audits, compliance checks, or regulatory requirements.

If you have any concerns regarding your privacy, we encourage you to contact our office so we can address them promptly and appropriately.

Your personal health information will not be sold or used for marketing purposes without your explicit authorization.

You have the right to access your medical records in accordance with federal and state laws, including the ability to request electronic copies when available.

We reserve the right to update our privacy policies as needed to reflect changes in regulations, technology, or practice operations.

You may request restrictions on how your information is used or disclosed; however, we are not required to agree to all requested restrictions if they interfere with care or operations.

Your Rights as a Patient

Under HIPAA, you have the right to:

Access and obtain copies of your medical records
Request corrections to inaccurate or incomplete information
Request limitations on how your information is used or shared
Request confidential communication methods
Receive a copy of our Notice of Privacy Practices
Be notified in the event of a data breach involving your information
File a complaint without fear of retaliation

Consent & Use of Health Information

As part of your care, we maintain records that include your medical history, symptoms, diagnoses, treatments, and care plans. This information is used to:

Support and coordinate your treatment
Facilitate communication among healthcare providers
Verify services for billing and insurance purposes
Support healthcare operations such as quality assurance and staff training

By receiving care, you acknowledge that your information may be used for these purposes in accordance with HIPAA regulations.

Updates to This Policy

Wayne Lee MD Plastic Surgery reserves the right to update this privacy policy at any time. Any changes will reflect current federal regulations and will be made available to patients upon request or through our website.

Questions or Concerns

If you have questions about this policy or your privacy rights, please contact our office directly. You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.