NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES
Solcara HealthEffective Date: April 7, 2026 | Last Revised: April 7, 2026
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.
WHO WILL FOLLOW THIS NOTICE
This notice applies to Solcara Health, a concierge functional and integrative medicine practice with locations in Mt. Pleasant and Charleston, South Carolina, and to all of our health care providers, staff, and other workforce members. All of these individuals and entities are required to follow the terms of this notice.
OUR PLEDGE REGARDING YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION
We understand that your health information is personal. We are committed to protecting it. We create a record of the care and services you receive at our practice in order to provide you with quality care and to comply with certain legal requirements. This notice applies to all records of your care generated by this practice.
We are required by law to:
HOW WE MAY USE AND DISCLOSE YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION
The following categories describe the different ways we may use and disclose your health information. Not every possible use or disclosure in a category will be listed, but all of the ways we are permitted to use and disclose information will fall within one of the categories.
For TreatmentWe may use and disclose your health information to provide, coordinate, or manage your health care and related services. This includes sharing information with other health care providers who are involved in your care. For example, we may share information with a specialist, a laboratory, a pharmacist, or a hospital if you are referred for further care.
For PaymentWe may use and disclose your health information so that we, or others involved in your care, can bill and receive payment for the treatment and services provided to you. For example, we may need to give your health plan information about services you received so that your health plan will pay us or reimburse you for those services.
For Health Care OperationsWe may use and disclose your health information for our health care operations. This is necessary to run our practice and make sure that all of our patients receive quality care. For example, we may use your health information to review and improve the quality of care we provide, or to evaluate the performance of our staff.
Appointment RemindersWe may use and disclose your health information to contact you as a reminder that you have an appointment for treatment or medical care.
Treatment Alternatives and Health-Related BenefitsWe may use and disclose your health information to tell you about possible treatment options or alternatives, or about health-related benefits and services that may be of interest to you.
Individuals Involved in Your Care or Payment for Your CareUnless you object, we may release your health information to a friend or family member who is involved in your medical care or who helps pay for your care. We may also notify your family about your location or general condition, or disclose such information to an entity assisting in disaster relief efforts.
ResearchUnder certain circumstances, and only after a special approval process, we may use and disclose your health information to support medical research.
As Required by LawWe will disclose your health information when required to do so by federal, state, or local law.
To Avert a Serious Threat to Health or SafetyWe may use and disclose your health information when necessary to prevent a serious threat to your health and safety or the health and safety of the public or another person.
Public Health ActivitiesWe may disclose your health information for public health activities, including to report disease, injury, or vital statistics; to report child abuse or neglect; to report reactions to medications or problems with products; and to notify people of recalls of products they may be using.
Health Oversight ActivitiesWe may disclose your health information to a health oversight agency for activities authorized by law, such as audits, investigations, inspections, and licensure. These activities are necessary for the government to monitor the health care system and ensure compliance with civil rights laws.
Lawsuits and DisputesIf you are involved in a lawsuit or dispute, we may disclose your health information in response to a court or administrative order. We may also disclose health information in response to a subpoena, discovery request, or other lawful process.
Law EnforcementWe may release your health information if asked to do so by a law enforcement official in response to a court order, subpoena, warrant, summons, or similar process; to identify or locate a suspect, fugitive, material witness, or missing person; or in emergency circumstances to report a crime.
Coroners, Medical Examiners, and Funeral DirectorsWe may release your health information to a coroner or medical examiner. This may be necessary, for example, to identify a deceased person or determine a cause of death. We may also disclose health information to funeral directors as necessary to carry out their duties.
Organ and Tissue DonationIf you are an organ donor, we may release your health information to organizations that handle organ procurement or organ, eye, or tissue transplantation or to an organ donation bank, as necessary to facilitate organ or tissue donation and transplantation.
Military and VeteransIf you are a member of the armed forces, we may release your health information as required by military command authorities.
Workers' CompensationWe may release your health information for workers' compensation or similar programs. These programs provide benefits for work-related injuries or illness.
InmatesIf you are an inmate of a correctional institution or are in the custody of a law enforcement official, we may release your health information to the correctional institution or law enforcement official.
Other Uses and DisclosuresOther uses and disclosures of your health information not described in this notice will be made only with your written authorization. This includes, but is not limited to, most uses and disclosures of psychotherapy notes, uses and disclosures of your health information for marketing purposes, and disclosures that constitute a sale of your health information. If you provide authorization and later change your mind, you may revoke that authorization at any time in writing. Once revoked, we will no longer use or disclose your information for the reasons covered by the authorization. We are unable to undo disclosures we have already made based on your authorization.
YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION
You have the following rights regarding the health information we maintain about you:
Right to Inspect and CopyYou have the right to inspect and copy your health information, including medical and billing records, that we use to make decisions about your care. To inspect and copy your health information, submit a request in writing to our Privacy Officer. We may charge a reasonable fee for the cost of copying and related expenses. In limited circumstances, we may deny your request. If we deny your request, we will explain why in writing and, where applicable, tell you how you can have the denial reviewed.
Right to AmendIf you believe that health information we have about you is incorrect or incomplete, you may ask us to amend the information. You have the right to request an amendment for as long as the information is kept by or for our practice. To request an amendment, submit your request in writing to our Privacy Officer and provide a reason that supports your request. We may deny your request if the information was not created by us, is not part of the health information kept by or for our practice, is not part of the information you would be permitted to inspect and copy, or is accurate and complete.
Right to an Accounting of DisclosuresYou have the right to request an accounting of disclosures we have made of your health information. This is a list of the disclosures we have made of your health information for purposes other than treatment, payment, and health care operations, and other excepted purposes. To request an accounting, submit your request in writing to our Privacy Officer. Your request must specify a time period, which may not be longer than six years. The first list you request within a 12-month period is free; we may charge you for additional requests.
Right to Request RestrictionsYou have the right to request a restriction or limitation on the health information we use or disclose for treatment, payment, or health care operations. You also have the right to request a limit on the health information we disclose to someone who is involved in your care, such as a family member or friend. We are not required to agree to your request except in one circumstance: if you request that we not disclose your health information to your health plan for a particular service, and you pay for that service in full out of pocket. To request a restriction, submit your request in writing to our Privacy Officer.
Right to Request Confidential CommunicationsYou have the right to request that we communicate with you about medical matters in a certain way or at a certain location. For example, you may ask that we contact you only at work or only by mail. To request confidential communications, submit your request in writing to our Privacy Officer. We will accommodate all reasonable requests.
Right to a Paper Copy of This NoticeYou have the right to receive a paper copy of this notice at any time, even if you agreed to receive it electronically. To obtain a paper copy, contact our Privacy Officer.
Right to Be Notified of a BreachYou have the right to be notified in the event that we (or a business associate of ours) discover a breach of your unsecured protected health information. Notice of any such breach will be provided to you without unreasonable delay, and in no case later than 60 days following discovery of the breach.
CHANGES TO THIS NOTICE
We reserve the right to change this notice at any time. We reserve the right to make the revised or changed notice effective for health information we already have about you as well as any information we receive in the future. We will post a copy of the current notice in our office in a clear and prominent location. The notice will contain the effective date on the first page. You may request a copy of our most current notice at any time.
COMPLAINTS
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with us or with the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. To file a complaint with us, contact our Privacy Officer in writing at the address below. To file a complaint with the Secretary, visit www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints or call 1-800-368-1019.
We will not retaliate against you in any way for filing a complaint.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Privacy OfficerSolcara HealthMt. Pleasant & Charleston, South CarolinaEmail: info@solcarahealth.com
For questions about this notice or our privacy practices, please contact our Privacy Officer directly.
This notice is compliant with the HIPAA Privacy Rule, 45 CFR §164.520. This notice is effective as of April 7, 2026.
Start the path to lively up your health today! Fill out the form and we will be in touch with you shortly to schedule your consultation!