Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy describes how Sleep Restoration Center, a subsidiary of Hospital & Sleep Medicine Consultants PC, may use and disclose your Protected Health Information (PHI) to carry out treatment, payment, and healthcare operations (TPO), and for other purposes permitted or required by law. It also outlines your rights regarding your PHI and how you can exercise them.

What Is Protected Health Information (PHI)?

PHI includes any information about you — including demographic data — that may identify you and relates to your past, present, or future physical or mental health condition and related healthcare services.

How We Use and Disclose Your PHI

We may use and disclose your PHI for the following purposes:

1. Treatment

To provide, coordinate, or manage your healthcare and related services. For example, we may share PHI with a specialist to whom you’ve been referred.

2. Payment

To obtain payment for healthcare services. For example, we may disclose PHI to your health plan to authorize coverage for a procedure.

3. Healthcare Operations

To support business activities such as quality assessment, staff training, licensing, and fundraising. We may also contact you regarding treatment options or health-related benefits.

4. Legal and Public Health Requirements

We may disclose PHI without your authorization in situations including but not limited to:

Public health reporting
Abuse or neglect investigations
FDA compliance
Legal proceedings
Law enforcement requests
Organ donation coordination
Research
National security and military activities
Workers’ compensation claims
Inmate healthcare
Compliance investigations by the Department of Health and Human Services

Uses and Disclosures You Can Object To

Unless you object, we may disclose PHI to family members, close friends, or others involved in your care. If you’re unable to agree or object, we may use our professional judgment to determine what is in your best interest.

We may also disclose PHI to disaster relief organizations to help coordinate care or notify loved ones of your condition or location.

Uses and Disclosures Requiring Written Authorization

We will only use or disclose your PHI for the following purposes with your written consent:

Marketing communications
Sale of PHI
Any other use not covered by this notice or applicable law

You may revoke your authorization at any time in writing. Revocation will not affect disclosures made before your request was received.

Your Rights Regarding PHI

You have the following rights under HIPAA and applicable state law:

1. Right to Inspect and Copy

You may request access to your PHI. We will respond within 30 days and may charge a reasonable fee for copies. No fee will be charged if the request is for a benefits claim under federal or state programs.

2. Right to a Summary or Explanation

You may request a summary or explanation of your PHI instead of the full record.

3. Right to an Electronic Copy

If your PHI is stored electronically, you may request an electronic copy or have it transmitted to another entity. We will provide it in the requested format if feasible.

4. Right to Be Notified of a Breach

We will notify you if your unsecured PHI is compromised.

5. Right to Request Amendments

If you believe your PHI is incorrect or incomplete, you may request an amendment. If denied, you may submit a statement of disagreement.

6. Right to an Accounting of Disclosures

You may request a list of disclosures made for purposes other than treatment, payment, or operations. The first request in a 12-month period is free; additional requests may incur a fee.

7. Right to Request Restrictions

You may request limits on how your PHI is used or disclosed. We are not required to agree unless the request involves restricting disclosure to a health plan for services paid out-of-pocket in full.

8. Out-of-Pocket Payments

If you pay in full for a service and request that PHI not be disclosed to your health plan, we will honor that request.

9. Right to Request Confidential Communications

You may request that we contact you in a specific way (e.g., by mail or phone). We will accommodate reasonable requests.

10. Right to a Paper Copy

You may request a paper copy of this notice at any time, even if you agreed to receive it electronically.

Changes to This Notice

We reserve the right to change this Privacy Policy. Updates will be posted on our website and in our office. Changes apply to all PHI we maintain, including future records.

Complaints

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with:

Sleep Restoration Center
Attn: Privacy Officer – Dr. Tinofa Muskwe
1555 East Street, Suite 330A
Redding, CA 96001
📞 Office: (530) 333-1859
📠 Fax: (530) 333-4859
📧 Email: info@sleeprestorationcenter.com

You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:
Office for Civil Rights
200 Independence Ave, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201
📞 (202) 619-0257 or toll-free (877) 696-6775
🌐 www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa

There will be no retaliation for filing a complaint.