Adelante Healthcare (AHC) is committed to protecting the confidentiality of patient health information and is required by law to do so. This Notice of Privacy Practices (Notice) describes how AHC may use your health information within AHC and how we may disclose it to others outside AHC. This Notice also explains the rights you have concerning your own health information.
Effective date August 30, 2025.
How we may use and disclose information about you
Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and its implementing regulations (called HIPAA) and Arizona state law, your authorization is not required for us to use or disclose your health information for the following purposes:
Treatment: AHC may use your health information and share it with others involved in your care for treatment purposes. For example, your physician and other members of your care team may need access to your health information to help care for you.
Appointment and Services: We may use or share your information to contact you with appointment reminders, inform you about potential treatment options or alternatives, or let you know about health-related services that may be of interest to you.
Family Members and Others Involved in Your Care; Disaster Relief Organizations: AHC may disclose relevant information about you to a family member, friend or others involved in your care or payment for your care. If you do not want AHC to disclose information to a family member or others involved in your care, please notify the front office staff at the health center where you are being seen. In the event of a disaster, we may also disclose your health information to disaster relief organizations to help them notify family members or friends of your location, general condition, or death in a disaster.
Payment: AHC may use and disclose information about you to get paid for the services and supplies we provide to you. For example, your health plan or health insurance company may request to see parts of your health record before they will pay us for your treatment.
Health Care Operations: AHC may use and disclose health information about you when necessary to support our operations and improve the quality of care we provide to patients. This includes activities such as quality improvement, patient safety activities, business planning, and obtaining services like auditing, accounting, or legal services. AHC may also use health information to evaluate and enhance our services, such as reviewing treatment outcomes or assessing staff performance in delivering your care.
Use of Technology: To help provide quality care and support our operations, we may use advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and health information networks / exchanges (HIN/HIEs), in connection with the permitted uses and disclosures of your health information. We use such technologies responsibly and in accordance with privacy and security requirements.
Business Associates: We may disclose your health information to our third-party business associates (such as, an accounting or billing company) that perform activities or services on our behalf. Each business associate must agree in writing to protect the confidentiality of your health information.
Marketing & Fundraising: Adelante may contact you through phone, email, and text about special services, events, fundraising or new health information or services. Text message frequency will vary. You may opt-out of the program at any time. If you wish to opt-out of these communications and stop receiving mobile messages or emails from us, or you no longer agree to these Mobile Messaging Terms, reply STOP and/or UNSUBSCRIBE to any message from us. You can also do so by notifying the Privacy Officer by mail at 3033 N. Central Ave, Ste. 145, Phoenix, AZ 85012 or email at [email protected]. Your health information is not shared for the purpose of marketing or fundraising.
Mobile Information and Text Messaging: We do not share mobile information with third parties or affiliates for their marketing or promotional purposes. We do not share text message opt-in information or consent, including the phone number that opted in, with any third parties. We may share information with vendors/subcontractors that help us provide services such as patient support. You have the right to opt out of receiving text messages at any time by replying STOP or by contacting us to request removal.
Research: AHC may use or disclose your health information for approved research projects, such as studying the effectiveness of a treatment you received. All research projects involving patient information must go through a special process designed to protect your privacy and the confidentiality of your information.
Required by Law; Workers’ Compensation: AHC will disclose your health information when required by federal, state, or local laws. These disclosures may include reporting certain conditions such as child abuse or neglect, gunshot wounds, or other matters of public safety. In such cases, the law prioritizes the protection of individuals and the broader community over individual privacy. AHC is also required to give information to the state workers’ compensation program for workers’ compensation claims.
Legal Proceedings: AHC may disclose health information as part of a legal proceeding when your health status is relevant to the case. For example, we may share health information in response to a court or administrative order, subpoena or search warrant.
Public Health: AHC may disclose certain health information for public health purposes authorized by law. For example, we are obligated to report specific events such as births, deaths, and communicable diseases to the state and public authorities. AHC may also need to report issues related to medication or medical products such as adverse reactions or defects to the manufacturer and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help ensure the patient safety.
Public Safety and Law Enforcement: AHC may disclose your health information in limited circumstances when necessary to protect public safety. AHC may also disclose information to assist law enforcement in identifying or locating a suspect, to support the investigation or prosecution of a violent crime, or to report deaths that may have resulted from criminal conduct at the health center. Additionally, we may disclose information when necessary to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to the health or safety of an individual or the public.
Health Oversight Activities: AHC may disclose your health information to a government agency responsible for oversight of health care operations. This includes agencies such as the Arizona Department of Health Services, state and federal agencies that oversee Medicare/Medicaid, and professional licensing boards.
Coroners, Medical Examiners and Funeral Directors: AHC may disclose health information about deceased patients to coroners, medical examiners and funeral directors for their official duties.
Organ and Tissue Donation: AHC may disclose health information to organizations that handle organ or tissue donation or transplantation.
Military, National Security and Other Government Purposes: If you are a member of the armed forces, AHC may disclose your health information as required by military command authorities or to the Department of Veterans Affairs. AHC may also disclose health information to authorized federal or state officials for intelligence and national security activities, as permitted by law.
Correctional Institutions: If you are an inmate of a correctional institution, we may disclose health information necessary for your health and the health and safety of other individuals in the institution or its agents.
Other Uses and Disclosures: Other uses and disclosures not described in this Notice will be made only with your written authorization, such as most sharing of HIPAA psychotherapy notes and the use or disclosure of protected health information for marketing purposes or sale. You may take back your authorization by sending a written revocation request.
Additional Protections
Sensitive Data Laws: Certain types of health information may qualify for additional protection under local, state or federal law. We will follow the privacy requirements of the laws that apply to us. For example, if we keep psychotherapy notes separate from the rest of your medical record, these notes are subject to additional protection under HIPAA. Arizona’s privacy laws that protect information about communicable diseases (like HIV/AIDs, STDs/STIs), genetic testing, mental health, and developmental disabilities follow HIPAA.
Substance Use Disorder Records Protected by 42 USC 290dd-2 and 42 CFR Part 2 (Part 2): If we receive and maintain substance use disorder information about you that is protected by Part 2 (called Part 2 records), we may only use and disclose those Part 2 records as permitted by the Part 2 regulations. For example, we may need consent from you to use or disclose your Part 2 records for treatment, payment, and health care operations or other purposes permitted by HIPAA, as described above. We will not use or disclose your Part 2 records for our own fundraising without first giving you the chance to opt out of such communications. Part 2 also prohibits us from using or disclosing Part 2 records in a civil, criminal, administrative, or legislative proceeding against you without your consent or a court order issued in compliance with Part 2 that is accompanied by a subpoena or other legal requirement that compels disclosure of your Part 2 records. However, please know that Part 2 does not apply to reports of suspected child abuse or neglect.
What are your rights?
Request an Electronic or Paper Copy of your Medical Record: Although your health information is our property, you (or your personal representative) have the right to access your health information maintained by AHC in a designated record set. This includes your medical record, billing record, and other records we use to make decisions about you. Health information that is available electronically may be obtained in that format. But please know that due to legal, technical, and administrative limitations, it may not be feasible for us to provide you with certain electronic access in the manner you request. To request your information, you must submit a written request to the Medical Records Office at: [email protected] or mailing request to ATTN: Medical Records 3033 N. Central Ave., Ste.145, Phoenix, AZ 85012 If you request a copy, AHC may charge you a reasonable, cost-based fee if permitted by law. We will inform you of any charges in advance.
