Notice of Privacy Practices

Amarillo Family Physicians Clinic, PA (“AFP,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) is required by law to protect the privacy of your health information. This Notice explains how we may use and disclose your Protected Health Information (“PHI”) and describes your rights regarding your PHI.

PHI includes information that identifies you and relates to your past, present, or future physical or mental health, healthcare services, or payment for healthcare services.

Our Responsibilities

We are required by law to:

• Maintain the privacy and security of your PHI
• Give you this Notice of our legal duties and privacy practices
• Follow the terms of the Notice currently in effect
• Notify you if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your PHI
• Not use or disclose your PHI except as described in this Notice or as allowed or required by law

How We May Use and Disclose Your Health Information

Treatment

We may use and share your PHI to provide, coordinate, or manage your healthcare.

For example, we may share information with physicians, nurses, medical assistants, laboratories, imaging providers, pharmacies, specialists, hospitals, or other healthcare professionals involved in your care.

Payment

We may use and disclose your PHI to bill and receive payment for healthcare services.

For example, we may send information to your health insurance company to obtain payment, verify coverage, obtain prior authorization, or respond to billing questions.

Healthcare Operations

We may use and disclose your PHI for healthcare operations.

For example, we may use your information for quality improvement, staff training, case management, credentialing, licensing, compliance, auditing, business planning, and other activities necessary to operate the clinic.

Other Uses and Disclosures Allowed or Required by Law

We may use or disclose your PHI without your written authorization in the following situations, as allowed or required by law.

Public Health and Safety

We may disclose PHI for public health activities, including:

• Reporting disease, injury, or vital events
• Reporting adverse reactions to medications
• Preventing or controlling disease
• Reporting abuse, neglect, or domestic violence where required or permitted by law
• Preventing or reducing a serious threat to health or safety

Health Oversight Activities

We may disclose PHI to health oversight agencies for activities authorized by law, such as audits, investigations, inspections, licensure, disciplinary actions, or compliance reviews.

Legal Proceedings

We may disclose PHI in response to a court or administrative order, subpoena, discovery request, or other lawful process, subject to applicable legal requirements.

Law Enforcement

We may disclose PHI for law enforcement purposes as permitted or required by law.

Coroners, Medical Examiners, and Funeral Directors

We may disclose PHI to coroners, medical examiners, or funeral directors as necessary for them to perform their duties.

Organ and Tissue Donation

We may disclose PHI to organizations involved in organ, eye, or tissue donation and transplantation.

Research

We may use or disclose PHI for research when approved by an institutional review board or privacy board, or when otherwise permitted by law.

Workers’ Compensation

We may disclose PHI as authorized by laws relating to workers’ compensation or similar programs.

Specialized Government Functions

We may disclose PHI for certain government functions, such as military, national security, protective services, correctional institutions, or other lawful government activities.

Business Associates

We may share PHI with business associates who perform services for us, such as billing, technology, legal, accounting, consulting, records storage, or other support services. Business associates are required to protect your PHI.

Uses and Disclosures Requiring Your Written Authorization

We will obtain your written authorization before using or disclosing your PHI for purposes not described in this Notice or otherwise allowed by law.

We generally must obtain your written authorization for:

• Most uses and disclosures of psychotherapy notes, if we maintain them
• Most marketing communications, except as permitted by law
• Any sale of PHI
• Other uses or disclosures not permitted by HIPAA without authorization

You may revoke an authorization in writing at any time, except to the extent we have already relied on it.

Appointment Reminders and Health-Related Communications

We may contact you to remind you about appointments, follow up about care, provide test or referral information, discuss prescriptions, or tell you about health-related services that may be of interest to you.

We may contact you by phone, voicemail, mail, text message, email, patient portal, or other contact information you provide, subject to applicable law and your communication preferences.

Individuals Involved in Your Care or Payment

Unless you object, we may share relevant PHI with a family member, friend, caregiver, personal representative, or other person involved in your care or payment for your care.

In emergencies or when you are unable to tell us your preference, we may share information if we believe it is in your best interest.

Your Health Information Rights

You have the following rights regarding your PHI.

Right to Inspect and Copy

You have the right to inspect or obtain a copy of your medical records and other health information we maintain about you, with limited exceptions.

We may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee for copies as permitted by law.

Right to Request an Electronic Copy

If your PHI is maintained electronically, you may request an electronic copy in a readily producible format, where available.

Right to Request an Amendment

If you believe your health information is incorrect or incomplete, you may request that we amend it. We may deny your request in certain circumstances, but we will explain the reason in writing.

Right to an Accounting of Disclosures

You have the right to request a list of certain disclosures we have made of your PHI. This accounting does not include disclosures for treatment, payment, healthcare operations, disclosures made to you, disclosures made with your authorization, or certain other disclosures excluded by law.

Right to Request Restrictions

You have the right to request that we restrict certain uses or disclosures of your PHI. We are not required to agree to every restriction request.

If you pay out of pocket in full for a healthcare item or service, you may request that we not disclose information about that item or service to your health plan for payment or healthcare operations purposes, unless disclosure is required by law.

Right to Request Confidential Communications

You have the right to request that we contact you in a specific way or at a specific location. For example, you may ask us to contact you only at a certain phone number or mailing address. We will accommodate reasonable requests.

Right to Receive a Paper Copy

You have the right to receive a paper copy of this Notice, even if you agreed to receive it electronically.

Right to Choose Someone to Act for You

If you have given someone medical power of attorney, or if someone is your legal guardian, that person may exercise your rights and make choices about your health information, as permitted by law.

Your Choices

In certain situations, you may tell us your preferences about how we share your information. This may include sharing information with family members or others involved in your care, disaster relief situations, or certain communications.

If you are unable to tell us your preference, we may share information when we believe it is in your best interest or necessary to lessen a serious and imminent threat to health or safety.

Substance Use Disorder Records

Certain substance use disorder treatment records may receive additional protections under federal law if they are created or maintained by a federally assisted substance use disorder program.

If AFP maintains records subject to 42 CFR Part 2, we will use and disclose those records only as permitted by applicable law.

Genetic Information

We will not use or disclose genetic information for underwriting purposes as prohibited by law.

Changes to This Notice

We may change this Notice at any time. The revised Notice may apply to PHI we already have as well as information we receive in the future.

The current Notice will be posted on our website and available at our clinic.

Complaints

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with AFP or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights.

You will not be retaliated against for filing a complaint.

To File a Complaint With AFP

• Privacy Officer: [Privacy Officer name and title — to be confirmed by AFP before publishing]
• Amarillo Family Physicians Clinic, PA
• 7561 Outlook Dr
  Amarillo, TX 79106
• 806-359-4701

To File a Complaint With HHS OCR

You may file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights.

Questions

For questions about this Notice or your privacy rights, contact the Privacy Officer at the address and phone number above, or reach out through our contact page.

This Notice of Privacy Practices was last updated on May 26, 2026. For information about our public website, please see our Privacy Policy.