Notice of Privacy Practices

About this notice

This notice applies to protected health information maintained by the practice of Abram Berens, MD, operating as NuLook4U, and to its workforce when providing or supporting your care. It covers medical information in paper, electronic and spoken form. Other providers and organizations may have their own notices. Website information handling is described separately in our Privacy Policy.

Your rights

See or obtain your records

You may request access to or a copy of medical and billing information in the records used to make decisions about you. Ask for an electronic copy when available. We generally act within 30 days; if a legally permitted extension is needed, we will explain the reason and expected date in writing. Only fees allowed by law may apply. If access is denied, we will explain the basis and any right to have the decision reviewed. Access cannot be denied simply because you have an unpaid bill.

Request a correction

If information is inaccurate or incomplete, ask us in writing to amend it and explain why. We generally respond within 60 days, subject to a permitted extension with written notice. We may deny a request for reasons allowed by law; you will receive a written explanation and information about submitting a statement of disagreement.

Choose how we contact you

You may ask us to use a particular telephone number, mailing address or other reasonable confidential method. We will accommodate reasonable requests. Tell the office if a message should not be left on a shared phone.

Ask for limits on sharing

You may request restrictions on certain uses or disclosures for treatment, payment or health care operations. We are not required to accept every restriction. However, if you pay in full out of pocket for an item or service, we must honor your request not to disclose information about that item or service to your health plan for payment or operations, unless disclosure is required by law. Please make this request before a claim is submitted.

Receive an accounting of disclosures

You may request a list of certain disclosures made during the previous six years. The accounting does not include every disclosure; exceptions include many disclosures for treatment, payment, operations or those you authorized. The first accounting in a 12-month period is free. We will tell you about any permitted charge for another request so you can change or withdraw it.

Obtain this notice or use a representative

You may ask for a paper copy at any time, even if you accepted an electronic copy. A legally authorized personal representative may exercise rights on your behalf, subject to applicable law. We verify identity and authority before releasing records or acting on a representative’s request.

How your information may be used and shared

Treatment: We may use your medical history to plan care and share relevant information with professionals involved in your treatment, such as a referring physician or laboratory.

Payment: We may use information to prepare a bill, determine coverage or obtain payment for services, subject to applicable restrictions and your rights.

Practice operations: Information may support care coordination, quality review, scheduling, professional oversight and necessary administrative work. Service providers handling protected information on our behalf must meet applicable privacy requirements.

Other legally permitted or required purposes: Subject to the conditions and limits imposed by law, information may be disclosed for public-health reporting; product recalls or adverse-event reporting; reporting abuse, neglect or domestic violence; preventing a serious threat to health or safety; health oversight; approved research; organ or tissue donation; medical-examiner or funeral-director duties; workers’ compensation; authorized law-enforcement or governmental functions; or a qualifying legal process. A subpoena or request does not by itself remove other privacy protections. We may disclose information to HHS when required for a privacy investigation.

Your choices and written permission

Tell us whether we may share relevant information with family, friends or others involved in your care or payment. You may object. If you cannot communicate your preference, limited sharing may be permitted based on professional judgment and your best interests, including in emergencies or disaster relief.

Uses and disclosures not described in this notice require your written authorization unless otherwise permitted or required by law. Authorization is generally required for marketing, sale of protected health information and most disclosures of psychotherapy notes. Identifiable clinical photographs or testimonials used for practice marketing require an appropriate authorization; a general website inquiry is not that authorization.

You may revoke an authorization in writing. Revocation applies going forward and does not undo actions already taken in reliance on it. If fundraising communications are sent, you may opt out without affecting treatment or payment.

Information with additional protections

Substance use disorder records

If we receive or maintain records protected by 42 CFR Part 2, additional federal restrictions apply. Those records will not be used or disclosed in civil, criminal, administrative or legislative investigations or proceedings against you without the required written consent or a qualifying court order and subpoena. Other uses and disclosures must meet applicable Part 2 requirements. Before any fundraising use of Part 2 information, you must receive clear notice and a choice about those communications.

Florida law and sensitive records

We follow Florida protections when they impose stricter requirements than HIPAA. Florida law limits disclosure of patient records under section 456.057. HIV test results and identifying information have additional confidentiality protections under section 381.004; disclosure requires the consent or other legal basis specified by that law. Genetic testing information is subject to the consent and confidentiality requirements of section 760.40. Mental-health and substance-use records may also have additional protections. Where an additional authorization is required, a general permission to share medical information may not be sufficient.

Our responsibilities

We are required to protect the privacy of your protected health information, provide this notice, and follow the privacy practices described here. We must notify affected individuals of a breach of unsecured protected health information when the law requires notice. We apply the minimum-necessary standard where it is required. Receiving this notice does not waive any of your rights.

Questions, concerns and complaints

Contact the practice office using the information above if you have a question, need assistance with a request, or believe your privacy rights have been violated. You may submit a written complaint to the office. You will not face retaliation for making a complaint.

You may also complain directly to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights: file a privacy complaint with HHS, call 1-800-368-1019, or write to 200 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20201. HHS generally requires filing within 180 days of when you knew of the issue and may extend that period for good cause.

Updates and copies

We reserve the right to revise this notice and apply the revised practices to information we already hold as well as information received later, as permitted by law. A revised notice will show its effective date and be available on this website and from the practice office. You can print this page using your browser or request a paper copy.

For non-urgent privacy questions, call 954-916-1100. This page and the website consultation form are not emergency services or a secure medical-record portal.