Notice of Privacy Practices

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL AND DENTAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.

Effective Date: November 4, 2026

This Notice of Privacy Practices ("Notice") describes how Dr. Ryan C. Taylor Periodontics & Dental Implants ("we," "us," or "our Practice") may use and disclose your Protected Health Information ("PHI") to provide treatment, obtain payment, conduct health care operations, and for other purposes permitted or required by law. It also explains your rights regarding your health information under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 ("HIPAA") and applicable regulations.

1. Our Commitment to Your Privacy

We are committed to protecting the privacy and security of your personal health information. We are required by law to maintain the privacy of your PHI, provide you with this Notice of our legal duties and privacy practices, and follow the terms of the Notice currently in effect.

Protected Health Information includes information that identifies you and relates to your past, present, or future physical or oral health, the health care services you receive, or payment for those services.

2. How We May Use and Disclose Your PHI

A. For Treatment

We may use and disclose your PHI to provide, coordinate, or manage your periodontal, dental implant, and oral surgery care. This may include sharing information with referring dentists, specialists, dental laboratories, and other health care providers involved in your treatment.

B. For Payment

We may use and disclose your PHI to obtain payment for services provided, including verifying insurance eligibility, submitting insurance claims, processing payments, and coordinating billing activities.

C. For Health Care Operations

We may use and disclose your PHI for activities necessary to operate our Practice, including quality improvement, staff training, licensing, compliance reviews, auditing, and business administration.

D. Appointment Reminders and Treatment Alternatives

We may contact you by telephone, text message, email, or mail to remind you of appointments, provide information about your care, or discuss treatment alternatives and other health-related services.

E. As Required or Permitted by Law

We may use or disclose your PHI without your written authorization when permitted or required by applicable law, including:

  • Public health reporting and disease prevention activities.
  • Reporting suspected abuse, neglect, or domestic violence when authorized or required by law.
  • Health oversight activities, audits, and investigations.
  • Judicial or administrative proceedings under applicable legal requirements.
  • Law enforcement requests in circumstances permitted by law.
  • Preventing or reducing a serious threat to health or safety.
  • Workers' compensation matters as authorized by law.
  • Other disclosures specifically permitted or required by federal or state law.

F. Other Uses and Disclosures

Uses and disclosures of your PHI that are not otherwise permitted or required by law generally require your written authorization. This includes certain marketing activities, the sale of PHI, and most uses or disclosures of psychotherapy notes, if applicable.

You may revoke your authorization in writing at any time, except to the extent that we have already acted in reliance on it.

3. Your Rights Regarding Your PHI

Under HIPAA, you have the following rights regarding your Protected Health Information:

  • Right to Access: You may request to inspect or obtain a copy of your health records, subject to limited exceptions. Reasonable, cost-based fees may apply as permitted by law.
  • Right to Request an Amendment: You may request a correction to your PHI if you believe it is inaccurate or incomplete. We may deny certain requests as permitted by law and will provide an explanation.
  • Right to an Accounting of Disclosures: You may request a record of certain disclosures of your PHI made during the six years preceding your request.
  • Right to Request Restrictions: You may request restrictions on certain uses or disclosures of your PHI. We are generally not required to agree, except for qualifying disclosures to a health plan when you have paid in full out of pocket for the relevant service.
  • Right to Request Confidential Communications: You may request that we communicate with you through alternative methods or at alternative locations. We will accommodate reasonable requests.
  • Right to a Paper Copy: You may request a paper copy of this Notice at any time, even if you previously agreed to receive it electronically.
  • Right to Notification of a Breach: You have the right to be notified following a breach of your unsecured PHI when notification is required by law.
  • Right to Choose a Personal Representative: A person legally authorized to act on your behalf may exercise your rights as permitted by applicable law.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact our Practice using the information provided below.

4. Our Responsibilities

  • We are required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your Protected Health Information.
  • We must provide you with this Notice describing our legal duties and privacy practices.
  • We must follow the privacy practices described in the Notice currently in effect.
  • We will notify affected individuals following a breach of unsecured PHI when required by law.
  • We will not use or disclose your PHI for purposes requiring authorization without obtaining your written permission.

5. Changes to This Notice

We reserve the right to revise this Notice and make the revised provisions effective for all PHI we maintain, including information collected before the revision.

The current version of this Notice will be available at our office and through our website. You may request a copy at any time.

6. Complaints

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

You may submit a complaint to the Office for Civil Rights at www.hhs.gov/hipaa/filing-a-complaint.

We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint or exercising your privacy rights.

7. Contact Information

If you have questions about this Notice, wish to exercise your privacy rights, or would like to submit a complaint, please contact:

Privacy Officer
Dr. Ryan C. Taylor Periodontics & Dental Implants
2820 Clark Road
Sarasota, FL 34231
Phone: (941) 926-4800
Fax: (941) 926-4880

8. Acknowledgment of Receipt

Patients may be asked to acknowledge receipt of this Notice of Privacy Practices during their initial visit. This acknowledgment confirms that the Notice has been provided and does not waive any privacy rights.

If a patient declines to sign an acknowledgment, our Practice will document its good-faith effort to obtain acknowledgment as required by applicable HIPAA regulations.