Privacy Concerns Contact Info
If you have any questions about our privacy policies or data practices, please contact us by email or call the customer help desk at (210) 233-7067.
At CommuniCare, we prioritize your privacy. Learn about your health information rights and our commitment to keeping your health information secure.
The CommuniCare Notice of Privacy Rights ("Notice") describes the privacy practices of CommuniCare ("Center").
Download the Notice:
Notice of Privacy Rights (English)
Notice of Privacy Rights (Español)
THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW HEALTH INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.
If, at any time, you have questions about this Notice or about our privacy policies, procedures, or practices, please contact our Privacy Officer, Michael Hernandez, at (210) 271-9860 or via email.
Understanding Your Health Information Privacy Rights
This Notice applies to all the records of your care generated by the Center, whether made by the Center or an associated provider. Our policies on protecting your health information extend to all professional authorized persons who have a need to know to provide care to you. The policies apply to all areas of the Center including all Center staff, the front desk, billing, and administration. It also applies to any entity or individual with whom we contract services, such as referral providers.
Information We Collect
We collect the following types of information:
- Personal Identification: This includes your name, email address, phone number, and other contact details.
- Service Usage Information: This consists of details about the services you request or use.
We do not sell, rent, or lease patient lists or data to third parties for marketing purposes.
Examples of Disclosures of Health Information for Treatment, Payment, Healthcare Operations and as Otherwise Allowed by Law
The following categories describe different ways that we use and disclose health information. Not every use or disclosure in a category will be listed. However, all of the ways we are permitted to use and disclose information should fall within one of the categories:
Treatment. We use information previously compiled about you to provide you with current or future health care treatment or services. Therefore, we may, and most likely will, disclose your information to doctors, nurses, and other health care personnel who are involved in your care.
Payment. We may use and disclose medical information about you concerning services and procedures so they may be billed and collected from you, your insurance company, or third-party reimbursement entity, such as Workers' Compensation.
Operational Uses. We may use and disclose medical information about you in order to operate the Center efficiently and make sure our patients receive quality of care.
Appointment and Patient Recall Reminders.
- We may use and disclose your health information to contact you to remind you of upcoming appointments or medical care that you are scheduled to receive.
- Mobile Phone Contact Information:
- By providing your mobile phone number, you consent to receive SMS/MMS communications from the Center.
- Message frequency may vary.
- Standard message and data rates may apply depending on your carrier.
- You may opt out of receiving these messages at any time by replying with “STOP” to any text message you receive from us. After opting out, you will receive a confirmation message, and we will cease sending SMS messages to the number you provided.
- We are committed to ensuring the security of your information. Your phone number will be handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy. No mobile information will be shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing/promotional purposes.
- If you need assistance or have questions about our SMS service, reply with “HELP” to any SMS message you receive.
External Entities. In an emergency, we may disclose information about you to an entity assisting in disaster relief so that your family can be notified about your condition, status, and location.
Research. We may participate in research concerning the use of certain treatment protocols that have proper governmental and Center approval. In that case, we would secure your informed consent that will identify all aspects of your involvement, risks and benefits, and possible disclosures.
Required by Law. We will disclose medical information about you when required to do so by federal, state, or local
law.
To Avert a Serious Threat to Health or Safety. We may use and disclose your health information to people who need to know when necessary to prevent a serious threat to either your health or the health and safety of others.
Organ and Tissue Donation. If you are an organ donor, we may disclose medical information to organizations that handle organ procurement and transplantation. We use information previously compiled about you to provide you with current or future health care treatment or services. Therefore, we may, and most likely will, disclose your information to doctors, nurses, and other health care personnel who are involved in your care.
Public Health Issues and Risks. We may report your health information as required by law or by your authorization concerning certain health conditions to prevent or control disease, injury or disability, births and deaths, child or elder abuse or neglect, reactions to medications or products, recalls of products, and notice of exposure to a condition.
Victims of Abuse, Neglect or Domestic Violence. We may disclose your health information to law enforcement, social services, or other government agencies authorized to receive the report if we have reason to believe that you are a victim of abuse, neglect, or domestic violence.
Investigations and Government Activities. We may disclose your health information to a local, state or federal agency for oversight activities authorized by law that may concern inspections, licensure, illegal conduct, or compliance with other laws and regulations including civil rights laws.
Lawsuits and Disputes. If you are involved in a lawsuit or dispute, we may disclose your health information in response to a subpoena, court order, discovery request, or other lawful process by someone else involved in the dispute.
Law Enforcement. We may release your health information to law enforcement officials in response to a court order, subpoena, warrant, summons, or similar process, to identify or locate a suspect witness or missing person, concerning a victim of a crime, about a death we believe may involve criminal actions, criminal conduct in progress, crimes on Center premises, or emergency situations to report a crime or details of a crime.
Coroners, Medical Examiners and Funeral Directors. We may release your health information to a coroner, medical examiner, or funeral directors as necessary for them to carry out their duties.
Military and National Security. If you currently serve in the military or are a veteran, we may disclose your health information to the military upon proper request. We may also disclose your information to federal officials conducting national security and intelligence activities.
Workers’ Compensation. We may disclose your information if required by workers’ compensation laws and other similar laws and regulations.
Your Privacy Rights
You have several rights regarding your medical information. This section briefly mentions each of these rights.
You have a right to:
- Inspect and copy your health information. You may request to review and obtain a copy of health information about you that the Center maintains for as long as it is retained. If you request to review your health information, the Center will determine whether to allow you to review some or all of the health information you asked for. The Center may charge a fee for any copies you request.
- Amend your health information if you feel it is wrong or incomplete. You may request that we amend the health information the Center keeps. If the Center accepts your request to amend your health information, the change will become a permanent document in your health care record.
- Request a limit to the health information we disclose. You may ask the Center not to use or disclose your health information. Your request must clearly specify the exact limits you are requesting. The Center may deny your request.
- Request a list of disclosures we have made of your health information. You can request a list of disclosures of your health information that the Center has made regarding you. This list will not include routine disclosures of your health information for the treatment, payment, or business operations purposes described above.
- Request confidential communications from us. We will not disclose your health information except as described in this Notice. However, you may request that we contact you by an alternative means, at a different address, or limit the number or type of people who have access to your health information.
- Receive a paper copy of this Notice from us. You may request a copy of this Notice at any time.
You may exercise your rights outlined in this Notice by providing a written request to the CommuniCare Corporate Office Medical Records Department, 431 Wolfe Road, San Antonio, Texas, 78216, by phone at (210) 233-7003, or by emailing the Center's Health Information Manager.
Our Responsibilities
As a patient of ours, we maintain both paper and electronic medical records and documents related to your health, as well as the care and services we provide to you. We need this record to provide continuity of care and to comply with specific legal requirements.
We are required by law to:
- Maintain the privacy of your health information.
- Provide you with a copy of this Notice.
- Abide by the terms of this Notice.
- Notify you if we are unable to agree to a requested amendment or restriction.
- Restrict the sale of your health information, unless authorized by you.
- Accommodate reasonable requests you may have to communicate health information by alternative means or at alternative locations.
- Ensure that the law is followed and that your legal rights are upheld.
We reserve the right to change this Notice at any time. We will post a copy of the current notice in the Center with the effective date in the upper right-hand corner of the first page. The updated privacy notice will also be posted on the Center’s website. You may request a copy of the current notice each time you visit the Center for services or by calling the Center and requesting that the current notice be mailed to you.
Complaints
If you believe that your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with the Center or with the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. All complaints must be submitted in writing, and all complaints will be investigated. There will be no retaliation for filing a complaint.
Last updated June 2025
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