Notice of Privacy Practices (Texas HHSC Clients)
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 24, 2025
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.
Welcome to https://patriotvitacare.com (the “Site”). This Notice governs our duties regarding Protected Health Information (PHI) created or received by Patriot Vita Care. We are acting as a Business Associate of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and other covered entities, TO INCLUDE services to NON-THHSC clients.
1. Our Legal Duty Regarding Your PHI
We are required by law to:
Maintain the privacy and security of your Protected Health Information (PHI).
Provide you with this Notice of our legal duties and privacy practices.
Notify you if there is a breach of your unsecured PHI.
Abide by the terms of this Notice currently in effect.
2. Definition of Protected Health Information (PHI)
“Protected Health Information (PHI)” refers to any information about your health, health care services, or payment for those services that can be used to identify you. PHI includes, but is not limited to, your name, address, phone number, medical status, service history, and social security number.
3. How We May Use and Disclose Your PHI (Without Your Authorization)
We may use or share your PHI for the following purposes, which are essential to our services and permitted under the HIPAA regulations (Treatment, Payment, and Healthcare Operations):
Treatment: We may share your PHI with your doctors, nurses, specialists, and other staff involved in providing you with care or coordinating your services.
Payment: We may use and share your PHI to bill and receive payment for the services we provide (e.g., submitting claims to Medicaid or the Texas Health and Human Services Commission).
Healthcare Operations: We may use and share your PHI for necessary business activities, such as quality assessment, training our staff, legal services, and general administration.
We will also disclose PHI when Required by Law (e.g., court order, subpoena, law enforcement requests, or public health activities).
4. Your Rights Regarding Your PHI
You have the following rights concerning your PHI:
Your Right Description
Right to Access/Inspect Records:
You have the right to inspect and receive a copy of your PHI that we use to make decisions about you. We may charge a reasonable fee for copying and mailing.
Right to Request an Amendment (Correction):
You have the right to request that we amend PHI that you believe is incorrect or incomplete. We may deny your request in certain circumstances, but we will notify you of our decision.
Right to Request Restrictions:
You have the right to ask us to limit how we use or disclose your PHI for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations. We are not required to agree to all requests for restriction.
Right to Request an Accounting of Disclosures:
You have the right to request a list of certain disclosures we’ve made of your PHI for purposes other than treatment, payment, and healthcare operations.
Right to a Paper Copy of This Notice:
You have the right to receive a paper copy of this Notice, even if you have agreed to receive it electronically.
5. Security and Confidentiality
PHI collected by Patriot Vita Care is securely stored. Sensitive information, such as social security numbers, is protected by encryption protocols (e.g., TLS 1.3 and AES256) designed to protect information sent over the Internet and stored on our systems. While we take commercially reasonable measures to maintain a secure site, electronic communications and databases are subject to risks inherent in the digital environment.
6. Filing a Complaint
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with:
Patriot Vita Care: By contacting us at [email protected].
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS): By sending a letter to the Office for Civil Rights.
We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.
Complaints are accepted through the methods listed below. Complaint and Incident Intake (CII) does not accept in-person complaints.
The Texas Unified Licensure Information Portal (TULIP) is the most direct way to file a complaint and is available 24/7. Complaint information is documented in an electronic tracking system. The person filing a complaint online receives an intake number immediately upon submission.
To make a complaint by phone against nursing homes, assisted living facilities, intermediate care facilities, state supported living centers, home health, hospice, personal assistance agencies, prescribed pediatric extended care centers, and day activity and health services, call toll-free 800-458-9858.
7. Changes to This Notice
We reserve the right to change the terms of this Notice at any time. If we make material changes, the new Notice will be posted on our website and will be effective for all PHI that we maintain.
The Last Updated date will reflect the most recent revision.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at [email protected]
LAST UPDATED: October 24, 2025