AGZ URGENT CARE, PLLC

NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES

 

Effective Date: November 1, 2025

Last Revised: January 6, 2026

 

This Notice of Privacy Practices describes how AGZ Urgent Care, PLLC (the “Practice,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) may use and disclose your protected health information (PHI) to carry out treatment, payment, or health care operations and for other purposes that are permitted or required by law. It also describes your rights to access and control your PHI. PHI is information about you, including demographic information, that may identify you and that relates to your past, present, or future physical or mental health or condition and related health care services.

 

We are required by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and applicable state law to maintain the privacy of your PHI, provide you with this notice of our legal duties and privacy practices, and notify you following a breach of your unsecured PHI. We are required to abide by the terms of this Notice currently in effect.

 

CONTACT INFORMATION

If you have any questions about this Notice, please contact our Privacy Officer:

Daniel Martinez

Email: dmartinez@agzmd.com

AGZ Urgent Care, PLLC

6416 Polaris Drive, Suite 2B

Laredo, TX 78041

Phone: (956) 568-5140

Website: www.garciazunigamd.com | www.garciazuniga.com

 

HOW WE MAY USE AND DISCLOSE YOUR PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION (PHI)

The following categories describe different ways we use and disclose PHI. Not every use or disclosure in a category is listed.

 

1.  For Treatment: We may use and disclose your PHI to provide, coordinate, or manage your health care and any related services. This includes communication with other health care providers involved in your care. For example, we may disclose your PHI to a specialist to whom you have been referred.

2.  For Payment: We may use and disclose your PHI so that the treatment and services you receive may be billed to, and payment collected from, you, your insurance company, or a third party. This may include activities like determining eligibility, submitting claims, and utilization review.

3.  For Health Care Operations: We may use and disclose your PHI for activities necessary to run our practice and ensure quality care. Examples include quality assessment, employee review, training of medical students, licensing, and conducting or arranging for other business activities.

4.  Other Permitted Uses and Disclosures Without Your Authorization:

• As Required by Law: We will disclose your PHI when required to do so by federal, state, or local law.

• Public Health Activities: For purposes such as reporting disease, injury, vital events, conducting public health surveillance, and reporting child abuse or neglect.

• Health Oversight Activities: To a health oversight agency for activities authorized by law, such as audits, investigations, inspections, and licensure.

• Judicial and Administrative Proceedings: In response to a court or administrative order, or in some cases, a subpoena, discovery request, or other lawful process.

• Law Enforcement: For specific law enforcement purposes, such as reporting wounds from violent crimes or complying with a court order.

• To Avert a Serious Threat to Health or Safety: To prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to the health or safety of a person or the public.

• Workers’ Compensation: To comply with workers’ compensation laws.

• Military and National Security: To authorized federal officials for national security activities or as needed by the military if you are a member of the armed forces.

• Coroners, Medical Examiners, and Funeral Directors: To identify a deceased person or determine the cause of death.

• Organ Donation: To organ procurement organizations.

 

USES AND DISCLOSURES THAT REQUIRE YOUR AUTHORIZATION

For uses and disclosures not described above (such as most marketing purposes, the sale of PHI, and most uses and disclosures of psychotherapy notes), we will obtain your written authorization. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time, except to the extent we have already acted in reliance upon it.

 

YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING YOUR PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION (PHI)

You have the following rights regarding PHI we maintain about you:

1. Right to Inspect and Copy: You have the right to inspect and obtain a copy of your medical and billing records. We may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee for copies.

2. Right to Request an Amendment: If you feel the PHI we have is incorrect or incomplete, you may ask us to amend it. We may deny your request under certain circumstances.

3. Right to an Accounting of Disclosures: You have the right to request a list of certain disclosures of your PHI we made for purposes other than treatment, payment, or health care operations. This list will not include disclosures made to you, those authorized by you, or for certain other purposes.

4. Right to Request Restrictions: You have the right to request a restriction or limitation on the PHI we use or disclose for treatment, payment, or health care operations, or to someone involved in your care. **We are not required to agree to your request**, except for a restriction on disclosures to a health plan for payment or operations purposes if you have paid out-of-pocket in full for the service.

5. Right to Request Confidential Communications: You have the right to request that we communicate with you about medical matters in a certain way or at a certain location (e.g., only by mail to a specific address).

6. Right to a Paper Copy of This Notice: You may request a paper copy of this Notice at any time, even if you agreed to receive it electronically.

7. Right to Be Notified of a Breach: You have the right to be notified following a breach of your unsecured PHI.

 

To exercise any of these rights, please submit a written request to our Privacy Officer at the contact information above.

 

OUR RESPONSIBILITIES

• We are required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your PHI.

• We will promptly notify you if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your information.

• We must follow the duties and privacy practices described in this Notice and give you a copy of it.

• We will not use or share your information other than as described here unless you tell us we can in writing. If you tell us we can, you may change your mind at any time. Let us know in writing if you change your mind.

 

CHANGES TO THIS NOTICE

We reserve the right to change the terms of this Notice. The new Notice will be effective for all PHI we maintain at that time. We will post a copy of the current Notice in our office and on our website(s). You may request a copy of the current Notice at any time.

 

COMPLAINTS

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with us or with the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. To file a complaint with us, contact our Privacy Officer at the information listed above. All complaints must be submitted in writing. You will not be penalized for filing a complaint.