Notice of Privacy Practices

Who follows this notice

This notice applies to Northtide Health and describes the privacy practices of all of our physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, behavioral health clinicians, nurses, care coordinators, staff, trainees, and volunteers, whether they provide care by video, by phone, or in person.

It covers the health information we create or receive about you — your "protected health information" or "PHI." This includes your medical and behavioral health records, video visit notes, test results, prescriptions, insurance information, and billing records.

Our responsibilities

• We are required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information.
• We will let you know promptly 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.

For more information, visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services at www.hhs.gov/hipaa.

Your rights

When it comes to your health information, you have certain rights. This section explains your rights and some of our responsibilities to help you.

Get an electronic or paper copy of your medical record

You can ask to see or get an electronic or paper copy of your medical record and other health information we have about you. Ask us how to do this. We will provide a copy or a summary of your health information, usually within 30 days of your request. We may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee as permitted by federal and Maryland law. You can also ask us to send a copy directly to another person or provider you designate.

Ask us to correct your medical record

You can ask us to correct health information about you that you think is incorrect or incomplete. Ask us how to do this. We may say "no" to your request, but we will tell you why in writing within 60 days, and you may submit a statement of disagreement.

Request confidential communications

You can ask us to contact you in a specific way (for example, only by mobile phone) or to send mail to a different address. We will say "yes" to all reasonable requests.

Ask us to limit what we use or share

You can ask us not to use or share certain health information for treatment, payment, or our operations. We are not required to agree, and we may say "no" if it would affect your care. If you pay for a service or health care item out-of-pocket in full, you can ask us not to share that information with your health insurer for payment or our operations. We will say "yes" unless a law requires us to share that information.

Get a list of those with whom we've shared information

You can ask for a list (an "accounting") of the times we've shared your health information for six years prior to the date you ask, who we shared it with, and why. We will include all disclosures except for those about treatment, payment, and health care operations, and certain other disclosures (such as any you asked us to make). We'll provide one accounting a year for free but will charge a reasonable, cost-based fee if you ask for another one within 12 months.

Get a copy of this privacy notice

You can ask for a paper copy of this notice at any time, even if you have agreed to receive it electronically. We will provide it promptly. This notice is always available on this page.

Choose someone to act for you

If you have given someone medical power of attorney or if someone is your legal guardian, that person can exercise your rights and make choices about your health information. We will make sure the person has this authority and can act for you before we take any action. For patients under 18, a parent or guardian generally acts for the minor, except as described in "Minors" below.

File a complaint if you feel your rights are violated

You can complain if you feel we have violated your rights by contacting our Privacy Officer using the information at the end of this notice. You can also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights by sending a letter to 200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20201, calling 1-877-696-6775, or visiting www.hhs.gov/ocr/complaints.

Your choices

For certain health information, you can tell us your choices about what we share. If you have a clear preference for how we share your information in the situations described below, talk to us. Tell us what you want us to do, and we will follow your instructions.

In these cases, you have both the right and choice to tell us to:

• Share information with your family, close friends, or others involved in your care — for example, a family member who joins your video visit
• Share information in a disaster relief situation
• Contact you for fundraising efforts

If you are not able to tell us your preference — for example, if you are unconscious — we may go ahead and share your information if we believe it is in your best interest. We may also share your information when needed to lessen a serious and imminent threat to health or safety.

In these cases, we never share your information unless you give us written permission:

• Marketing purposes
• Sale of your information
• Most sharing of psychotherapy notes

Fundraising

We may contact you for fundraising efforts, but you can tell us not to contact you again, and that choice will not affect your care.

Our uses and disclosures

We typically use or share your health information in the following ways.

Telehealth

Many of our services are delivered by secure video. We use telehealth platforms that are designed to protect the privacy and security of your health information and whose vendors sign HIPAA Business Associate Agreements. A video visit may be recorded only with your consent. Any recording is protected health information and is safeguarded like the rest of your record.

Business associates

We work with outside companies that perform services for us — such as our electronic health record, telehealth platform, laboratory, billing, and answering services. They are required by contract and by law to protect your information.

Health information exchange

We may participate in CRISP, Maryland's state-designated health information exchange, which allows your treating providers to securely access information needed for your care. You may opt out of CRISP by contacting CRISP at 1-877-952-7477 or visiting crisphealth.org. Even if you opt out, certain information (such as public health reporting and prescription monitoring data) may still be shared as required by law.

How else can we use or share your information?

We are allowed or required to share your information in other ways — usually in ways that contribute to the public good, such as public health and research. We have to meet many conditions in the law before we can share your information for these purposes.

Information with special protections

Some types of health information have additional protections under federal or Maryland law. When those laws are stricter than HIPAA, we follow the stricter law.

Mental and behavioral health information

Maryland's Confidentiality of Medical Records Act provides additional protections for mental health records. We share mental health information only as permitted by those laws. Psychotherapy notes, if kept separately by your therapist, generally require your written authorization before they are shared.

Substance use disorder records

If we receive or maintain records from a federally assisted substance use disorder treatment program, those records are protected by federal regulations at 42 C.F.R. Part 2. Such records, or testimony relaying their content, will not be used or disclosed in any civil, criminal, administrative, or legislative proceeding against you unless you give written consent or a court issues an order (accompanied by a subpoena) after notice and an opportunity to be heard, as required by law.

HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infection, and genetic information

Information about HIV/AIDS testing and status, sexually transmitted infections, and genetic testing may receive extra protection under federal and Maryland law, and may require your specific authorization before it is disclosed. Health plans are prohibited from using or disclosing genetic information for underwriting purposes.

Minors

Maryland law allows minors to consent to certain types of care on their own — for example, care related to sexually transmitted infections, contraception, pregnancy, and some mental health and substance use services. When a minor lawfully consents to care, the minor may control the related health information, and we may not share it with a parent or guardian except as permitted or required by law.

Changes to the terms of this notice

We can change the terms of this notice, and the changes will apply to all information we have about you. The new notice will be available upon request and on our website, and we will post the effective date at the top of the notice.

Acknowledgment and effective date

This notice is effective November 12, 2026. When you become a patient, we will ask you to acknowledge that you received this notice. Your care will not be affected if you choose not to sign the acknowledgment.