Privacy Policy for Gunter Family Medicine (GTFM)
Effective Date: August 1, 2025
This Privacy Policy describes how Gunter Family Medicine (“GTFM,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) collects, uses, shares, and protects your personal information when you access or use our website. This policy complies fully with applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH), and Texas state privacy and consumer protection statutes.
Information We Collect: We may collect the following types of information from you:
Personal Information:
- Name
- Contact information (e.g., email address, phone number, mailing address)
- Date of birth
- Insurance information
- Medical history, health conditions, and related information provided through online intake forms, scheduling appointments, or billing interactions
- Payment information provided through our secure online payment portal
Non-Personal Information:
- IP address
- Browser type
- Operating system
- Device type
- Usage data, including pages visited, time spent on our website, and referral sources
How We Use Your Information: We utilize collected information to:
- Provide medical care and healthcare services
- Schedule, confirm, or modify appointments and respond to patient inquiries
- Process payments and billing activities securely
- Communicate with you regarding healthcare, billing, appointment reminders, and other administrative functions
- Meet legal, regulatory, and accreditation obligations
- Maintain and enhance the security and functionality of our website and technology systems
Sharing and Disclosure of Information: GTFM does not sell, trade, or rent your personal information. Your information may be shared under the following conditions:
With Your Consent: We may share your health information when you explicitly authorize its release to providers, payers, or other third parties.
For Treatment, Payment, and Healthcare Operations (TPO): As allowed under HIPAA, we may disclose your information for medical treatment coordination, payment processing, billing operations, and administrative functions necessary for providing healthcare services.
With Business Associates and Vendors: We may share your information with carefully vetted third-party vendors and contractors under legally binding Business Associate Agreements (BAAs), in compliance with HIPAA. These vendors include entities providing billing, administrative, IT, data storage, scheduling, secure payment processing, and other operational services.
As Required by Law: We may disclose information to comply with subpoenas, court orders, legal processes, or regulatory requirements.
Public Health and Safety: In accordance with applicable laws, we may share your information to support public health reporting, protect public safety, or respond to valid requests by law enforcement or government agencies.
Your Rights Under HIPAA: You have the right to:
- Request and obtain copies of your medical records
- Request corrections or amendments to your health information
- Request restrictions on specific uses or disclosures of your data
- Request an accounting of disclosures
- Request confidential communications delivered in a specific manner or location
- File a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights if you believe your rights have been violated
Data Security: We implement robust administrative, physical, and technical safeguards, compliant with the HIPAA Security Rule (45 CFR Part 160 and Subparts A and C of Part 164), to protect your sensitive information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction.
Cookies and Website Tracking: Our website may utilize cookies and analytics tools to enhance user experience, track website performance, and optimize service delivery. You can manage or disable cookies in your browser settings; however, disabling cookies may impact certain functionalities of the website.
Third-Party Links: Our website may provide links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of these external websites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any external sites you visit.
Texas-Specific Rights and Protections: Texas law provides additional protections and rights concerning your personal information, including:
- The right to inquire about how we collect, use, and disclose personal information
- The right to request amendments or deletions of incorrect personal information (subject to HIPAA and state law exceptions)
To exercise your rights under Texas law, please contact us using the details provided on our website.
Changes to This Privacy Policy: We reserve the right to update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in legal requirements or our privacy practices. Any updates will be reflected with a revised effective date.
Contact Information: If you have questions, concerns, or requests related to this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your rights under HIPAA or state law, please contact Gunter Family Medicine directly through the contact information provided on our website.
Thank you for trusting Gunter Family Medicine with your healthcare and privacy.