Notice of Privacy Practices

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.

Effective date: November 1, 2026

Practice: Niagara Labmasters, Inc (“we,” “our,” or “the Practice”)

Your Rights

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

Get an electronic or paper copy of your medical record

You may ask to see or receive an electronic or paper copy of your medical record and other health information we maintain about you. We will provide a copy or summary, usually within 30 days of your request. We may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee as permitted by law.

Ask us to correct your medical record

You may ask us to correct health information that you believe is inaccurate or incomplete. We may deny the request, but we will explain why in writing, generally within 60 days.

Request confidential communication

You may ask us to contact you in a specific way, such as by phone or email, or to send mail to a different address. We will agree to reasonable requests.

Ask us to limit what we use or share

You may ask us not to use or share certain health information for treatment, payment, or health care operations. We are not always required to agree. If you pay for a service or item in full out of pocket and ask us not to share information about it with your health plan for payment or operations, we will agree unless a law requires disclosure.

Get a list of disclosures

You may ask for an accounting of certain disclosures of your health information made during the six years before your request, including who received it and why. The first accounting in a 12-month period is free; we may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee for additional requests.

Get a copy of this notice

You may request a paper copy at any time, even if you agreed to receive it electronically.

Choose someone to act for you

If you have given someone medical power of attorney, or if someone is your legal guardian or otherwise legally authorized, that person may exercise your rights. We will verify that authority before acting.

Your Choices

For certain health information, you may tell us what to share. If you cannot communicate your preference, such as in an emergency, we may share information if we believe it is in your best interest and as permitted by law.

  • You may direct us to share information with family members, close friends, or others involved in your care or payment for your care.

  • You may direct us regarding disaster-relief communications.

 We will obtain your written authorization before using or disclosing your health information for most marketing purposes, before selling your health information, or before sharing psychotherapy notes when authorization is required. You may revoke an authorization in writing at any time, except to the extent we have already relied on it.

How We May Use and Share Your Information

We may use and disclose your health information without your written authorization for the purposes described below and as otherwise permitted or required by law. When applicable, we limit uses, disclosures, and requests to the minimum necessary information.

Treatment

We may use and share your information with physicians and other professionals who are treating you, coordinating your care, prescribing medication, or arranging referrals.

Payment

We may use and share your information to bill and obtain payment from health plans or other responsible parties, determine eligibility, and obtain prior authorization.

Health care operations

We may use and share your information to operate the Practice, improve quality, train staff, conduct audits, manage risk, credential clinicians, and contact you about appointments or care alternatives.

Business associates and organized health care arrangements

We may share information with vendors and service providers that perform functions for us and are required to protect it.

Public health and safety

We may share information for activities such as reporting disease, adverse events, births or deaths; preventing or reducing a serious threat to health or safety; reporting suspected abuse, neglect, or domestic violence; and supporting product recalls, as authorized by law.

Research

We may use or share information for research when an institutional review board or privacy board approves the research, when the information is de-identified, or when you authorize the use.

Legal and governmental purposes

We may share information to comply with law; for health oversight; for workers’ compensation; with coroners, medical examiners, or funeral directors; for organ and tissue donation; for certain law-enforcement purposes; for military, national-security, or protective services; and in response to lawful judicial or administrative process.

Specially Protected Information

Some categories of information may receive additional protection under federal or state law, including records concerning substance use disorder treatment, mental health treatment, HIV-related information, genetic information, and certain minor-consent services. We will follow the more protective law when it applies.

To the extent we maintain substance use disorder patient records protected by 42 CFR part 2, those records generally may be used or disclosed for treatment, payment, and health care operations as permitted by law and any applicable consent. Such records, or testimony describing their contents, may not be used or disclosed in civil, criminal, administrative, or legislative proceedings against you unless you provide written consent or a court order and subpoena satisfy applicable legal requirements. A recipient generally may not further use or disclose Part 2 records for legal proceedings against you without your written consent or specific legal authorization.

Our Responsibilities

We are required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information.

  • We will notify you 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 the notice currently in effect and give you a copy upon request.

  • We will not use or share your information other than as described here unless you authorize it in writing.

SMS Communications

You must affirmatively opt in to receive SMS messages from Niagara Labmasters using one of these methods: a phone call, in-person conversation, paper form, and/or text message. Providing your mobile number alone does not constitute consent.  

  • Types of text messages may include appointment reminders, prescription update alerts, preventive care reminders, billing notifications, and responses to your direct inquiries.

  • Reply STOP to opt out of SMS messages at any time. Reply HELP for assistance.

  • Message frequency varies based on your appointments and interactions with us.

  • Standard message and data rates may apply depending on your mobile carrier plan.

  • Mobile information and SMS opt-in consent will not be shared with, sold to, or rented to third parties/affiliates for marketing or commercial purposes.

 

You may also contact us at any of our locations listed on our website to communicate your messaging preferences.

Information Security

We implement appropriate technical, administrative, and physical safeguards to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. However, please note that no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure.

For transmission of sensitive medical information, please use one of our FAX numbers listed on our website rather than standard web contact forms or unencrypted email.

Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to external third-party websites or resource pages. We are not responsible for the privacy practices, policies, or content of those external websites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.

Changes to This Notice

We may change this notice and apply the revised notice to information we already have and to information we receive in the future. The current notice will be available at our office and on our website at DRKEVINKOMM.COM.

Questions and Complaints

Please contact us at nlm@drkommvision.com or at any of the locations listed on our website DRKEVINKOMM.COM with any questions or concerns.  You may also submit a complaint to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights through its complaint portal or by mail. We will not retaliate against you for exercising your rights.