Privacy Policy

Your California Privacy Rights

CCPA Rights Disclosure

If you are a California resident, the CCPA allows you to make certain requests about your personal information. Specifically, the CCPA allows you to request us to:

• Inform you about the categories of personal information we collect or disclose about you; the categories of sources of such information; the business or commercial purpose for collecting your personal information; and the categories of third parties with whom we share/disclose personal information.

• Provide access to and/or a copy of certain information we hold about you.

• Delete certain information we have about you.

The CCPA further provides you with the right to not be discriminated against (as provided for in applicable law) for exercising your rights.

Please note that certain information may be exempt from such requests under California law. For example, we need certain information in order to provide the Services to you. We also will take reasonable steps to verify your identity before responding to a request.

Sensitive Information Disclosure

We may collect the following categories of sensitive personal information (as defined under California law): social security, driver’s license, state identification card, or passport number, account log-in, financial account, debit card, or credit card number in combination with any required security or access code, password, or credentials allowing access to an account, and information on racial or ethnic origin, religious, or philosophical beliefs, or union membership, and precise geolocation. We collect this information to process transactions, comply with laws, manage our business, or provide you with services. Note that we do not use such information for any purposes that are not identified within the California Privacy Rights Act Section 1798.121. We do not “sell” or “share” sensitive personal information for purposes of cross-context behavioral advertising.

Sources of Personal Information

We and our third-party service providers collect personal information from the following sources:

• Direct interactions, such as, information on third-party websites or other information you may have made publicly available or information provided by third party sources, including but not limited to government entities, advertisers, and data resellers
• Data from third parties, such as, information on third-party websites or other information you may have made publicly available or information provided by third party sources, including but not limited to government entities, advertisers, and data resellers
• Automated tracking technologies, such as, information automatically collected about your interaction with our Services and websites using various technologies such as cookies, web logs and beacons and internet tags

Business Purposes

Depending on how you interact with us and our Services, we may use and disclose personal information for the following business purposes:

• Auditing
• Detecting security incidents, protecting against malicious, deceptive, fraudulent, or illegal activity,
• Detecting and repairing errors,
• Performing services on behalf of other businesses,
• Processing or fulfilling orders and transactions,
• Processing payments,
• Providing advertising or marketing,
• Conducting internal research for product and service development, and
• Improving, upgrading, and enhancing our services.

In addition to sharing personal information for the business purposes identified within the California Consumer Privacy Act, we also disclose personal information as needed, or required, with the following additional third parties:

• organizations involved in business transfers, e.g. to a purchaser or successor entity in the event of a sale or any other corporate transaction involving some or all of our business;
• other parties, e.g. as needed for external audit, compliance, risk management, corporate development and/or corporate governance related matters
• business partners as directed by an individual, or as needed to process an individual’s request; and
• governmental authorities and regulators, as required under applicable law.

Sale of Personal Information

Alpha Hormones Inc. does not, and will not, sell information that identifies you such as your name, email address, phone number, or postal address.

Like many companies with an internet presence, we do work with third parties that provide marketing and advertising services to us, including interest-based advertising services, and these third parties may place tags, pixels, cookies, beacons, and other similar tracking mechanisms on our Website and App and collect your online identifiers. Because of the CCPA’s broad definitions of “sale” and “personal information,” making certain online identifiers available to these companies so that they can provide marketing and advertising services to Alpha Hormones Inc. may be considered a “sale” under the CCPA.

To opt out of sharing your information with participating third parties for interest-based advertising, please visit the Network Advertising Initiative’s Consumer Opt-Out link, the Digital Advertising Alliance’s Consumer Opt-Out link, and Your Online Choices. Please note that these opt-outs are device and browser based, so you will need to opt out on each of your devices and browsers.

Shine the Light Disclosure

The California “Shine the Light” law gives residents of California the right under certain circumstances to request information from us regarding the manner in which we share certain categories of personal information (as defined in the Shine the Light law) with third parties for their direct marketing purposes. We do not share your personal information with third parties for their own direct marketing purposes.

Exercising Rights to Request Access and Request Deletion

Subject to certain exceptions, California residents have the right to request access, deletion and portability of their personal information as further described in the Privacy & Cookie Notice. California residents also have a right to opt-out of the sale of their personal information, where applicable. To exercise your opt-out right, please email us at: support@alphahormones.com or call 213-334-4111. If you would like to submit any other type of request, would like more information concerning the categories of personal information (if any) we share with third parties or affiliates for those parties to use for direct marketing purposes, or have additional questions about the personal information that we have about you, please contact us at: support@alphahormones.com or 213-334-4111.

Verifying Your Request

When you submit your request, we will take steps to attempt to verify your identity. We will seek to match the information in your request to the personal information we maintain about you. As part of our verification process, we may ask you to submit additional information, use identity verification services to assist us, or if you have set up an account on our website, we may ask you to sign in to your account as part of our identity verification process. Please understand that, depending on the type of request you submit, to protect the privacy and security of your personal information, we will only complete your request when we are satisfied that we have verified your identity to a reasonable degree of certainty.

Nondiscrimination and Authorized Agents

We do not discriminate against individuals who exercise their rights under applicable law.

If we receive a request from an authorized agent, we have the right to verify with the data subject that the data subject indeed wants to take the action requested by the agent and will do so by contacting the data subject directly.

HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices

Alpha Hormones Inc.
800 Fairmount Ave, Suite 323, Pasadena, CA 91105
Privacy Officer: Rotana Steven Tek, D.O. · Tel: (213) 334-4111 · Email: support@alphahormones.com
Original effective date: January 1, 2019 · Revised effective date: [EFFECTIVE DATE]

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.

We understand the importance of privacy and are committed to maintaining the confidentiality of your medical information. We make a record of the medical care we provide and may receive records from others. We use these records to provide or coordinate quality medical care, obtain payment for services, and meet our professional and legal obligations to operate this medical practice properly.

We are required by law to maintain the privacy of protected health information, provide individuals with notice of our legal duties and privacy practices, and follow the notice currently in effect. This notice describes how we may use and disclose medical information, our patients’ rights, and our legal obligations.

Where California or other applicable law provides greater protection than HIPAA, we will follow the applicable more protective requirements. Questions about this notice may be directed to the Privacy Officer listed above.

A. How This Medical Practice May Use or Disclose Health Information

This medical practice collects medical and related identifiable information, including billing, claims, referral and health plan information, and maintains it in medical records, administrative files and electronic systems. Information subject to HIPAA is referred to as “protected health information” or “PHI.”

The following describes uses and disclosures that may be permitted without written authorization, subject to applicable legal conditions. Activities requiring separate authorization are identified below.

1. Treatment

We use medical information to provide medical care and may share it with employees and others involved in our patients’ care. For example, we may share information with other treating providers, a pharmacy dispensing a prescription, or a laboratory performing a test. Disclosures to family members or others involved in care are subject to the conditions described in paragraph 6.

2. Payment

We use and disclose PHI to obtain payment for services. For example, we may provide health plans with information required to process a claim. We may also disclose information to other providers to assist with payment for services they provided, as permitted by law.

3. Health Care Operations

We may use and disclose PHI to operate this medical practice, review and improve the quality of care, evaluate professional qualifications, obtain authorizations for services, and conduct medical reviews, legal services, audits, compliance activities, business planning and management.

We may share PHI with business associates that perform services for us. When required by law, these business associates must have written agreements requiring protection of PHI and limiting its use and disclosure. Applicable requirements also extend to their subcontractors.

Information disclosed to some recipients may no longer be protected by HIPAA. California or other laws may continue to restrict its use or further disclosure.

4. Appointment Reminders

We may contact patients to remind them about appointments. We will use reasonable safeguards and consider documented communication preferences. Patients may request an alternative method or location for communications.

5. Sign-in Sheet

We may use limited sign-in information and call patients’ names when we are ready to see them, using reasonable privacy safeguards.

6. Notification and Communication with Family

We may disclose relevant information to family members, personal representatives or others involved in a patient’s care or payment for care, as permitted by law. When the patient is able and available to express a preference, we will provide an opportunity to agree or object where required. When the patient is unable or unavailable, our professionals may use their judgment consistent with applicable law.

We may also disclose information for permitted notifications about a patient’s location, general condition or death, including to disaster relief organizations. Additional rules and safeguards may apply during emergencies.

7. Marketing

We may communicate about treatment alternatives, case management, care coordination, our own health-related services, and other communications permitted by law without a marketing authorization.

We will obtain a separate written authorization before using or disclosing PHI for marketing when required by HIPAA or California law. Where required, that authorization will disclose financial remuneration. Any exception for face-to-face communications, promotional gifts or prescription-related communications will be used only when the applicable legal conditions are met. Patients may revoke a marketing authorization in writing. Revocation will stop future activities covered by the authorization, except to the extent action has already been taken in reliance on it or another legal exception applies.

8. Sale of Health Information

We will not sell PHI without prior written authorization when authorization is required by law. The authorization will disclose remuneration as required. Patients may revoke the authorization in writing, subject to actions already taken in reliance on it and applicable legal exceptions.

9. Required by Law

We will use or disclose information when required by law, limiting the disclosure to the applicable legal requirements.

10. Public Health

We may disclose information for legally permitted public health activities, including disease prevention and reporting, reporting abuse or neglect, product safety reporting, adverse medication reactions, and exposure notifications. We will follow applicable requirements concerning notification of the patient and protection from harm.

11. Health Oversight Activities

We may disclose information to authorized health oversight agencies for audits, investigations, inspections, licensing and other proceedings, subject to federal and California law.

12. Judicial and Administrative Proceedings

We may disclose information in response to qualifying court or administrative orders, subpoenas, discovery requests or other lawful processes, only when applicable legal requirements are met. Additional protections may apply to particular categories of records.

13. Law Enforcement

We may disclose information for legally permitted law enforcement purposes, including certain court orders, warrants and other qualifying requests. We will comply with applicable limitations and safeguards.

14. Coroners

We may disclose information to coroners, medical examiners and funeral directors as permitted for their authorized duties.

15. Organ or Tissue Donation

We may disclose information to authorized organizations involved in procuring, banking or transplanting organs and tissues.

16. Public Safety

We may disclose information as permitted by law to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to the health or safety of a person or the public.

17. Proof of Immunization

We may disclose proof of immunization to a school when applicable law permits and the required agreement has been obtained from the patient or authorized representative.

18. Specialized Government Functions

We may disclose information for legally permitted military, national security or correctional purposes, subject to applicable restrictions.

19. Workers’ Compensation

We may disclose information as authorized by workers’ compensation and occupational reporting laws.

20. Change of Ownership

If this medical practice is sold or merged with another organization, records may be transferred as permitted by law. Patients retain their applicable rights to access records and request that copies be sent to another provider.

21. Breach Notification

Following a breach of unsecured PHI, we will notify affected patients as required by law. Required individual notices will generally be provided by first-class mail, or by email if the patient has separately agreed to receive breach notices electronically. Merely providing an email address or agreeing to receive care-related email or text messages does not constitute that separate agreement. A business associate may assist with notification, but the practice remains responsible for meeting its applicable obligations. Other legally permitted notification methods may apply.

22. Other Disclosures Specified in This Notice

We may make other disclosures described in this notice only when permitted by applicable law and subject to the required conditions.

23. Psychotherapy Notes

Most uses and disclosures of separately maintained psychotherapy notes require written authorization. Limited legal exceptions include treatment use by the originator of the notes, certain training activities, defense in proceedings brought by the patient, and specified disclosures permitted or required by law. The treatment exception does not permit routine disclosure of psychotherapy notes to other treating providers. Patients may revoke an authorization in writing, subject to actions already taken in reliance on it and applicable exceptions.

24. Research

We may use or disclose information for research with written authorization or when a legally permitted exception applies, including required institutional review board or privacy board approvals where applicable.

25. Fundraising

If we conduct fundraising, we may use or disclose information permitted by law to contact patients. Each fundraising communication will explain how to opt out. Patients may also contact the Privacy Officer to stop future fundraising communications or request that they resume. A decision about fundraising communications will not affect treatment or payment. If fundraising involves records protected by 42 CFR Part 2, we will provide the required advance notice and opportunity to choose whether to receive those communications.

26. Artificial Intelligence and Technology-Assisted Services

If this practice uses artificial intelligence or automated tools to assist with documentation, administrative tasks or other permitted treatment, payment or operational activities, their use will be subject to applicable privacy and security requirements.

Before an outside provider processes PHI on our behalf, we will establish required business associate agreements and appropriate safeguards. This notice does not authorize unrestricted disclosure to general-purpose AI services or use of PHI for unrelated model training.

AI tools do not replace the treating clinician’s professional judgment. If a proposed activity involves recording a visit, such as an AI documentation assistant (“AI scribe”), we will obtain your separate consent before recording, and your provider will confirm your permission at the start of the visit.

Patients may ask about AI use or request an alternative by contacting the Privacy Officer. We will explain available alternatives and whether a requested restriction can be accommodated. Patients may withdraw separately granted recording consent or revoke an authorization as applicable. Declining AI-assisted documentation will not affect your care. These choices do not automatically prohibit all otherwise lawful electronic processing.

27. Substance Use Disorder Records

If we receive or maintain records protected by 42 CFR Part 2, additional protections apply. Such records, or testimony describing their contents, cannot be used or disclosed in civil, criminal, administrative or legislative proceedings against the patient without the required consent or a qualifying court order accompanied by a subpoena or similar legal mandate. We will follow applicable Part 2 requirements in addition to HIPAA and California law.

B. When This Medical Practice May Not Use or Disclose Health Information

Except as described in this notice or otherwise permitted or required by law, we will not use or disclose identifiable health information without the patient’s written authorization.

Patients may revoke an authorization in writing through the Privacy Officer at any time. Revocation does not undo actions already taken in reliance on the authorization, and other legally applicable exceptions may apply.

An acknowledgment of this notice, a communication consent or a newsletter enrollment does not replace a legally required HIPAA or California medical-information authorization.

C. Our Patients’ Health Information Rights

1. Right to Request Special Privacy Protections

Patients may request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures by specifying what information they want limited and the restriction requested. We must agree to restrict disclosure to a health plan for payment or health care operations when the information relates solely to an item or service paid in full by the patient or someone other than the health plan, unless disclosure is required by law. We generally may accept or reject other restriction requests and will explain our decision.

2. Right to Request Confidential Communications

Patients may request communications in a specific way or at a specific location. We will accommodate reasonable requests as required by law.

3. Right to Inspect and Copy

Patients may inspect and obtain copies of information covered by their legal access rights, subject to limited exceptions. Requests should identify the records requested and preferred format. We will provide available formats, including electronic copies, as required by law. Fees and response periods will comply with federal and California requirements. If access is denied, we will explain the reason and any available review rights. Additional California rights concerning mental health records will be honored where applicable.

4. Right to Amend or Supplement

Patients may request an amendment in writing and explain why information is inaccurate or incomplete. We may deny a request under legally permitted circumstances and will explain the reason and available rights to submit a disagreement. Where California law applies, patients may submit a statement of up to 250 words concerning information they believe is incomplete or incorrect. Statements and related materials will be maintained and included with later disclosures as required by law.

5. Right to an Accounting of Disclosures

Patients may request an accounting of disclosures covered by this right, generally for the preceding six years. Exceptions apply, including many disclosures for treatment, payment and health care operations, disclosures authorized by the patient, and other legally excluded disclosures. Any fees will comply with applicable law.

6. Right to a Paper Copy of This Notice

Patients may obtain a paper copy even if they previously agreed to receive the notice electronically. Our current notice is available in our office and on this website. To request a paper copy, call (213) 334-4111 or email support@alphahormones.com.

7. Right to Act Through an Authorized Representative

A legally authorized representative may exercise applicable rights after we verify the representative’s authority.

8. Right to Complain Without Retaliation

Patients may complain to this practice or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights. We will not retaliate against anyone for filing a complaint.

D. Changes to This Notice of Privacy Practices

We reserve the right to revise this notice and our privacy practices as permitted by law. We must comply with the notice currently in effect. A revised notice may apply to information already maintained as well as information received in the future. The revised notice will identify its effective date and will be available in our reception area, upon request, and on this website.

E. Your Communication Choices

With your consent, we may communicate with you by ordinary email and standard SMS about your care, including appointments, billing, prescriptions and test results. Ordinary email and SMS may be insecure, and we may deliver sensitive information through an approved secure system. Educational newsletters and promotional emails are sent only with your separate, voluntary consent. You may decline or withdraw either consent at any time by emailing support@alphahormones.com, calling (213) 334-4111, replying STOP to a text where supported, or using the unsubscribe link in a marketing email. Declining or withdrawing these consents will not affect your care. Email and SMS are not monitored continuously and are not for emergencies; for an emergency, call 911.

F. Complaints

Complaints about this notice or how this practice handles health information may be directed to:
Rotana Steven Tek, D.O., Privacy Officer
Alpha Hormones Inc., 800 Fairmount Ave, Suite 323, Pasadena, CA 91105
Tel: (213) 334-4111 · Email: support@alphahormones.com

You may also submit a complaint directly to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights, 200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20201; Tel: 1-800-368-1019; TTY: 1-800-537-7697; www.hhs.gov/hipaa/filing-a-complaint. You do not have to complain to this practice before contacting the Office for Civil Rights. We will not retaliate for a complaint.