NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES
Skin Savvy Medical Group Incorporated
Hermosa Beach · Westlake Village
Effective Date: September 22, 2026
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.
Our Commitment
Your health information is personal, and protecting it is part of taking care of you. This notice explains how we may use and share your information, what rights you have over it, and what we’re obligated to do.
We’re required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information, to give you this notice, and to follow the terms of the notice currently in effect.
California law may protect certain health information more strictly than federal law. Where applicable, we follow the stricter requirements.
How We May Use and Share Your Information Without Your Authorization
For treatment. To provide and coordinate your care. Your provider may discuss your history with another provider involved in your care, send a prescription to a pharmacy, order labs, or share relevant information with a specialist involved in your care.
For payment. To process and manage payment for the services and products we provide, including processing payments, maintaining patient account information, and handling other payment-related activities.
For our operations. To run our practice, including quality review, staff training, licensing and credentialing, business planning, compliance activities, and evaluating our services.
We may also use or share your information without your authorization when the law requires or permits it, including:
When required by law, court order, subpoena, or warrant
For public health and safety activities, including certain disease reporting and adverse event reporting
To report suspected abuse, neglect, or domestic violence when permitted or required by law
For health oversight activities such as audits, licensing reviews, and investigations
To coroners, medical examiners, and funeral directors as permitted by law
For workers’ compensation purposes
For certain law enforcement purposes as permitted by law
To help prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to health or safety
For certain specialized government functions
For research when applicable legal requirements and privacy protections have been satisfied
To business associates who perform services on our behalf and are required to appropriately protect your information
Appointment Reminders and Follow-Up
We may contact you about appointments, treatment alternatives, follow-up, or health-related services that may be relevant to you. Communications may occur by phone, text message, email, or mail as permitted by applicable law and your communication preferences.
Uses and Disclosures That Require Your Written Authorization
Certain uses and disclosures of your health information require your written authorization.
These may include:
Certain marketing uses of your health information, including identifiable photographs, testimonials, or patient stories used to promote Skin Savvy
The sale of your protected health information
Most uses and disclosures of psychotherapy notes, if any exist
Other uses or disclosures not described in this notice will be made only with your written authorization when authorization is required by law.
You may revoke an authorization at any time in writing, except to the extent we’ve already acted in reliance on it.
Substance Use Disorder Records
Certain substance use disorder treatment records may receive additional confidentiality protections under federal law, including 42 CFR Part 2.
If we create, receive, or maintain information protected by 42 CFR Part 2, we will use and disclose that information only as permitted by applicable law.
Records protected by 42 CFR Part 2, or testimony describing information contained in those records, may not be used or disclosed in certain civil, criminal, administrative, or legislative proceedings against a patient unless authorized or otherwise permitted by applicable law.
Your Rights
Get a copy of your record.
You can inspect and obtain a copy of your health information, electronically or on paper, as permitted by law. We’ll respond within the time required by law and may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee when permitted.
Ask us to correct your record.
If you believe information in your record is incorrect or incomplete, you may ask us to amend it. We may decline your request in certain circumstances. If we do, we’ll explain why in writing and tell you about any additional rights you may have.
Get a list of certain disclosures.
You may request an accounting of certain disclosures we’ve made of your health information.
Ask us to limit what we use or share.
You may ask us to restrict certain uses or disclosures of your health information. We aren’t required to agree to every request.
If you pay in full out of pocket for a health care item or service, you may ask us not to disclose information about that item or service to your health plan for payment or health care operations. When the law requires us to honor that request, we will.
Ask us to contact you a certain way.
You may ask us to contact you at a specific phone number or address, or through a particular communication method. We will accommodate reasonable requests as required by law.
Get a paper copy of this notice.
You may request a paper copy of this notice at any time, even if you’ve agreed to receive it electronically.
Be notified of a breach.
We will notify you as required by law if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your protected health information.
Choose someone to act for you.
If you have given someone medical power of attorney, or someone is your legal guardian or otherwise legally authorized to act on your behalf, that person may exercise your privacy rights as permitted by law.
To exercise any of these rights, contact our Privacy Officer using the information below.
Our Responsibilities
We are required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information.
We will notify you as required by law 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 of Privacy Practices currently in effect.
We will provide you with a copy of this notice as required by law and upon request.
We will not use or disclose your information other than as described in this notice unless you authorize us in writing or the law otherwise permits or requires the use or disclosure.
If you give us written authorization, you may revoke that authorization in writing at any time, subject to applicable legal limitations.
Changes to This Notice
We may change the terms of this notice, and the changes may apply to all information we maintain about you, including information we received or created before the change.
If we make a material change, the updated notice will be available at our offices and on our website. You may request a copy at any time.
Complaints
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with Skin Savvy by contacting our Privacy Officer using the information below.
You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Office for Civil Rights
200 Independence Avenue SW
Washington, DC 20201
1-877-696-6775
You will not be retaliated against for filing a complaint.
Contact Us
Jennifer Salerno, Privacy Officer
Skin Savvy Medical Group Incorporated
860 Hampshire Road, Suite I
Westlake Village, CA 91361
(805) 358-1222
Skin Savvy Medical Group Incorporated
1310 Pacific Coast Hwy.
Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
jeni@skinsavvy.com