Privacy Policy St. Pete Arthritis & Rheumatology

710 94th Ave N Ste 307 

St. Petersburg, FL 33702 

Phone: 727-290-1444 | Email: office@stpetearthritis.com 

Website: www.stpetearthritis.com/privacy-policy (This is the direct link to this policy)

Effective Date: November 13, 2021 | Last Updated: November 13, 2025

Our Commitment to Your Privacy

At St. Pete Arthritis & Rheumatology, we are committed to protecting the privacy and security of your health information as required by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and Florida’s Information Protection Act (FIPA).

This Privacy Policy explains what personal information we collect, how we use it, who we share it with, and your rights. It applies when you visit our website  or interact with us online (e.g., appointment requests, patient portal, contact forms, or SMS communications).

If you have questions, contact our HIPAA Privacy Officer: HIPAA Privacy Officer: Zac Sovtic Phone: 727-290-1444 Email: office@stpetearthritis.comAddress: 710 94th Ave N Ste 307, St. Petersburg, FL 33702

We collect only the information necessary to provide you with high-quality rheumatology care:

• Protected Health Information (PHI): Medical history, diagnoses, treatment plans, test results, prescriptions, or insurance details submitted via secure forms or the patient portal.
• Personal Information: Name, date of birth, address, phone number, email, or payment information for scheduling, billing, or communication.
• Website & SMS Data: IP address, browser type, pages visited, cookies, and mobile phone number (if you opt in to SMS).

All online forms and SMS opt-ins are encrypted and transmitted securely via HTTPS. SMS consent is collected only for appointment reminders, lab results, or health updates.

We use your information only for permitted purposes under HIPAA and Florida law:

Purpose Examples

Treatment Sharing records with specialists, labs, or hospitals for your care

Payment Submitting claims to Medicare, Medicaid, or private insurers

Healthcare Operations Quality assessments, staff training, audits, or accreditation

Communications Sending appointment reminders, lab results, or billing notices via email, text, or phone.  

We share your information only as required or permitted by law:

• With healthcare providers involved in your care (e.g., labs, pharmacies).
• With insurers or government programs for payment.
• With business associates (e.g., EHR vendors, billing services, website hosts) who sign Business Associate Agreements (BAAs) to protect your data.
• For public health, legal, or safety reasons (e.g., reporting to Florida Department of Health).

We do NOT sell your personal information. SMS consent is not shared with third parties or affiliates. We will never share your phone number or SMS opt-in with marketers, affiliates, or unrelated companies.

• You may receive SMS messages for appointment reminders, lab results, or health updates only if you opt in.
• SMS consent is not shared with third parties.
• You can opt out anytime by replying STOP or contacting us.
• Standard text and data rates may apply.

Risk Notice: Standard SMS and email are not fully encrypted. For sensitive PHI, we recommend using our secure patient portal.

You have the right to:

• Access your medical record (within 30 days).
• Amend incorrect information.
• Restrict how we use or share your data.
• Request confidential communications (e.g., text instead of calls).
• Receive an accounting of disclosures (last 6 years).
• Opt out of SMS at any time.
• File a complaint with us, HHS, or Florida AHCA — no retaliation

.

We use encryption, secure servers, access controls, and staff training to protect your data.

In case of a breach:

• You will be notified within 30 days (FIPA) / 60 days (HIPAA).
• Large breaches (500+ residents) are reported to the Florida Attorney General.

We may update this policy. Changes will be posted at: www.stpetearthritis.com/privacy-policy

Contact Us HIPAA Privacy Officer: Zac Sovtic St. Pete Arthritis & Rheumatology 710 94th Ave N Ste 307 St. Petersburg, FL 33702 Phone: 727-290-1444 Email: office@stpetearthritis.com

File a Complaint:

• HHS Office for Civil Rights: www.hhs.gov/ocr
• Florida AHCA: (850) 412-3960

This policy is publicly available at www.stpetearthritis.com/privacy-policy. 

A paper copy is available at our office. All web forms include a link to this policy near consent language.