SNT Biotech
Notice of Privacy Practices
|
Effective Date |
Last Revised |
Version |
|
01/02/2025 |
2/26/2026 |
1.1 |
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.
1. Who We Are
SNT Biotech ("SNT," "we," "us," or "our") provides at-home health screening services on behalf of health plans, health systems, federally qualified health centers and their members. Our services include mailing or distributing screening test kits (such as colorectal cancer/FIT, diabetes/HbA1c, kidney evaluation and detection/KED and Cervical cancer HPV), supporting members through the testing process, coordinating laboratory analysis, and communicating test results.
This Notice of Privacy Practices ("Notice") explains how SNT Biotech may use and share your protected health information ("PHI") and describes your rights with respect to that information. We are required by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 ("HIPAA") and applicable state laws to maintain the privacy of your PHI and to provide you with notice of our legal duties and privacy practices.
2. The Information This Notice Covers
"Protected Health Information" (PHI) means individually identifiable health information, including information related to your past, present, or future physical or mental health, the provision of health care, or payment for health care. PHI we may receive or create about you includes:
• Identifiers such as your name, address, date of birth, member ID, telephone number, and email address.
• Health plan enrollment and eligibility information provided to us by your health plan.
• Information about screening kits sent to you, including activation, return, and processing status.
• Test samples you return and the laboratory results generated from those samples.
• Records of our communications with you (calls, emails, text messages, and letters).
• Information about your primary care provider, if known.
3. How We Use and Disclose Your Health Information
We may use and disclose your PHI without your written authorization for the following purposes:
3.1 For Treatment
We may use and disclose your PHI to facilitate health care services you receive. For example, we share your sample and order information with our contracted, licensed laboratory so it can perform your screening test and produce a result, and we may share your test result with your primary care provider (if known) so they can review and follow up with you.
3.2 For Payment
We may use and share PHI to obtain payment for the services we provide on behalf of your health plan. For example, we may share information with your health plan to confirm eligibility, document that a screening was completed, or support quality measure reporting.
3.3 For Health Care Operations
We may use and disclose your PHI to operate and improve our services. Examples include quality improvement activities, training, compliance audits, fraud and abuse detection, and business management.
3.4 To Communicate With You About Your Screening
We may contact you by mail, telephone, text message, and email about your screening kit, including kit shipment notifications, activation reminders, instructions, follow-up reminders, and test results. Standard message and data rates may apply for text and email communications. You may opt out of these communications as described in this Notice.
3.5 To Your Health Plan
Your health plan engages us to support your screening. We may share information with your health plan that indicates whether you received, activated, completed, or opted out of screening, as well as the result of your screening, for purposes of treatment coordination, payment, and health care operations (including quality measurement and reporting).
3.6 To Your Primary Care Provider
If your primary care provider is on file with us, we may share your screening result with that provider so they can follow up with you, particularly if your result is outside the normal range.
3.7 Other Uses and Disclosures Permitted or Required by Law
We may also use or disclose your PHI without your authorization for the following purposes, in accordance with HIPAA and other applicable laws:
• Public Health Activities: to public health authorities to prevent or control disease, injury, or disability, including required disease reporting and notifications.
• Health Oversight: to government agencies authorized to audit, investigate, or license health care programs.
• Required by Law: when required by federal, state, or local law.
• Judicial and Administrative Proceedings: in response to a valid court order, subpoena, or other lawful process.
• Law Enforcement: to law enforcement officials when permitted or required by law.
• To Avert a Serious Threat: to prevent a serious threat to the health or safety of you or another person.
• Research: with appropriate authorizations, waivers, or limited data set agreements as permitted by law.
• Coroners, Medical Examiners, and Funeral Directors: as permitted by law.
• Organ and Tissue Donation: to organizations that handle organ procurement and transplantation.
• Workers’ Compensation: as authorized by and to the extent necessary to comply with workers’ compensation laws.
• Military, National Security, and Specialized Government Functions: as authorized under HIPAA.
• Business Associates: with vendors and partners that perform services on our behalf, under written agreements that require them to protect your PHI.
3.8 Uses and Disclosures That Require Your Written Authorization
Except as described in this Notice, we will not use or disclose your PHI without your written authorization. Specifically, the following uses and disclosures will be made only with your written authorization:
• Most uses and disclosures of psychotherapy notes.
• Uses and disclosures of PHI for marketing purposes.
• Disclosures that constitute a sale of PHI.
• Other uses and disclosures not described in this Notice.
You may revoke an authorization in writing at any time, except to the extent we have already taken action in reliance on it.
4. Your Rights Regarding Your Health Information
You have the following rights regarding the PHI we maintain about you. To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information at the end of this Notice. We may require you to submit your request in writing.
4.1 Right to Inspect and Receive a Copy
You have the right to inspect and obtain a copy of the PHI we maintain about you in our designated record set, in the form and format you request (if readily producible). We may charge a reasonable cost-based fee for copies as permitted by law. We may deny your request in limited circumstances; if we do, we will explain why in writing and how you may have the denial reviewed.
4.2 Right to Request Amendment
You have the right to request that we amend PHI we maintain about you if you believe it is incorrect or incomplete. Your request must be in writing and explain why the change is needed. We may deny the request if the information was not created by us, is not part of our records, or is accurate and complete; we will notify you in writing of any denial.
4.3 Right to an Accounting of Disclosures
You have the right to request an accounting of certain disclosures we have made of your PHI during the six (6) years prior to your request. The accounting will not include disclosures made for treatment, payment, or health care operations; disclosures made to you; disclosures made pursuant to your authorization; and certain other limited disclosures. We will provide one accounting per twelve (12) month period free of charge; we may charge a reasonable cost-based fee for additional accountings.
4.4 Right to Request Restrictions
You have the right to request a restriction on certain uses and disclosures of your PHI. We are not required to agree to all restrictions; however, if you pay for an item or service in full out-of-pocket, you have the right to request that we not disclose PHI related to that item or service to your health plan for payment or health care operations, and we will honor that request unless required by law.
4.5 Right to Confidential Communications
You have the right to request that we communicate with you about your health information in a specific way or at a specific location (for example, only at home, only at a particular phone number, or only by mail). We will accommodate reasonable requests.
4.6 Right to a Paper Copy of This Notice
You have the right to receive a paper copy of this Notice at any time, even if you have agreed to receive it electronically. To request a paper copy, contact us using the information below.
4.7 Right to Be Notified of a Breach
You have the right to be notified, without unreasonable delay, in the event of a breach of unsecured PHI affecting your information, in accordance with the HIPAA Breach Notification Rule and applicable state laws.
4.8 Right to Opt Out of Our Screening Program
You may opt out of the screening program at any time by calling us at 1-888-898-7450 (Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM) or by emailing support@sntbiotech.com. Please do not send personal health information by unencrypted email; we cannot guarantee the confidentiality or security of information you send to us by email.
5. Our Responsibilities
SNT Biotech is required by law to:
• Maintain the privacy and security of your PHI;
• Provide you with this Notice of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to your PHI;
• Abide by the terms of the Notice currently in effect;
• Notify you promptly if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your PHI;
• Limit access to PHI to those who need it to perform their job duties; and
• Implement administrative, physical, and technical safeguards designed to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of PHI in our possession.
6. Changes to This Notice
We reserve the right to change this Notice at any time and to make the revised Notice effective for PHI we already have about you, as well as any PHI we receive in the future. The current version of this Notice will be posted at [insert URL to current NPP] and will include the effective date. You may also request a paper copy of the current Notice using the contact information below.
7. Complaints
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with us or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. You will not be retaliated against for filing a complaint.
To file a complaint with SNT Biotech, contact our Privacy Officer:
Privacy Officer
SNT Biotech
24119 W Riverwalk Ct. Unit 131, Plainfield, IL 60544
Phone: 1-312-715-7101 (Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM)
Email: support@sntbiotech.com
To 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
200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20201
Toll-Free: 1-877-696-6775
Website: https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/filing-a-complaint/
8. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Notice or our privacy practices, or would like to exercise any of the rights described above, please contact us:
Privacy Officer
SNT Biotech
Phone: 1-312-715-7101 (Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM)
Email: support@sntbiotech.com
Mail: 24119 W Riverwalk Ct. Unit 131, Plainfield, IL 60544
Acknowledgment: This Notice is provided in accordance with the requirements of 45 CFR § 164.520. State laws that are more stringent than HIPAA may apply to your PHI; in those cases, the more protective standard governs.