Effective Date: September 11, 2026
Last Updated: September 11, 2026
About This Notice
Ascendra Wellness (“Ascendra,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) respects the privacy and security of your health information. This Notice of Privacy Practices (“Notice”) explains how Protected Health Information (“PHI”) may be collected, used, disclosed, and protected in connection with the services and products available through Ascendra Wellness.
Ascendra Wellness works with independent healthcare providers, telehealth providers, pharmacies, and other healthcare service providers that may evaluate patients, provide medical care, prescribe medications, dispense products, and maintain clinical and prescription records. Depending on the services provided and the role of each organization, different entities may have separate responsibilities under HIPAA and other applicable privacy laws. This Notice describes Ascendra Wellness’s privacy practices concerning health information that we receive, use, or handle in connection with our services and our relationships with healthcare providers, pharmacies, and other service providers.
1. What Is Protected Health Information?
Protected Health Information (“PHI”) is individually identifiable health information that is protected under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”) and its implementing regulations.
PHI may include information such as:
- Your name and contact information;
- Date of birth;
- Medical or health-related information;
- Information about medical conditions or symptoms;
- Treatment information;
- Prescription or medication information;
- Information provided during a health or medical intake process;
- Information about healthcare services you receive;
- Payment or billing information related to healthcare services; and
- Other information that identifies you and relates to your health, healthcare, or payment for healthcare services.
2. How We May Use and Disclose PHI
To the extent Ascendra receives or handles PHI in connection with services subject to HIPAA, we may use or disclose PHI as permitted or required by applicable law and as necessary to provide, coordinate, administer, or support the services you request.
Depending on the circumstances, PHI may be used or disclosed for the following purposes:
Treatment
PHI may be shared with healthcare providers, telehealth providers, pharmacies, or other healthcare professionals involved in providing or coordinating your care.
Payment
PHI may be used or disclosed as necessary to facilitate payment for healthcare services, products, prescriptions, or related services.
Healthcare Operations
PHI may be used or disclosed for activities necessary to operate and administer healthcare-related services, including quality assessment, customer support, coordination with healthcare providers and pharmacies, compliance activities, and other activities permitted by HIPAA.
Fulfillment and Pharmacy Services
When you request healthcare products or prescription services, relevant information may be shared with the healthcare provider and/or dispensing pharmacy responsible for evaluating, prescribing, preparing, or dispensing the applicable product.
Service Providers and Business Associates
We may disclose PHI to vendors, contractors, technology providers, payment processors, fulfillment providers, and other service providers that assist us in providing our services, when permitted by applicable law and subject to appropriate contractual and privacy protections.
Required by Law
We may use or disclose PHI when required to do so by federal, state, or local law.
Public Health Activities
We may disclose PHI for certain public health activities when permitted or required by law.
Health and Safety
We may disclose PHI when necessary to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to the health or safety of a person or the public, when permitted by applicable law.
Legal Proceedings
We may disclose PHI in response to certain court orders, administrative proceedings, subpoenas, or other lawful processes when permitted by applicable law.
Law Enforcement
We may disclose PHI to law enforcement officials when permitted or required by applicable law.
Other Uses and Disclosures
Other uses and disclosures of PHI that are not described in this Notice or otherwise permitted by law generally will require your written authorization. Where an authorization is required, you may have the right to revoke that authorization in writing, except to the extent action has already been taken in reliance on it.
We do not sell your PHI or use PHI for targeted advertising without authorization when authorization is required by HIPAA or other applicable law.
3. Your Rights Regarding Your Health Information
You may have certain rights regarding PHI maintained by a HIPAA-covered healthcare provider, pharmacy, or other covered entity involved in your care.
These rights may include the following:
Right to Inspect and Obtain a Copy
You generally have the right to inspect and obtain a copy of PHI maintained by the applicable covered entity, subject to certain legal exceptions. You may request your records in paper or electronic form when the applicable covered entity is required to provide them in that form.
Right to Request an Amendment
You may request that the applicable covered entity amend PHI that you believe is incorrect or incomplete. Your request should explain why you believe the information should be amended.
Right to Request Restrictions
You may request restrictions on certain uses or disclosures of your PHI. The applicable covered entity may not be required to agree to every requested restriction, except where required by applicable law.
Right to Request Confidential Communications
You may request that communications concerning your health information be sent to you by a particular method or at a particular location if permitted by applicable law.
Right to an Accounting of Certain Disclosures
You may have the right to request an accounting of certain disclosures of your PHI made by the applicable covered entity, subject to limitations and exceptions provided by law.
Right to Receive a Copy of the Privacy Notice
You have the right to request and receive a paper or electronic copy of the applicable Notice of Privacy Practices.
Right to Revoke an Authorization
If you have provided a written authorization for the use or disclosure of your PHI, you may generally revoke that authorization in writing. Revocation will not affect actions already taken in reliance on the authorization.
Right to Receive Notice of a Breach
You have the right to receive notification of a breach of your unsecured PHI when notification is required by applicable law.
Right to File a Complaint
You have the right to file a privacy complaint without retaliation. Information about how to submit a complaint is provided below.
4. How to Exercise Your Privacy Rights
If you would like to exercise a right concerning health information maintained by Ascendra, please contact us using the information below.
Email: info@ascendrawellness.com
Mail:
VCG Healthcare Inc.
1328 Main St
Crete, IL 60417
Please include enough information for us to understand your request, including your name, contact information, the nature of your request, and any relevant details that may help us identify the information involved.
Certain records, including clinical records, medical records, and prescription records, may be maintained directly by the healthcare provider or pharmacy involved in your care rather than by Ascendra Wellness. If your request concerns records maintained by your healthcare provider or pharmacy, we may direct you to that provider or pharmacy so that the request can be processed by the entity legally responsible for those records.
The applicable covered entity may require you to verify your identity and may have specific forms or procedures for submitting requests. We will respond to requests within the time periods required by applicable law.
5. How to File a Privacy Complaint With Us
If you believe that your privacy rights have been violated or that Ascendra has not properly handled your health information, you may submit a complaint to us.
Email: info@ascendrawellness.com
Mail:
VCG Healthcare Inc.
1328 Main St
Crete, IL 60417
Please describe the nature of your concern and provide any information you believe may help us investigate the matter.
You will not be retaliated against or penalized for filing a privacy complaint.
You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”). You can obtain information about filing a complaint with OCR through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website.
Filing a complaint with us or with the Office for Civil Rights will not affect the healthcare services you receive.
6. Our Legal Duties Regarding PHI
To the extent applicable under HIPAA and other applicable privacy laws, we are required to:
- Maintain the privacy of PHI that we are legally required to protect;
- Follow the privacy practices described in this Notice;
- Provide individuals with information about our privacy practices;
- Notify affected individuals as required by law following a breach of unsecured PHI;
- Comply with applicable federal and state privacy requirements; and
- Follow the terms of the Notice currently in effect.
We will not use or disclose PHI in a manner inconsistent with applicable law. If a use or disclosure of PHI requires your authorization under applicable law, we will obtain the required authorization before making that use or disclosure, unless another legal exception applies. We will provide individuals with a copy of this Notice upon request and make the current version available on our website.
7. Changes to This Notice
We reserve the right to change this Notice and make the revised Notice applicable to PHI that we already maintain as well as information we receive in the future, when permitted by applicable law.
If we make material changes to our privacy practices, we will update this Notice and make the revised version available through our website. The effective date of the current Notice will be displayed at the beginning of this document.
8. Contact Information
If you have questions about this Notice or our privacy practices, please contact us:
Ascendra Wellness
Email: info@ascendrawellness.com
Mail:
VCG Healthcare Inc.
1328 Main St
Crete, IL 60417