Effective Date: July 22, 2026
A Better Alternative Nursing Agency INC. (“A Better Alternative,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal and health information entrusted to us.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, maintain, disclose, and protect information obtained through our website, telephone communications, text messaging program, forms, service inquiries, and other interactions with our nursing and homecare agency.

1. Information We Collect

Depending on how you interact with us, we may collect the following categories of information:

Personal and Contact Information
This may include:

• Your name

• Mailing address

• Email address

• Telephone or mobile number

• Date of birth

• Emergency contact information

• Communication preferences

• Information submitted through website, intake, employment, or contact forms

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Health and Homecare Information
When necessary to provide or coordinate homecare or nursing services, we may collect information concerning:

• Health conditions and medical history

• Medication and treatment information

• Physician or healthcare provider information

• Insurance and payment information

• Care plans and service needs

• Scheduling and appointment information

• Information concerning family members, caregivers, or authorized representatives

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Some of this information may qualify as Protected Health Information, or “PHI,” under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 and its implementing regulations, commonly known as HIPAA.

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Employment and Applicant Information
When an individual applies for employment or works with our agency, we may collect employment history, professional credentials, references, background information, availability, contact information, and other information necessary for staffing and employment purposes.

Website and Technical Information
When you visit our website, we may automatically collect limited technical information, such as:

• Internet Protocol address

• Browser and device type

• Pages visited

• Referring website

• Date and time of access

• Cookies or similar technologies​

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2. How We Use Information

We may use information to:

• Respond to questions and service inquiries

• Determine eligibility for homecare or nursing services

• Create and manage client care plans

• Coordinate services with clients, families, caregivers, employees, healthcare providers, insurers, and authorized representatives

• Schedule, confirm, change, or cancel appointments and caregiver visits

• Communicate administrative, service, billing, staffing, or employment information

• Process payments, claims, and insurance information

• Recruit, verify, schedule, and communicate with employees and applicants

• Maintain business and healthcare records

• Protect clients, employees, visitors, and our organization

• Comply with healthcare, employment, licensing, legal, regulatory, and contractual requirements

• Improve our website, communications, and services

 

3. HIPAA and Protected Health Information

When A Better Alternative Nursing Agency INC. creates, receives, maintains, or transmits PHI in a capacity regulated by HIPAA, we handle that information in accordance with applicable HIPAA Privacy, Security, and Breach Notification requirements.

We use reasonable administrative, physical, and technical safeguards designed to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of PHI.

PHI may be used or disclosed for purposes permitted by HIPAA, including treatment, payment, health care operations, care coordination, and other purposes permitted or required by law. Other uses or disclosures may require your written authorization.

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You may have rights concerning your PHI, including the right to request access, corrections, restrictions, confidential communications, or information about certain disclosures. These rights and our obligations are explained more fully in our HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices.

This Privacy Policy is not intended to replace our HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices. When information is protected by HIPAA, our Notice of Privacy Practices governs our use and disclosure of that information. If there is a conflict between this Privacy Policy and our Notice of Privacy Practices regarding PHI, the Notice of Privacy Practices will control.

You may request a copy of our Notice of Privacy Practices by contacting us at 888-615-0177 or by writing to the address listed at the end of this policy.

4. SMS and Text Messaging Privacy

A Better Alternative Nursing Agency INC. may use SMS text messaging to communicate with clients, prospective clients, authorized family members, caregivers, employees, applicants, healthcare personnel, and other individuals who have agreed to receive text messages from us.

Messages may concern:

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• Appointment and visit reminders

• Caregiver arrival or scheduling information

• Schedule changes

• Service updates

• Intake or onboarding information

• Staffing and employment communications

• Responses to questions

• Billing or administrative notices

• Other communications related to our nursing and homecare services

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SMS Consent
We send text messages only when we have an appropriate basis to do so, such as when you:

• Provide your mobile number and give consent through a website, paper, electronic, or intake form

• Select an optional SMS consent checkbox

• Request that we communicate with you through text messaging

• Initiate a text message conversation with us

• Otherwise provide consent as permitted by applicable law

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Consent to receive text messages is not a condition of purchasing services or receiving care from A Better Alternative Nursing Agency INC.

By opting into our SMS program, you authorize us to send text messages to the mobile number you provided. Message frequency will vary depending on your relationship and interactions with us. Message and data rates may apply.

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Opting Out
You may stop receiving text messages at any time by replying STOP to one of our messages.

After submitting an opt-out request, you may receive one final message confirming that you have been unsubscribed. We will then stop sending SMS messages to that number unless you later provide new consent or initiate another conversation.

For assistance, reply HELP or call us at 888-615-0177.
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Opting out of text messages does not prevent us from contacting you through other permitted methods when necessary to provide services, address an emergency, comply with the law, or fulfill contractual or healthcare obligations.

Mobile Information and SMS Consent Data

No mobile information will be shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes.

Text messaging originator opt-in data and consent will not be sold, rented, transferred, or shared with any third parties for their marketing or promotional purposes.

We may disclose mobile information to service providers and vendors that assist us in operating and delivering our SMS program, including communications platform providers such as Nextiva, telecommunications carriers, and other messaging service providers. These organizations may use the information only as necessary to provide messaging and related support services on our behalf, subject to applicable contractual and legal requirements.

SMS Security and Health Information
Standard SMS text messages may not always be encrypted or completely secure. Please avoid sending detailed medical information, Social Security numbers, financial account information, passwords, or other highly sensitive information through ordinary text messaging.

We may limit the amount of health information included in text messages and may ask you to communicate through a more secure method when appropriate.

Text messaging should not be used for medical emergencies or urgent health concerns. In an emergency, call 911 or seek immediate medical assistance.
 

5. How We Share Information
We may share personal information only as reasonably necessary for legitimate business, healthcare, employment, or legal purposes, including with:

• Healthcare professionals involved in an individual’s care​

• Authorized family members, representatives, or caregivers

• Insurance companies and payment processors

• Government healthcare programs

• Employees and contractors who require the information to perform their duties

• Information technology, hosting, communications, billing, security, and administrative service providers

• Nextiva and telecommunications providers used to deliver business communications

• Licensing, regulatory, law enforcement, public health, or governmental authorities when permitted or required by law

• Professional advisers, including attorneys, accountants, auditors, and compliance consultants

• A successor organization in connection with a merger, acquisition, reorganization, or transfer of business assets, subject to applicable privacy and healthcare requirements

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We do not sell or rent personal information.

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Any sharing described in this section excludes mobile SMS opt-in information and consent for third-party or affiliate marketing and promotional purposes.

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6. Information Security
We use reasonable administrative, physical, and technical safeguards intended to protect information against:

• Unauthorized access

• Improper use or disclosure

• Loss or destruction

• Alteration

• Theft

• Accidental disclosure

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These measures may include access controls, employee training, confidentiality requirements, secure systems, authentication procedures, record-management controls, and other safeguards appropriate to the sensitivity of the information.

No website, email system, telephone network, text messaging service, or electronic storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure. You should use care when transmitting sensitive information electronically.

7. Information Retention

We retain information for as long as reasonably necessary to:

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• Provide healthcare and homecare services

• Maintain client and employee records

• Process billing and insurance matters

• Document SMS consent and opt-out requests

• Meet licensing, employment, tax, healthcare, and legal requirements

• Resolve disputes

• Enforce agreements

• Protect the rights and safety of our clients, employees, and organization

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Information will be securely deleted, destroyed, or de-identified when it is no longer required, subject to applicable record-retention obligations.

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8. Your Privacy Choices

Depending on the information involved and applicable law, you may contact us to:

• Ask what personal information we maintain about you

• Request that inaccurate information be corrected

• Update your contact information

• Change your communication preferences

• Withdraw SMS consent by replying STOP

• Request a copy of our HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices

• Exercise applicable rights concerning your PHI

• Submit a privacy concern or complaint

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We may need to verify your identity before completing certain requests.
We will not retaliate against an individual for submitting a privacy or HIPAA-related complaint.

9. Cookies and Website Analytics

Our website may use cookies or similar technologies to support website functionality, understand website usage, maintain security, and improve visitor experience.

You may be able to block or remove cookies through your browser settings. Disabling certain cookies may affect the operation of portions of the website.

10. Children’s Privacy
Our website and SMS program are not directed toward children under 13.

Information about a minor receiving homecare or nursing services may be collected from or with the authorization of a parent, legal guardian, personal representative, healthcare provider, or other authorized individual, as permitted by applicable law.

11. Third-Party Websites
Our website may contain links to websites or services operated by other organizations. We are not responsible for the privacy, security, or content practices of third-party websites. You should review the privacy policies of those organizations before providing them with personal information.

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12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our services, technology, privacy practices, or legal obligations.
When changes are made, we will post the revised policy with an updated effective date. Material changes may also be communicated through other appropriate methods.

13. Contact Us
Questions, requests, or concerns regarding this Privacy Policy, our SMS program, or our privacy practices may be directed to:

A Better Alternative Nursing Agency INC.
10451 Mill Run Circle, Suite 400

Owings Mills, MD 21117

Telephone: 888-615-0177

To opt out of SMS communications, reply STOP to any text message from us. For SMS assistance, reply HELP or call 888-615-0177.