SMS Privacy Policy

Vanguard HEALTHCARE values your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information. This SMS Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard your information when you opt in to receive SMS communications related to our home health services.

By providing your mobile number and opting in, you consent to receive SMS messages from us in accordance with federal and Texas state regulations, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and Texas Medical Records Privacy Act (TMRPA).

When you sign up for SMS communications, we may collect:

• Your phone number
• Your name (if provided)
• Information related to your care, appointments, or services (if applicable)

 SMS consent is not shared with third parties for marketing purposes. 

We use SMS messages to:

• Send appointment reminders, scheduling updates, and confirmations.
• Provide important health-related notifications (e.g., medication reminders, care plan updates).
• Share educational information about home health services.
• Communicate with caregivers, family members, or responsible parties as authorized.
• Respond to inquiries and provide customer support.
• Comply with Texas Health & Human Services Commission (HHSC) regulations.

• By providing your phone number and opting in, you agree to receive text messages from us.
• You may opt out at any time by replying "STOP" to any SMS message you receive. After opting out, you will no longer receive SMS communications, except for urgent or legally required messages.
• Mobile opt-in data will not be shared with third parties 
• If you need assistance, reply "HELP" or contact us directly.

As a Texas-licensed home health agency, we comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the Texas Medical Records Privacy Act (TMRPA) to protect your sensitive health information.

🔒 Important Notice: SMS messages may not be fully secure. We encourage you to discuss sensitive health details via secure channels such as phone calls or patient portals.

We take reasonable steps to protect your information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or misuse. However, SMS messages are not encrypted, and we recommend limiting the sharing of highly sensitive personal or medical details via text.

Under Texas law, you have the right to:
✅ Access, review, and request corrections to your health information.
✅ Know how your personal health information is used and shared.
✅ File a complaint if you believe your privacy rights have been violated.

For more information on Texas privacy rights, visit the Texas Health & Human Services Commission (HHSC) website: https://www.hhs.texas.gov.

Standard message and data rates may apply. Check with your mobile carrier for details.

We may update this SMS Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on our website with the updated effective date.

If you have any questions about this policy or your SMS preferences, please contact us:

📧 admin@vanguardhealthcare.net
📍 216 W Village Blvd Ste 102 Laredo Texas 78041
📞 (956) 686-9500