Certain Waivers under HIPAA. (a) Patient acknowledges that neither Group nor Physical Therapist guarantees that communications with Physical Therapist using electronic mail ("e-mail"), facsimile, video chat, instant messaging, and cellular telephone are secure or confidential methods of communications. Accordingly, Patient expressly waives Group’s and Physical Therapist’s obligations under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (42 U.S.C. § 1320d et seq.), as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act of 2009, and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, "HIPAA"), and other state and federal laws and regulations applicable to the use, maintenance, and disclosure of patient-related information, to guarantee confidentiality with respect to correspondence using such means of communication. Patient acknowledges that all such communications may become a part of Patient’s medical records maintained by Physical Therapist. (b) By providing Patient’s e-mail address to Physical Therapist, Patient authorizes Physical Therapist to communicate with Patient by e-mail regarding Patient’s "protected health information" ("PHI") (as defined under HIPAA) and Patient understands and agrees to the following: E-mail is not necessarily a secure medium for sending or receiving PHI and, accordingly, any third party may gain access to such PHI; Although Group and Physical Therapist will make all reasonable efforts to keep e-mail communications confidential and secure, neither Group nor Physical Therapist can assure or guarantee the absolute confidentiality of such e-mail communications.