Certain Waivers under HIPAA. (a) The patient acknowledges that neither Gypsy Mountain Clinic nor Provider guarantees that communications with Provider using electronic mail ("e-mail"), facsimile, video chat, instant messaging, and cellular telephone are secure or confidential methods of communications. Accordingly, Patient expressly waives Gypsy Mountain Clinic's and Provider’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. The patient acknowledges that all such communications may become a part of the Patient’s medical records maintained by the Provider. (b) By providing Patient’s e-mail address to Provider, Patient authorizes Physician 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 Gypsy Mountain Clinic will make all reasonable efforts to keep e-mail communications confidential and secure, neither Clinic nor Provider can assure or guarantee the absolute confidentiality of such e-mail communications.