HIPAA

HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices 

THIS  NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND  DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW  IT CAREFULLY.

This  Notice of Privacy Practices describes how we may use and disclose your  protected health information (PHI) to carry out treatment, payment or health care operations (TPO) and for other purposes that are permitted  or required by law. It also describes your rights to access and control your protected health information. "Protected health information" is information about you, including demographic information, that may  identify you and that relates to your past, present or future physical  or mental health or other condition and related care services.

Uses and Disclosures of Protected Health Information: Your PHI may be used and disclosed by your therapist, our office staff and others outside our office that are involved in your care and treatment  for the purpose of providing health care services to you, to pay your mental health care bills, to support the operation of the therapist's  practice, and any other use required by law.

Treatment:  We will use and disclose your PHI to provide, coordinate, or manage  your mental health care and any related services. This includes the coordination or management of your care with a third party. For example we would disclose your PHI as necessary to a physician to whom you have been referred to ensure that the physician has the necessary information to diagnose or treat you.

Payment: Your  PHI will be used as needed to obtain payment for your mental health  care services. For example, obtaining approval for additional therapy sessions may require that your relevant PHI be disclosed to your health insurance company.

Mental Health Care Operations:  We may use or disclose, only on an as needed basis, your PHI to support the business activities of your therapist's practice. These activities  include, but are not limited to, quality assessment activities, employee  review activities, training of registered therapist interns, licensing, and conducting or arranging for other business activities. For example, if your therapist is a registered mental health intern, your PHI would be disclosed to the Clinical Supervisor for that therapist. We may also call you by your first name in the waiting room when your therapist is ready to meet with you.

We  may use or disclose your PHI, as necessary, to contact you regarding scheduled appointments, such as if an appointment time needs to be  changed due to an emergency. We may use or disclose your PHI in the  following situations without your authorization: These situations  include as required by law: abuse or neglect of a child, mentally  impaired individual, or senior citizen; when the therapist is concerned  you may be of harm to yourself or another individual; or when there is a  valid court order compelling us to release records or witness  testimony. Also included under HIPAA is the right to disclose without  your authorization: Public Health issues - communicable diseases, Food  and Drug Administration requirements, Worker's Compensation, and when  required by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services  to investigate or determine our compliance with the requirements of  section 164.500.

Other  Permitted and required Use and Disclosures will be made only with your  written consent, authorization or opportunity to object unless required by law.

You  may revoke this authorization at any time in writing except to the extent that your therapist or the therapist's practice has taken an action in reliance on the use or disclosure indicated in the  authorization.