HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices

How We Use and Disclose Your PHI

We may use or disclose your protected health information in the following ways without your written authorization:

Treatment

We may use your PHI to provide, coordinate, or manage your psychiatric and mental health care. This includes sharing information with other providers involved in your treatment when necessary.

Payment

We may use your PHI to bill and collect payment for your treatment and services. This may include sharing information with your insurance company or health plan.

Healthcare Operations

We may use your PHI for activities related to the operation of our practice, such as quality assessments, compliance reviews, audits, and administrative functions.

As Required by Law

We may disclose your PHI when required to do so by federal, state, or local law.

Public Health and Safety

We may disclose your PHI to prevent a serious threat to your health or safety or to the health or safety of others, as permitted by law.

Uses and Disclosures That Require Your Authorization

We will not use or disclose your PHI for any purpose not described in this notice without your written authorization. You may revoke an authorization at any time in writing, except to the extent we have already acted in reliance on it.

Psychotherapy Notes

We will obtain your written authorization before using or disclosing psychotherapy notes, except where permitted by law for our own treatment, training, or defense in legal proceedings.

Your Rights Regarding Your PHI

• Right to access: You may request to inspect and obtain a copy of your PHI maintained by our practice.
• Right to amend: You may request an amendment to your PHI if you believe it is inaccurate or incomplete.
• Right to an accounting of disclosures: You may request a list of disclosures we have made of your PHI, other than for treatment, payment, or operations.
• Right to request restrictions: You may request that we restrict how we use or disclose your PHI for treatment, payment, or operations. We are not required to agree, except in limited circumstances defined by law.
• Right to confidential communications: You may request that we communicate with you about your health information in a specific way or at a specific location.
• Right to a copy of this notice: You may request a paper copy of this notice at any time.

Telehealth

If you receive services through telehealth, the same privacy protections apply to your PHI as they do for in-person visits. We use platforms that meet HIPAA security requirements. However, no electronic transmission is completely secure, and we encourage you to participate from a private location.

Breach Notification

If a breach of your unsecured PHI occurs, we will notify you as required by law.

Changes to This Notice

We reserve the right to change this notice at any time. The current version will be posted on our website and available at our office.

Complaints

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with our office or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights. You will not be penalized for filing a complaint.