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Privacy Policy

Notice of Privacy Practices

This notice describes how health information may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information. Please review it carefully.

I. MY PLEDGE REGARDING HEALTH INFORMATION:

I understand that information about you and your health care is personal. I am committed to protecting your health information. I create a record of the care and services you receive from me. I need this record to provide you with quality care and to comply with certain legal requirements. This notice applies to all of the records of your care generated by me in my practice. This notice will tell you about the ways in which I may use and disclose your health information. It also describes your rights to your health information and certain obligations I have regarding use and disclosure of your health information. I am required by law to:

  • Make sure that protected health information (PHI) that identifies you is kept private

  • Give you this notice of legal duties and privacy practices regarding health information

  • Follow the terms of the notice that is currently in effect

  • I can change the terms of this notice, and such changes will apply to all information I have about you. The new notice will be available on my website and upon request.

II. HOW INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED:

The following categories describe ways in which health information may be used and disclosed.

For Treatment Payment or Health Care Operations: Federal privacy rules (regulations) allow health care providers who have direct treatment with the patient/client to use or disclose the recipient's personal health information without the recipient's written authorization to carry out the health care provider's treatment, payment or health care operations. Disclosures for treatment purposes are not limited to the minimum necessary standard because therapists and other health care providers need access to the full record and/or full and complete information in order to provide quality care. The word "treatment" includes coordination and management of health care providers with a third party, consultations between health care providers and referrals of a recipient from one provider to another.

Lawsuits and Disputes: If involved in a lawsuit, information may be disclosed in response to a court or administrative order. Information may also be disclosed in response to a subpoena, discovery request, or other lawful process by someone else involved in the dispute.

III. CERTAIN USES AND DISCLOSURES REQUIRE AUTHORIZATION:

Psychotherapy notes - as defined in 45 CFR : 164.501 - any use of such notes requires authorization except in very specific circumstances

IV. SOME USES AND DISCLOSURES DO NOT REQUIRE YOUR AUTHORIZATION - for example:

  1. when disclosure is required by state of federal law, and the disclosure complies with and is limited to the relevant requirements of the law.

  2. for public health activities, including reporting suspected child, elder or dependent adult abuse or preventing or reducing serious threat to anyone's health or safety.

  3. for health oversight activities including audits and investigations

  4. for judicial and administrative proceedings, including responding to a court or administrative order

  5. for law enforcement purposes including reporting crimes occurring on my premises

  6. to coroners or medical examiners when such individuals are preforming duties authorized by law

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