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. You will receive this Notice of Privacy Practices as part of your intake paperwork and will have to opportunity to ask your therapist questions about this information.
Introduction:
Proven Pathways Psychotherapy is committed to protecting the privacy of our patients’ health information. This Notice of Privacy Practices (“Notice”) describes how we may use and disclose your protected health information (PHI) to carry out treatment, payment, and health care operations and for other purposes that are permitted or required by law. It also describes your rights to access and control your PHI. “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 condition and related health care services.
Uses and Disclosures of Protected Health Information:
We use and disclose PHI about you for treatment, payment, and health care operations. For example:
Treatment: We may use or disclose your PHI to provide, coordinate, or manage your health care and any related services. This includes the coordination or management of your health care with a third party.
Payment: We may use and disclose your PHI to obtain payment for the treatment and services we provide you. This may include billing, claims management, collections activities, and determining eligibility or coverage for benefits.
Health Care Operations: We may use and disclose your PHI in connection with our health care operations. This includes quality assessment and improvement activities, reviewing the competence or qualifications of health care professionals, and conducting or arranging for medical review, legal services, and audit functions.
Other Permitted or Required Uses and Disclosures:
Required by Law: We may use or disclose PHI to the extent that the use or disclosure is required by law. This may include disclosures to government agencies or law enforcement officials in response to a subpoena, court order, or other legal process.
Public Health Activities: We may disclose PHI for public health activities, such as reporting disease outbreaks to public health authorities.
Health Oversight Activities: We may disclose PHI to a health oversight agency for activities authorized by law, such as audits, investigations, and inspections.
Judicial and Administrative Proceedings: We may disclose PHI in response to a court or administrative order, subpoena, or other lawful process.
Serious Threat to Health or Safety: We may use and disclose PHI when necessary to prevent a serious threat to your health and safety or the health and safety of the public or another person.
You have the following rights regarding your PHI:
Right to Inspect and Copy: You have the right to inspect and obtain a copy of your PHI, subject to certain exceptions.
Right to Amend: You have the right to request that we amend your PHI if you believe it is incorrect or incomplete.
Right to an Accounting of Disclosures: You have the right to request an accounting of disclosures of your PHI that we have made.
Right to Request Restrictions: You have the right to request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures of your PHI.
Right to Request Confidential Communications: You have the right to request that we communicate with you about your PHI in a certain way or at a certain location.
Right to a Paper Copy of this Notice: You have the right to a paper copy of this Notice upon request.
Changes to this Notice:
We reserve the right to change the terms of this Notice at any time. If we change this Notice, we will post the new Notice in our office and on our website.
Contact Information:
If you have any questions or complaints about this Notice or how we handle your PHI, please contact us.