Updated: December 19, 2024

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

Our Commitment to Your Privacy

We understand that your health information is personal, and we are committed to protecting it. This notice explains how we may use and disclose your protected health information (PHI), your rights concerning your PHI, and our responsibilities in safeguarding your privacy.

We are required by law to:

• Ensure that your PHI is kept private.
• Provide this notice of our legal duties and privacy practices.
• Follow the terms of the notice currently in effect.
• Update this notice as necessary, with changes made available upon request, in our office, and on our website.

How We Use and Disclose Health Information

We may use or disclose your PHI in the following ways:

1. For Treatment, Payment, and Healthcare Operations

• Treatment: To provide, coordinate, or manage your care (e.g., consulting with another provider).
• Payment: To bill and receive payment for services rendered (e.g., verifying insurance coverage).
• Operations: For administrative purposes such as quality assessments and staff training.

2. Legal and Public Health Reasons

We may disclose PHI as required by law or for the following purposes:

• To report suspected abuse or neglect (child, elder, or vulnerable adult).
• To respond to legal proceedings, such as subpoenas or court orders.
• For public health oversight activities, such as audits or investigations.
• To prevent or mitigate a serious threat to public health or safety.

3. Appointment Reminders and Treatment Information

We may use your PHI to remind you of appointments or provide information about treatment options and health-related services.

4. In Emergencies

If you are unavailable or incapacitated, we may disclose PHI to your emergency contact or a healthcare provider to ensure your safety.

When Your Authorization is Required

Certain uses and disclosures require your explicit authorization, including:

• Sharing psychotherapy notes, unless for treatment, supervision, or legal defense.
• Using your PHI for marketing purposes or selling your information.

You may revoke your authorization at any time by providing written notice.

Your Rights Regarding Your PHI

You have the following rights concerning your health information:

1. Access to Records: You may request an electronic or paper copy of your PHI. Requests will be fulfilled within 30 days, and reasonable fees may apply.
2. Amendments: You may request corrections to your records if you believe there are inaccuracies. We will respond within 60 days.
3. Accounting of Disclosures: You may request a list of disclosures made in the last six years, excluding those for treatment, payment, or operations.
4. Confidential Communication: You may request that we communicate with you in specific ways (e.g., sending mail to a different address).
5. Restrictions on Disclosure: You may request limits on how we use your PHI, though we are not required to agree unless you pay for services out of pocket.
6. Copy of Notice: You may request a paper or electronic copy of this notice at any time, even if you have received it electronically.

Digital and Telehealth Communication

If you choose to communicate electronically (e.g., email, text, telehealth), you accept the risks of potential breaches of privacy due to technology limitations. We adhere to best practices to safeguard your information.

Changes to This Notice

We reserve the right to change this notice at any time. Updates will apply to all PHI we maintain, and the revised notice will be available upon request and posted on our website.