Notice of Privacy Practices

Your Rights

You have rights concerning your protected health information. Subject to applicable law, you may:

• Inspect or obtain an electronic or paper copy of your medical record and other health information we maintain about you.
• Ask us to correct health information you believe is incorrect or incomplete.
• Request confidential communications, such as contacting you at a particular telephone number or address.
• Ask us to limit certain uses or disclosures. We are not required to agree to every request, but we will consider it. If you pay in full out of pocket for a service and ask us not to disclose information about that service to a health plan for payment or health care operations, we will comply unless disclosure is required by law.
• Receive a list of certain disclosures made during the applicable lookback period.
• Obtain a paper copy of this notice at any time.
• Choose someone with legal authority to act for you.
• File a complaint without retaliation.

Some rights may be subject to limited exceptions, verification requirements, reasonable fees permitted by law, or written request procedures.

Your Choices

For certain information, you may tell us your preferences about sharing. For example, you may direct us regarding communications with family members or others involved in your care, sharing in a disaster-relief situation, or other disclosures where your agreement is required.

We will obtain written authorization before using or disclosing protected health information for purposes that require authorization under law. You may revoke an authorization in writing, except to the extent we have already acted in reliance on it.

We do not sell protected health information. We do not use protected health information for marketing in a manner that requires authorization without obtaining that authorization.

How We May Use and Disclose Information

Treatment

We may use and share your health information to provide, coordinate, and manage care, including consultation with other professionals involved in your treatment when permitted.

Payment

We may use and share information to bill and obtain payment from you, a health plan, or another responsible party, and to confirm coverage or benefits.

Health Care Operations

We may use and share information for practice operations, quality improvement, professional review, training, credentialing, legal and auditing services, business planning, and other permitted health care operations.

Other Permitted or Required Uses

We may use or disclose information when permitted or required for public health and safety activities, reporting suspected abuse or neglect, health oversight, judicial or administrative proceedings, law enforcement purposes, workers' compensation, organ donation, research under applicable safeguards, certain government functions, compliance with law, and to avert a serious and imminent threat where permitted.

Psychotherapy notes receive special protection and generally require written authorization for use or disclosure, except in limited circumstances permitted by law.

Specially Protected Information

Certain categories of information may receive additional protection under federal or state law, including psychotherapy notes, substance use disorder treatment records, HIV-related information, genetic information, and some reproductive health information.

Where a more protective law applies, we follow that law. Records subject to federal substance use disorder confidentiality protections are not used or disclosed in civil, criminal, administrative, or legislative proceedings against a patient unless authorized by the patient or permitted by a specific court order or other applicable law.

Electronic Communications and Health Information Exchange

When permitted by law and appropriate to the circumstances, we may communicate through electronic systems, patient portals, secure messaging, electronic prescribing systems, health information exchanges, or other service providers that assist with treatment, payment, or operations.

Ordinary email and text messaging may carry privacy risks. Your communication preferences and any available secure alternatives can be discussed with the practice.

Our Responsibilities

• We are required by law to maintain the privacy and security of protected health information.
• We will notify affected individuals following a breach of unsecured protected health information when notification is required.
• We must follow the duties and privacy practices described in the notice currently in effect.
• We will not use or disclose information other than as described here unless you authorize it in writing or another use or disclosure is permitted or required by law.

Questions and Complaints

You may contact the practice if you believe your privacy rights have been violated or have questions about this notice. You may also submit a complaint to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

Changes to This Notice

We may change this notice and the privacy practices described in it. A revised notice may apply to information already maintained as well as information received in the future. The current notice will be available on this website and from the practice upon request.