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. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY. Our commitment to your privacy Our practice is dedicated to maintaining the privacy of your personal health information as part of providing professional care. We are also required by law to keep your information private. How we use and disclose your protected health information with your consent We will use the information we collect about you mainly to provide you with treatment, to arrange payment for our services, and for some other business activities that are called, in the law, health care operations. Disclosing your health information without your consent There are some times when the laws require us to use or share your information. For example: 1. When there is a serious threat to your or another’s health and safety or to the public. We will only share information with persons who are able to help prevent or reduce the threat. 2.When we are required to do so by lawsuits and other legal or court proceedings. 3. If a law enforcement official requires us to do so. 4. For workers’ compensation and similar benefit programs. There are some other rare situations. They are described in the longer version of this notice of privacy practices. Your rights regarding your health information 1. You can ask me/us to communicate with you in a particular way or at a certain place that is more private for you. For example, you can ask me/us to call you at home, and not at work, to schedule or cancel an appointment. We will try our best to do as you ask. 2. You can ask us to limit what I tell people involved in your care or the payment for your care, such as family members and friends. 3. You have the right to look at the health information we have about you, such as your medical and billing records. You can get a copy of these records, but we may charge you for it. 4. If you believe that the information in your records is incorrect or missing something important, you can ask us to make additions to your records to correct the situation. You have to make this request in writing and send it to us. You must also tell us the reasons you want to make the changes. 5. You have the right to a copy of this notice. If I change this notice, we will post the new version in our office, and you can always get a copy of it from us. 6. You have the right to file a complaint if you believe your privacy rights have been violated. You can file a complaint with the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. All complaints must be in writing. Filing a complaint will not change the health care we provide to you in any way. Also, you may have other rights that are granted to you by the laws of our state, and these may be the same as or different from the rights described above. We will be happy to discuss these situations with you now or as they arise. If you have any questions regarding this notice or our health information privacy policies, please call (512)704-8349. The effective date of this notice is January 1st, 2010. |
Your Therapist: What you Should Know about Confidentiality in Therapy
I will treat what you tell me with great care. My professional ethics (that is, my profession’s rules about values and moral matters) and the laws of this state prevent me from telling anyone else what you tell me unless you give me written permission. These rules and laws are the ways our society recognizes and supports the privacy of what we talk about—in other words, the “confidentiality” of therapy. However, there are times when the law "requires" me to tell things to others. So please read this information carefully so you have a solid understanding of the limits of confidentiality in therapy. 1. When you or other persons are in physical danger, the law requires me to tell others about it. I am a mandated reporter of abuse. If a minor discloses to me that they have been abused, the incident will be reported to child protective services. 2. In general, if you become involved in a court case or proceeding, there are some situations where a judge or court may require me to testify. In that case, you may assert "privilege", which in many cases will not allow me to testify. 3. I am required to keep treatment records. 4. In regard to insurance and money matters, if you use your health insurance to pay part of my fees, the insurance company, the managed care organization, or perhaps your employer’s benefits office will require me to provide information about your functioning. If you have been sent to me by your employer’s employee assistance program, the program’s staffers may require some information. 5. Children and families create some special confidentiality questions. When I treat children under the age of about 12, I must tell their parents or guardians whatever they ask me. As children grow more able to understand and choose, they assume legal rights. For those between the ages of 12 and 18, most of the details in things they tell me will be treated as confidential. However, parents or guardians do have the right to general information, including how therapy is going. 6. DFPS/CPS Evaluation and Treatment Services Clients If I/we are providing services for you under the DFPS/CPS Evaluation and Treatment Services Contract, this notice will not apply to you as we are contracted by DFPS/CPS to provide services on the agency's behalf. If you were sent to us by DFPS/CPS for a psychological evaluation, please refer to the DFPS Consent and Release form included in your psychological evaluation intake packet for management of your health information related to your CPS case. If you were sent to us for counseling related to your CPS case, please refer to your Patient Rights document included in your counseling intake packet. ********* The laws and rules on confidentiality are complicated. Please bear in mind that we are not able to give you legal advice. If you have special or unusual concerns, and so need special advice, I strongly suggest that you talk to a lawyer to protect your interests legally and to act in your best interests. "But what I want to assure and reassure the public is we are
concerned about your safety, your security, and your privacy. Let's work together in partnership to ensure that we can have the best way forward." John Pistole Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/privacy.html#dyLaIOGrmW7gW0Wd.99 |