Notice of Privacy Practices

This section describes ways we may use and disclose protected health information (PHI). Not every use or disclosure in a category is listed, but all permitted uses and disclosures fall within one of these categories.

Treatment

We may use and share your information to provide, coordinate, or manage your care and related services, including with other professionals involved in your care.

Payment

Where applicable, we may use and share your information to bill and obtain payment for services we provide.

Health care operations

Where applicable, we may use and share your information to run our organization, improve the quality of services, train staff, and meet our legal and administrative responsibilities.

We may use or share your information without your written authorization when permitted or required by law, including to:

• Comply with federal, state, or local law;
• Support public health and safety activities, such as preventing disease or reporting suspected abuse, neglect, or domestic violence;
• Help prevent or reduce a serious threat to anyone’s health or safety;
• Respond to health oversight activities, such as audits and inspections;
• Respond to lawsuits, legal actions, court orders, or subpoenas;
• Assist law enforcement as permitted by law;
• Work with a coroner, medical examiner, or funeral director;
• Address workers’ compensation and specialized government functions;
• Support organ and tissue donation requests and approved research, as permitted by law.

Some types of information, such as substance use disorder treatment records or psychotherapy notes, may have additional protections under federal or state law. Where stricter law applies, we follow it.

We will not use or share your information for the following purposes unless you give us written permission:

• Most uses and disclosures of psychotherapy notes;
• Marketing purposes;
• Sale of your information.

Other uses and disclosures not described in this notice will be made only with your written authorization. You may revoke an authorization in writing at any time, except to the extent we have already acted on it.

You have the following rights regarding your health information. To exercise any of them, contact us using the information at the end of this notice.

• Access. You may ask to see or get a paper or electronic copy of your health information. We may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee.
• Amendment. You may ask us to correct information you believe is incorrect or incomplete. We may deny your request, and will tell you why in writing.
• Restrictions. You may ask us to limit what we use or share for treatment, payment, or operations. We are not required to agree in all cases. If you pay for a service in full out of pocket, you may ask us not to share that information with your health plan, and we will agree unless the law requires us to share it.
• Confidential communications. You may ask us to contact you in a specific way (for example, a particular phone number) or at a different address. We will agree to reasonable requests.
• Accounting of disclosures. You may ask for a list of certain times we shared your information, who we shared it with, and why.
• Copy of this notice. You may ask for a paper or electronic copy of this notice at any time, even if you agreed to receive it electronically.
• Personal representative. If someone is your legal guardian or holds your medical power of attorney, that person can exercise your rights.
• Complaints. You may file a complaint if you believe your privacy rights have been violated (see below).

• We are required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information.
• We will let you know promptly if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your unsecured health information, as required by federal law.
• We must follow the duties and privacy practices described in this notice and give you a copy of it.
• We will not use or share your information other than as described here unless you tell us we can in writing.

We may change the terms of this notice, and the changes will apply to all information we have about you. If we make a material change, the revised notice will be posted on this page, available at our office, and provided to you upon request.

If you have questions about this notice or believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may contact us:

You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights by visiting www.hhs.gov/ocr/complaints, calling 1-877-696-6775, or writing to 200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20201.

We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint. Filing a complaint will not affect the services you receive.