Notice of Privacy Practices Abide Psychiatry, PLLC

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW HEALTH INFORMATION MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.

I. MY PLEDGE REGARDING HEALTH INFORMATION: I understand that health information about you and your health care is personal. I am committed to protecting health information about you. I create a record of the care and services you receive from me. I need this record to provide you with quality care and to comply with certain legal requirements. I am required by law to:

  • Make sure that protected health information (“PHI”) that identifies you is kept private.

  • Give you this notice of my legal duties and privacy practices with respect to health information.

  • Follow the terms of the notice that is currently in effect.

II. HOW I MAY USE AND DISCLOSE HEALTH INFORMATION ABOUT YOU:

  • For Treatment, Payment, or Health Care Operations: Federal privacy rules allow health care providers who have a direct treatment relationship with the patient to use or disclose the patient’s personal health information without the patient’s written authorization, to carry out the health care provider’s own treatment, payment or health care operations.

  • Lawsuits and Disputes: If you are involved in a lawsuit, I may disclose health information in response to a court or administrative order.

III. CERTAIN USES AND DISCLOSURES REQUIRE YOUR AUTHORIZATION:

  • Psychotherapy Notes: I do keep “psychotherapy notes” as that term is defined in 45 CFR § 164.501, and any use or disclosure of such notes requires your Authorization unless the use or disclosure is for my use in treating you, defending myself in legal proceedings, or required by law.

  • Marketing Purposes: As a psychotherapist, I will not use or disclose your PHI for marketing purposes.

  • Sale of PHI: As a psychotherapist, I will not sell your PHI in the regular course of my business.

IV. CERTAIN USES AND DISCLOSURES DO NOT REQUIRE YOUR AUTHORIZATION: Subject to certain limitations in the law, I can use and disclose your PHI without your Authorization for the following reasons:

  • When disclosure is required by state or federal law.

  • For public health activities, including reporting suspected child, elder, or dependent adult abuse, or preventing a serious threat to health or safety.

  • For health oversight activities, including audits and investigations.

  • For judicial and administrative proceedings, or law enforcement purposes.

  • To coroners or medical examiners.

  • For workers’ compensation purposes.

V. YOU HAVE THE FOLLOWING RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO YOUR PHI:

  • The Right to Request Limits on Uses and Disclosures of Your PHI. You have the right to ask me not to use or disclose certain PHI. I am not required to agree to your request.

  • The Right to Choose How I Send PHI to You. You have the right to ask me to contact you in a specific way.

  • The Right to See and Get Copies of Your PHI. Other than “psychotherapy notes,” you have the right to get an electronic or paper copy of your medical record.

  • The Right to Get a List of the Disclosures I Have Made.

  • The Right to Correct or Update Your PHI. If you believe that there is a mistake in your PHI, you have the right to request that I correct it.

  • The Right to Get a Paper or Electronic Copy of this Notice.