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

The Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) requires all health care records and other individually identifiable health information (protected health information) used or disclosed to us in any form, whether electronically, on paper, or orally, be kept confidential. This federal law gives you, the patient, significant new rights to understand and control how your health information is used. HIPAA provides penalties for covered entities that misuse personal health information. As required by HIPAA, we have prepared this explanation of how we are required to maintain the privacy of your health information and how we may use and disclose your health information.

Without specific written authorization, we are permitted to use and disclose your health care records for the purposes of treatment, payment, and health care operations.

- Treatment means providing, coordinating, or managing health care and related services by one or more health care providers. Examples of treatment would include psychotherapy, medication management, etc.

- Payment means such activities as obtaining reimbursement for services, confirming coverage, billing or collection activities, and utilization review. An example of this would be billing your insurance company for your services.

- Health Care Operations include the business aspects of running our practice, such as conducting quality assessment and improvement activities, auditing functions, cost-management analysis, and customer service. An example would include a periodic assessment of our documentation protocols, etc.

In addition, your confidential information may be used to remind you of an appointment (by phone or mail) or provide you with information about treatment options or other health-related services. We will use and disclose your PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION when we are required to do so by federal, state or local law. We may disclose your PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION to public health authorities that are authorized by law to collect information; to a health oversight agency for activities authorized by law included but not limited to: response to a court or administrative order, if you are involved in a lawsuit or similar proceeding; response to a discovery request, subpoena, or other lawful process by another party involved in the dispute, but only if we have made an effort to inform you of the request or to obtain an order protecting the information the party has requested. We may release your PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION to a medical examiner or coroner to identify a deceased individual or to identify the cause of death. We may use and disclose your PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION when necessary to reduce or prevent a serious threat to your health and safety or the health and safety of another individual or the public. Under these circumstances, we will only make disclosures to a person or organization able to help prevent the threat.

Your written authorization will be required for any other uses or disclosures. Should you choose to revoke your authorization, you may do so only in writing. We will abide by your written request with the exception of information we released upon obtaining the written authorization and releasing information as required by law.

You may contact our Privacy Officer in writing to invoke your following rights:

- You may request in writing that we restrict using and disclosing your Protected Health Information to family members and relatives, friends, or others you identify. We reserve the right to deny this request.
- You may request an amendment to your Protected Health Information.
- You may request alternative means or locations in which you receive confidential communications.
- You may request an accounting of disclosures of Protected Health Information beyond treatment, payment, and health care operations.

We are required by law to protect the privacy of your Protected Health Information and to abide by the terms of the Notice of Privacy Practices. We will make and post revisions to the Notice of Privacy Practices in accordance with the law. You may obtain a written copy of these changes by written request.

You may file a formal, written complain with us at the address below or with the Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Civil Rights, if you feel your privacy rights have been violated.

For more information regarding our Privacy Practices, please contact:

The Privacy Officer
Amy E. Roza, MA

For more information about HIPAA or to file a complaint, please contact:
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

Office of Civil Rights
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201
877 - 696 - 6775