Your health record contains personal information about you and your health. This information about you that may identify you and that relates to your past, present or future physical or mental health or condition and related health care services is referred to as Protected Health Information (“PHI”). This Notice of Privacy Practices describes how we may use and disclose your PHI in accordance with applicable law, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”), regulations promulgated under HIPAA including the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules, and the ACA Code of Ethics. It also describes your rights regarding how you may gain access to and control your PHI.

We are required by law to maintain the privacy of PHI and to provide you with notice of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to PHI. We are required to abide by the terms of this Notice of Privacy Practices. We reserve the right to change the terms of our Notice of Privacy Practices at any time. Any new Notice of Privacy Practices will be effective for all PHI that we maintain at that time. We will provide you with a copy of the revised Notice of Privacy Practices by posting a copy on our website  or providing one to you at your request.

HOW WE MAY USE AND DISCLOSE YOUR INFORMATION

We are dedicated to safeguarding the privacy of your Protected Health Information (PHI) and we want to ensure you are informed about how we may use and disclose your information. Here are key points regarding our privacy practices:

Routine Uses and Disclosures of PHI Without Your Written Authorization:

Treatment: Your PHI may be utilized by healthcare providers within our Practice or shared with external professionals who are treating you to ensure coordinated care and optimal treatment outcomes. (Example: If you are receiving mental health care, your primary care physician may receive details of your treatment to inform a holistic health strategy.)

Payment: We use PHI to create billing statements and work with insurance companies, health plans, or other entities responsible for providing financial coverage for your healthcare services. (Example: Processing your health information to submit a claim to your insurance provider for a recent medical procedure you underwent.)

Healthcare Operations: PHI is essential for the effective running of our Practice, from quality assessment to employee training, as well as for scheduling appointments and sending you reminders if you consent to such communications.

Uses and Disclosures of PHI Without Your Authorization or Opportunity to Object:

Public Health and Safety:  We may disclose PHI to public health authorities charged with preventing or controlling disease, injury, or disability, which includes reporting disease outbreaks and tracking drug and device product defects or adverse effects.

Health Oversight: PHI disclosures can be made to health agencies during the course of audits, investigations, licensure or disciplinary actions, and other activities necessary for oversight of the healthcare system or government benefit programs.

Legal Requirements: We may be legally required to disclose PHI in response to judicial proceedings, law enforcement inquiries, investigations, and other legal mandates.

Serious Threats: In situations that pose a serious and imminent threat to public health or safety, PHI may be disclosed to someone able to help prevent or mitigate the threat.

Abuse or Neglect: We are mandated to report PHI to appropriate authorities if we believe an individual has been a victim of abuse, neglect, or domestic violence.

Specialized Government Functions: PHI may be disclosed for national security reasons, such as protecting the President, conducting intelligence or counterintelligence activities, or ensuring the safety of highprofile government officials.

Workers' Compensation: PHI may be disclosed in compliance with workers' compensation laws for claims or other similar programs that provide benefits for workrelated injuries or illness.

Uses and Disclosures of PHI That May Be Made With Your Authorization or Opportunity to Object:

We may share your PHI with family, friends, or others involved in your care or payment for your care when you are present and do not object, or when you are not present, if it is inferred from the circumstances that you would not object. 

 In situations where you are incapacitated or in an emergency, and we determine that a disclosure to someone involved in your care is in your best interest, we will share only the PHI that is directly relevant to their involvement with your care.

Uses and Disclosures of PHI Based Upon Your Written Authorization:

Marketing, Sale of PHI, and Psychotherapy Notes: Certain uses and disclosures of PHI for marketing purposes, the sale of PHI, and access to psychotherapy notes will require your explicit written consent. You have the right to withdraw this consent at any time, which would prevent any future use or disclosure of your PHI for the purposes that you have withdrawn.

YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING YOUR PHI

You have specific rights regarding your PHI, which are outlined below. If you wish to exercise any of these rights, please submit a written request to our Privacy Officer at Cedric@cedricstatonlpcc.org .

You have the right to:

Inspect and Copy PHI: Request an electronic or paper copy of your PHI. A reasonable fee may be charged by the Practice for this service. In certain cases, such as when the disclosure may endanger your life or another person's life, the Practice may deny your request. If denied, you may have the right to have this decision reviewed.

 Amend PHI: Request corrections to your PHI if you believe it is incorrect or incomplete. The Practice may ask for your request in writing and for you to provide a reason supporting your request. 

Request Confidential Communications:  We may deny your request, but will provide a written explanation and allow you to submit a written statement of disagreement.

Ask that we contact you in a specific way: All reasonable requests will be accommodated.

Limit Use or Sharing: Request restrictions on certain uses and sharing of PHI for treatment, payment, or operations. While we are not required to agree if it would affect your care, you have the right to request these limitations. If you pay for a service or health care item in full out-of-pocket, you can request that we not share information pertaining to this service with your health insurer. You may also request that we not share your PHI with certain family members or friends by specifying the restrictions you want to apply.

 Accounting of Disclosures: Request a list of instances where your health information has been shared. You are entitled to one accounting every 12 months at no charge, with a reasonable fee applied for more frequent requests.

Opt Out of Fundraising Communications: We may reach out to you for fundraising activities, but you have the right to request not to be contacted for such purposes again.

 Obtain a Copy of This Notice: Request a paper copy of this Notice at any time, even if you have previously agreed to receive it electronically.

 Choose Someone to Act for You: If you have given someone medical power of attorney or if someone is your legal guardian, that person can exercise your rights concerning your PHI.

 File a Complaint: If you believe your rights have been violated, you have the right to file a complaint with our Privacy Officer at cedric@cedricstatonlpcc.com or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights by sending a letter to 200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20201, calling 1-877-696-6775, or visiting https://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints/.

WE WILL NOT RETALIATE AGAINST YOU FOR FILING A COMPLAINT.