BACKGROUND: The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 was enacted by congress to help protect health coverage for workers and their families. It also addresses electronic transaction standards and the need to ensure the security and privacy of health data. We are required by law to maintain the privacy of protected health information, and must inform you of our privacy practices and legal duties. The security and privacy of your protected health information is the subject of this Privacy Notice.
Psychologist’s/Clinician’s Duties:
• We are required by law to maintain the privacy of PHI and to provide you with a notice of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to PHI.
• We reserve the right to change the privacy policies and practices described in this notice. Unless we notify you of such changes, however, we are required to abide by the terms currently in effect.
• If we make significant revisions to policies and procedures which might affect the privacy of your personal health information, we will provide you with a copy of those revisions. If you are still in treatment at this office, you will be provided with a copy of the revisions in the manner permitted by law, generally by hand delivery at your next appointment. As needed, former clients may be mailed a copy of significant revisions to the most recent mailing address on file at our office. Updated notices of our privacy policies will always be available for review upon request at this office.