Privacy Practices
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Privacy Practices
THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.
Acorn Mental Health Counseling (the “Practice”) is committed to protecting your privacy. The Practice is required by federal law to maintain the privacy of Protected Health Information (“PHI”), which is information that identifies or could be used to identify you. The Practice is required to provide you with this Notice of Privacy Practices (this “Notice”), which explains the Practice’s legal duties and privacy practices and your rights regarding PHI that we collect and maintain.
YOUR RIGHTS
Your rights regarding PHI are explained below. To exercise these rights, please submit a written request to the Practice at the address noted below.
To inspect and copy PHI.
You can ask for an electronic or paper copy of PHI. The Practice may charge you a reasonable fee.
The Practice may deny your request if it believes the disclosure will endanger your life or another person’s life. You may have a right to have this decision reviewed.
To request confidential communications.
You can ask the Practice to contact you in a specific way. The Practice will say “yes” to all reasonable requests.
To amend PHI.
You can ask to correct PHI you believe is incorrect or incomplete. The Practice may require you to make your request in writing and provide a reason for the request.
The Practice may deny your request. The Practice will send a written explanation for the denial and allow you to submit a written statement of disagreement.
To receive a copy of this Notice.
You can ask for a paper copy of this Notice, even if you agreed to receive the Notice electronically.
To obtain a list of those with whom your PHI has been shared.
You can ask for a list, called an accounting, of the times your health information has been shared. You can receive one accounting every 12 months at no charge, but you may be charged a reasonable fee if you ask for one more frequently.
To 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.
To file a complaint if you feel your rights are violated.
You can file a complaint by contacting the Practice using the following information:
Acorn Mental Health Counseling
211 Main Street, East Greenwich RI 02818
Vincent Forleo
401-903-0444You
can file a complaint 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 www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints/.
The Practice will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.
To opt out of receiving fundraising communications.
The Practice may contact you for fundraising efforts, but you can ask not to be contacted again.
OUR USES AND DISCLOSURES
1. Routine Uses and Disclosures of PHI
The Practice is permitted under federal law to use and disclose PHI, without your written authorization, for certain routine uses and disclosures, such as those made for treatment, payment, and the operation of our business. The Practice typically uses or shares your health information in the following ways:
To run the health care operations.
The Practice can use and share PHI to run the business, improve your care, and contact you.
Example: The Practice uses PHI to send you appointment reminders if you choose.
You can ask for an electronic or paper copy of PHI. The Practice may charge you a reasonable fee.
The Practice may deny your request if it believes the disclosure will endanger your life or another person’s life. You may have a right to have this decision reviewed.
To treat you.
The Practice can use and share PHI with other professionals who are treating you.
Example: Your primary care doctor asks about your mental health treatment.
To bill for your services.
The Practice can use and share PHI to bill and get payment from health plans or other entities.
Example: The Practice gives PHI to your health insurance plan so it will pay for your services.
2. Uses and Disclosures of PHI That May Be Made Without Your Authorization or Opportunity to Object
The Practice may use or disclose PHI without your authorization or an opportunity for you to object, including:
To help with public health and safety issues
Public health: To prevent the spread of disease, assist in product recalls, and report adverse reactions to medication.
Required by the Secretary of Health and Human Services: We may be required to disclose your PHI to the Secretary of Health and Human Services to investigate or determine our compliance with the requirements of the final rule on Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information.
Health oversight: For audits, investigations, and inspections by government agencies that oversee the health care system, government benefit programs, other government regulatory programs, and civil rights laws.
Serious threat to health or safety: To prevent a serious and imminent threat.
Abuse or Neglect: To report abuse, neglect, or domestic violence.
To comply with other requests
- Coroners and Funeral Directors: To perform their legally authorized duties.
- Organ Donation: For organ donation or transplantation.
- Research: For research that has been approved by an institutional review board.
- Inmates: The Practice created or received your PHI in the course of providing care.
- Business Associates: To organizations that perform functions, activities or services on our behalf.
3. Uses and Disclosures of PHI That May Be Made With Your Authorization or Opportunity to Object
Unless you object, the Practice may disclose PHI:
- To your family, friends, or others if PHI directly relates to that person’s involvement in your care.
- If it is in your best interest because you are unable to state your preference.
4. Uses and Disclosures of PHI Based Upon Your Written Authorization
The Practice must obtain your written authorization to use and/or disclose PHI for the following purposes:
- Marketing, sale of PHI, and psychotherapy notes.
- You may revoke your authorization, at any time, by contacting the Practice in writing, using the information above. The Practice will not use or share PHI other than as described in Notice unless you give your permission in writing.
STATE SPECIFIC PRIVACY POLICY
- The Practice will uphold all state requirements for privacy that may impose a greater limit on disclosures
- A full listing of Rhode Island Department of Behavioral Healthcare Privacy Practices may be found at the following web address
OUR RESPONSIBILITIES
- The Practice is required by law to maintain the privacy and security of PHI.
- The Practice is required to abide by the terms of this Notice currently in effect. Where more stringent state or federal law governs PHI, the Practice will abide by the more stringent law.
- The Practice reserves the right to amend Notice. All changes are applicable to PHI collected and maintained by the Practice. Should the Practice make changes, you may obtain a revised Notice by requesting a copy from the Practice, using the information above, or by viewing a copy on the website www.acornmentalhealthcounseling.com .
- The Practice will inform you if PHI is compromised in a breach.
