Client Rights & Privacy Practices

NOTICE OF CLIENT RIGHTS AND PRIVACY PRACTICES

Psychological testing and therapy are covered by HIPAA laws that require medical providers to protect the privacy, security, and accessibility of medical information, including electronic health information. Your child’s and your family’s protected health information pertains to your past, present, and future health, services that we provide to you, and payment for your health care.

The purpose of this notice is to explain what, when, where, and with whom we may use your protected health information or share it with others, so that you can make informed decisions about its use and disclosure. You may change your mind about what information we may share, except for information that we already disclosed with your authorization. If we change our privacy practices, we will let you know.

• How will you communicate with me?

We will communicate with you in person (face-to-face). In addition, you may choose whether you want us to communicate with you by telephone/voice messages, text messages, email messages, or postal mail.

• Who will receive information about my child and family?

You have the right to decide if and when B ‘n G Psychological Services may share most protected health information about your child and family. With few exceptions, we will ask for your written consent before we share information. We will use your protected health information for our own health care operations and share it with individuals who are involved in your health care. For example, we may discuss your child’s situation discretely, among our own therapists. You may ask, in writing, for a list of people and agencies with whom we have shared your health information, except for disclosures that we make for treatment, payment, operations, disaster relief, or other circumstances by law.

• When can my child’s or family’s information be released without my consent?

There are times when, by law, B ‘n G Psychological Services must share information about you, even if you do not sign a consent form. We must disclose information to:

> report child, adult, or spouse/partner abuse;

> prevent or reduce the risk of serious or imminent threat to the health or safety of an individual or the public.

In addition, we may report your health information to:

> inform persons or agencies who need to know when a client requires hospitalization;

> prevent or control disease;

> provide law enforcement with identification and location of suspected victim(s) of a crime;

> comply with agencies that are authorized to oversee our operations;

> collect payments for our services;

> inform others, as required by court or administrative order or in response to a valid summons or subpoena.

• If you are receiving services for substance abuse, your health information is protected in legal ways that might give you additional privacy protection.

• If you introduce your or your child’s personal mental health or substance abuse issues in court proceedings, you give up your right to privacy.

• How do I file a complaint?

> If you think that B ‘n G Psychological Services is not protecting your rights or privacy, let us know immediately. We want you to feel safe about your rights and privacy.

> You have the right to file a complaint with the federal government, if you think your rights or privacy have not been protected. We will not retaliate if you file a complaint. To file a complaint, write to:

Office for Civil Rights

Department of Health and Human Services

Attn: Patient Safety Act

200 Independence Avenue SW, Room 509F

Washington, DC 20201