HIPAA

Notice of Privacy Practices

Effective Date: July 1, 2023

This Notice of Privacy Practices ("Notice") describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information. Please review this Notice carefully.

  1. Our Commitment to Your Privacy

    2. MSC THERAPY LCSW PLLC ("We" or "Our") is dedicated to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of your protected health information (PHI) as required by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and applicable state laws.

  2. Uses and Disclosures of Your PHI

    3. 2.1 Treatment, Payment, and Healthcare Operations: We may use and disclose your PHI for purposes of treatment, payment, and healthcare operations as permitted by law. These activities may include providing psychotherapy services, processing insurance claims, and conducting quality assessment and improvement activities.

    2.2 Required Disclosures:

    We may be required by law to disclose your PHI to authorities, such as government agencies, as necessary for legal proceedings or public health activities.

    2.3 Authorization

    We will obtain your written authorization before using or disclosing your PHI for purposes not described in this Notice, except as otherwise permitted by law.

  3. Your Rights

    4. 3.1 Right to Request Restrictions

    You have the right to request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures of your PHI. We will consider your request but are not required to agree to the restrictions.

    3.2 Right to Access and Amend

    You have the right to access and obtain a copy of your PHI held by us. If you believe your PHI is inaccurate or incomplete, you have the right to request an amendment to your records.

    3.3 Right to an Accounting of Disclosures

    You have the right to request an accounting of certain disclosures of your PHI made by us.

    3.4 Right to Request Confidential Communications

    You have the right to request that we communicate with you about your PHI in a specific manner or at a specific location to preserve your privacy.

    3.5 Right to Receive Breach Notification

    In the event of a breach of unsecured PHI, you have the right to receive notification.

    3.6 Right to File a Complaint

    If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you have the right to file a complaint with us or with the appropriate regulatory authorities.

  4. Our Obligations

    5. 4.1 Psychotherapy Services

    We provide psychotherapy services to assist you in addressing mental health concerns. We will use and disclose your PHI to provide, coordinate, or manage your health care and any related services.

    4.2 Limits of Confidentiality

    While we strive to maintain the confidentiality of your PHI, there are situations where we may be required to disclose your information. These situations include, but are not limited to:

    • Imminent harm to yourself or others.
    • Suspected child or elder abuse or neglect.
    • Compliance with court orders or legal obligations.
    • Duty to warn or protect against serious threats to public safety.

    4.3 Safeguards

    We are committed to maintaining the privacy and security of your PHI and have implemented physical, administrative, and technical safeguards to protect your information.

    4.4 Business Associates

    We may disclose your PHI to third-party service providers or business associates, such as billing companies or electronic health record providers, who assist us in our healthcare operations. These entities are obligated to protect the privacy and security of your PHI through a Business Associate Agreement as required by HIPAA.

    4.4 Changes to this Notice

    We reserve the right to change the terms of this Notice at any time. Any revised Notice will be effective for all PHI we maintain at that time. We will provide you with a revised Notice on our website.

  5. Teletherapy and Electronic Communication

    6. 5.1 Teletherapy

    We may provide teletherapy services to you. The use of teletherapy involves the electronic transmission of your PHI. We will take reasonable measures to ensure the privacy and security of your PHI during teletherapy sessions.

    5.2 Electronic Communication

    We may communicate with you via email, text messaging, or other electronic means. While we take precautions to protect the privacy and security of these communications, please be aware that electronic communications may be intercepted, accessed, or disclosed by unauthorized individuals.

  6. State-Specific Requirements

    7. 6.1 State-Specific Privacy Laws

    In addition to HIPAA, there may be state-specific privacy laws or regulations that govern the use and disclosure of PHI. We will comply with both HIPAA and any applicable state privacy laws to the extent they are more protective of your privacy.

  7. Contact Information

    8. If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Notice or the privacy of your PHI, please contact us at:

    MSC THERAPY LCSW PLLC

    hello@msc-therapy.com