Introduction

This page contains important information about federal law, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which provides privacy protections and patient rights with regard to the use and disclosure of your Protected Health Information (PHI) used for the purpose of treatment, payment, and health care operations.
 
HIPAA requires that we provide you with a Notice of Privacy Practices (the Notice) for use and disclosure of PHI for treatment, payment, and health care operations. The Notice explains HIPAA and its application to your PHI in greater detail.
 
The law requires that we obtain your signature acknowledging that we have provided you with this. If you have any questions, it is your right and obligation to ask us prior to beginning treatment with one of our clinicians.
 

Compliance Mission Statement 

Thrive and Feel Psychology, APC strives at all times to maintain the highest degree of integrity in its interactions with patients and the delivery of quality health care. Thrive and Feel Psychology, APC, and its employees will at all times strive to maintain compliance with all laws, rules, regulations, and requirements affecting the practice of medicine and the handling of patient information. The protection of the privacy of an individual's health  information and the security of an individual's electronic protected health information ("ePHI") is a  critical concern to Thrive and Feel Psychology, APC, and to the trust our patients offer in our treatment of their medical issues. 

Limits on Confidentiality

The law protects the privacy of all communication between a patient and a clinician. In most situations, information about your treatment can only be released to others if you sign a written authorization form that meets legal requirements. There are some situations where we are permitted or required to disclose information without either your consent or authorization. If such a situation arises, we will limit disclosure to what is necessary. 

Reasons we may have to release your information without authorization include: 

• If you are involved in a court proceeding and a request is made for information concerning your diagnosis and treatment, such information is protected by the psychologist-patient privilege law. We cannot provide any information without your (or your legal representative's) written authorization, or a court order, or if we receive a subpoena of which you have been properly notified and you have failed to inform us that you oppose the subpoena. 

•  If a government agency is requesting the information for health oversight activities, within its legal authority, we may be required to provide it. 

• If a patient files a complaint or lawsuit against us, we may disclose relevant information regarding that patient in order to defend ourselves. 

• If a patient files a worker's compensation claim, and we are providing necessary treatment related to that claim, we must, upon appropriate request, submit treatment reports to the appropriate parties, including the patient's employer, insurance carrier, or authorized rehabilitation provider. 

•  We may disclose the minimum necessary health information to business associates that perform functions on our behalf if the information is necessary for those functions. Business associates sign agreements to protect privacy and are not allowed to use or disclose any information other than as specified in our contract. 

There are also situations in which we are legally obligated to take actions to attempt to protect others from harm, which may require revealing some information about a patient’s treatment: 

• If we know, or have reason to suspect, that a child under 18 has been abused, abandoned, or neglected by a parent, legal custodian, caregiver, or any other person responsible for the child's welfare, the law requires that we file a report with the California Child Abuse Hotline. 

•  If we know or have reasonable cause to suspect that a vulnerable adult has been abused, neglected, or exploited, the law requires that we file a report with California Adult Protective Services (APS). 

•  If we believe that there is a clear and immediate probability of physical harm to the patient, to other individuals, or to society, we may be required to disclose information to take protective action, including contacting the potential victim, family members, law enforcement, or arranging hospitalization. 

Client Rights and Clinician Duties

Use and Disclosure of Protected Health Information: 

• For Treatment – We use and disclose your health information internally in the course of your treatment or assessment. If we wish to provide information outside of our practice for your treatment by another provider, we will have you sign an authorization for release of information.

• For Payment – We may use and disclose your health information to obtain payment for services provided to you. If you pay for a service out-of-pocket in full, you have the right to request that your information not be disclosed to a health plan for purposes of payment or health care operations. We are legally obligated to honor this request unless disclosure is otherwise required by law. 

• For Operations – We may use and disclose your health information as part of our internal operations (e.g., reviewing records for quality). We may also use your information to inform you about services, educational activities, or programs that may interest you. 

This Notice applies to all mental health services, including psychotherapy and psychological assessment, provided by Thrive and Feel Psychology, APC. Thrive and Feel Psychology, APC is a professional corporation that employs and contracts with licensed and associate clinicians. Associate clinicians provide services under the required supervision of a licensed psychologist, in accordance with California law. All clinicians and supervisors comply with HIPAA regulations regarding confidentiality and use of Protected Health Information (PHI). 

Patient Rights include the right to: 

• To be notified promptly if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your information. 

• Ethical treatment without discrimination. 

• Have your health care information protected and request restrictions on its use/disclosure.

• Request confidential communications by alternative means/locations. 

• Inspect and copy your PHI (with reasonable fees). 

• Request amendments to your PHI. 

• Obtain a copy of this Notice at any time. 

• Receive an accounting of disclosures of PHI. 

• Choose a representative to act for you if legally authorized. 

• Terminate services at any time. 

Clinician Duties: 

• We are required by law to maintain the privacy of PHI and provide you with this Notice. We reserve the right to change policies and will notify you of revisions. 

Complaints

If you are concerned that your privacy rights have been violated, or you disagree with a decision made about access to your records, you may contact Thrive and Feel Psychology, the California Department of Health, or the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.