Your Rights
As a patient, you have rights under HIPAA, including the following:
- Get a copy of your paper or electronic medical record
- Correct your paper or electronic medical record
- Request confidential communication
- Ask us to limit the information we share
- Get a list of those with whom we’ve shared your information
- Get a copy of this privacy notice
- Choose someone to act for you
- File a complaint if you believe your privacy rights have been violated
Your Choices
You have some choices in the way we use and share your information, such as:
- Telling family and friends about your condition
- Providing disaster relief
- Including you in a hospital directory
- Providing mental health care
- Marketing our services and selling your information
Our Uses and Disclosures
We may use and share your information as we:
- Treat you
- Run our organization
- Bill for your services
- Help with public health and safety issues
- Conduct research
- Comply with the law
- Respond to organ and tissue donation requests
- Work with a medical examiner or funeral director
- Address workers’ compensation, law enforcement, and other government requests
- Respond to lawsuits and legal actions
- Provide you with appointment reminders (e.g., voicemail messages, texts, postcards, or letters)
Your Rights and Our Responsibilities
Get an Electronic or Paper Copy of Your Medical Record
- You can request an electronic or paper copy of your medical record and other health information we have about you.
- We will provide a copy or summary within 30 days of your request and may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee.
Ask Us to Correct Your Medical Record
- You can request a correction if you believe your health information is incorrect or incomplete.
- If we deny your request, we will provide a written explanation within 60 days.
Request Confidential Communications
- You may request that we contact you in a specific way (e.g., home or office phone) or send mail to a different address.
- We will approve all reasonable requests.
Ask Us to Limit What We Use or Share
- You may request restrictions on the use or sharing of your health information for treatment, payment, or operations.
- We may deny requests that could affect your care.
- If you pay for a service or healthcare item out-of-pocket in full, you can request that we do not share that information with your insurer unless required by law.
Get a List of Those With Whom We've Shared Information
- You can request an accounting of disclosures made within six years, excluding those for treatment, payment, and healthcare operations.
- One accounting per year is free; additional requests within 12 months may incur a reasonable, cost-based fee.
Get a Copy of This Privacy Notice
- You can request a paper copy of this notice at any time, even if you agreed to receive it electronically.
Choose Someone to Act for You
- If you have designated a medical power of attorney or have a legal guardian, that person can exercise your rights regarding your health information.
- We will confirm their authority before taking action.
File a Complaint if You Feel Your Rights Are Violated
- You may file a complaint with us or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights:
- We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.
Your Choices
For certain health information, you have the right to decide how we share your information. If you have a preference, inform us, and we will follow your instructions.
You Have the Right to Tell Us to:
- Share information with your family, close friends, or others involved in your care.
- Share information in a disaster relief situation.
- Include your information in a hospital directory.
If you are unable to express your preference (e.g., unconscious), we may share your information if it is in your best interest. We may also share information to prevent serious and imminent threats to health or safety.
We Will Not Share Your Information for:
- Marketing purposes
- Sale of your information
Our Uses and Disclosures
How Do We Typically Use or Share Your Health Information?
Treat You
We can use and share your health information with other healthcare professionals treating you.
Example: A doctor treating you for an injury consults another doctor about your condition.
Run Our Organization
We can use and share your health information to manage our practice and improve your care.
Example: We use health information about you to coordinate treatment and services.
Bill for Your Services
We can use and share your health information for billing and payment purposes.
Example: We provide your insurer with necessary information for payment of services.
Other Ways We May Use or Share Your Health Information
We are permitted or required to share your information for the following purposes:
-
Public health and safety issues
(e.g., preventing disease, reporting adverse reactions, preventing threats to health and safety)
-
Research
(subject to legal conditions)
-
Compliance with the law
(state or federal legal requirements)
-
Organ and tissue donation requests
-
Medical examiner or funeral director services
(e.g., coroner inquiries)
-
Workers’ compensation, law enforcement, and government requests
-
Response to lawsuits and legal actions
(e.g., court orders, subpoenas)
Our Responsibilities
- We are required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information.
- We will notify you promptly if a breach occurs that may compromise your information.
- We will not use or share your information beyond what is described in this notice unless you provide written consent. You may revoke consent at any time in writing.
For more information, visit:
www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/consumers/noticepp.html
Changes to the Terms of This Notice
We may update this notice, and changes will apply to all information we hold. The revised notice will be available upon request, on our website, and by mail upon request.
This Notice of Privacy applies to all affiliated entities doing business as
a mental health clinic providing psychiatric care and therapy services.
Compliance Officer
Comprehensive Minds
Phone:
(440) 554-0035
Email:
info@comprehensiveminds.com
