Notice of Privacy Practices

This notice describes how information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information. Please review it carefully.

 

If you have any questions about this notice, or wish to exercise any of the rights described in this notice, please contact me at

Steve Franklin,MSW, LCSW

6829 Gravois Ave

St. Louis, MO  63116

314-517-8383

SteveFranklin@JUNO.com

 

My Legal, Ethical and Clinical Duty

The  Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) establishes legal requirements regarding the privacy of protected health information.  This includes advising you of the uses, disclosures and policies regarding your information.  I also have a professional, ethical duty, and I believe it is my clients’ best clinical interest for me to establish and follow rules that protect your privacy.  This Notice of Privacy Practices (“Notice”) describes my duties and practices regarding protected health information.  This Notice will be available to clients no later than the date of the first service delivery, including service delivered electronically.

 

Uses of information

Your health information is collected at time of intake, and as part of the record of your treatment, as notes, correspondence and reports.  I may receive information from third parties as you may authorize, such as insurance companies and others  Your information is

1. A legal record of your treatment;

2. Documentation of services to the any third party payment source ;

3. A means of measuring the progress of your treatment;

4.  A reminder of the information you have provided and my observations;

5. A basis for planning further treatment.

 

Who Will Abide by this Notice

This Notice describes my practices and those of any staff who I may hire to assist me in my practice.  Third party payers, such as insurance companies, Medicare, Medicaid or other programs, will have similar privacy standards for the information they receive from and about you, but they are required to establish and communicate their own policies.

 

Understanding Your Protected Health Information

Each time you are treated by a healthcare professional, a record is made.  For a psychotherapy session, this typically includes: Name of clients attending Attending ,Date/Time Health Insurance ID, Diagnosis/Nature of Illness, Procedure (i.e., individual, family or couples therapy)

Information you provice about Medications , Location, History, Current/Recent Events  (Symptoms/behaviors related to diagnosis or goals), Issues (Addressed; Underlying roles, conflicts or patterns ) Identified , Other observations/interpretations, Therapist Intervention/Idea/Suggestions,     Homework/Plans/Date of Next Session, Payment Received; Progress toward treatment plan goals.

 

Your record may also include other communication from yourself or with other parties, as well as questionnaires or diagnostic tools you may have completed.  Understanding the contents of your record will help you make more informed decisions about authorizations to disclose it to others.

 

Your Rights Regarding Your Protected Health Information

Your health record is my physical property, but the information belongs to you.

 

You have the right to:

1. request restrictions regarding disclosures of your information;

2. request and keep a copy of this notice of information practices, and look at or obtain a copy of your health record;

3. add information to the health record, to supplement or correct the information;

4. get a record of who has obtained disclosures of your health information;

5. withdraw any authorization you had previously granted to share information

 

My Responsibilities and Policies

I am committed to protecting the privacy of your information to the extent allowed by law. This notice applies to all of my records of your care.

 

I am required by law to:

1. Protect the privacy of your health information;

2. Provide you with this notice of my legal duties and privacy practices regarding your information ;

3. Adhere to this notice;

4. Give you notification if I cannot comply with your request;

5. Reasonably accommodate your requests to communicate health information by alternative means or at alternative locations;

6. Only disclose your health information with your authorization, except as otherwise described in this notice.

 

For More Information or to Report a Problem

 

As a solo practitioner, I also function as the HIPAA Compliance Officer. You may submit any questions or complaints to me in writing. If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you can file a complaint with the Secretary of Health and Human Services. There will be no retaliation for filing a complaint.

                                                      

How Will I Use and Disclose Health information About You

I will use your health information for treatment

I will record plans, actions, outcomes and observations from our work together. 

I can share information with others you see for treatment, or anyone else, if you specifically authorize and request it.

 

I will use your health information for payment

I will use and disclose your health information to bill you or, if authorized, third parties such as insurance companies.  Usually, billing information includes date and type of service and a diagnosis, as well as identifying information such as address, member number, etc.  You may choose to restrict how much nformation is shared, but this could affect whether the third party feels they have enough information to verify and authorize coverage and payment.

  

Appointment reminders

We may make phone calls to remind you of an appointment, using the identifying and scheduling information you have provided. 

 

Business Associates

Some insurance companies contract with business associates to process billing information.  Such businesses would also be required to protect the privacy of your information.

 

Notification

I may use or disclose information to notify a person identified as your “emergency contact” in an emergency situation.

 

Public health

As required by law, I may be required to report child abuse or neglect, or elder abuse to appropriate government agencies.

 

Professional Misconduct

If you report an incidence of apparent misconduct by a mental health professional, I may choose to disclose the information to a licensing board.

 

Law enforcement

I may disclose health information in response to a valid subpoena, court order, warrant, summons or similar process.  I will request that you sign a release of information, and if you do not want to I will attempt to protest the order.  However, I will comply if still ordered to release information by the court.  I may also report health information under a “duty to warn” if you threaten to harm or commit a crime against someone.  I may also report health information if I feel you are in immediate danger of mortal harm to yourself. 

 

Lawsuits and disputes

I may disclose health information for the purposes of collecting legally due payment from for services, if necessary to give notice, inform an agent for collection purposes, or legally pursue resolution of a billing dispute. 

 

National security and intelligence activities

I may release health information about you to authorized federal officials for intelligence, counterintelligence, and other national security activities required by law.

 

Protective services for the President and others

I may disclose health information about you to authorized federal officials, as required by law, so they may provide protection to the President, other authorized persons or foreign heads of state or conduct special investigations.

 

Your Rights Regarding Your Protected Health information

 

Right to inspect and copy

You may inspect and copy health information used to make decisions about your care. This may include medical and billing records, but does not include psychotherapy notes.  To obtain this  information, you must submit your request in writing to me. I may charge a fee for the costs of copying, mailing, or other supplies associated with your request. If there is a need to limit the information or deny the request, you will be provided with a valid reason.

 

Right to amend

If you feel there is inaccuracy in your health information, you may submit a request, in writing, to amend the information.  For me to allow amendment, the information must have been created by me, part of the health information I maintain, be information you would normally be allowed to inspect and copy, and be accurate and complete.

 

Accounting of disclosures

You may request an "accounting of disclosures"; i.e. a list of requests for health information about you that I have previously responded to. You must submit your request in writing to me. Your request must specify a time period not longer than six years and no earlier than February 26, 2003.    Requests specifying a broader time period may be considered at my discretion.  You should specify whether you prefer paper or electronic information. There will be no charge for the first list you request within a 12 month period.  I reserve the right to charge for the costs of providing additional lists. 

 

Right to request restrictions

You may request a restriction or limitation on the health information disclose about you for treatment or payment. You may also request a limit on the health information we disclose about you to someone who is involved in your care or the payment for your care.  To request restrictions, make your request to me in writing, specifying (1) what information you want to limit; (2) whether you want to limit use, disclosure or both; and (3) to whom you want the limits to apply.

You may request that we communicate with you in a certain way or at a certain location. (For example: only contact you at work or by mail.)  You must make your request in writing to me. It is not necessary of provide a reason for your request.  I will accommodate all reasonable requests.

 

Right to a paper copy of this notice

You may ask for a copy of this notice at any time. It is also available for inspection at my web site.

 

Changes to this notice

This notice may be changed at any time.  A copy will be posted in my waiting room and on my web site.

 

Notices or requests may be submitted to me at

 

Steve Franklin, MSW, LCSW

6829 Gravois Ave

St. Louis, MO  63116

Email   SteveFranklin@JUNO.com

FAX 203-738-4036

 

My web site is www. SteveFranklinMSW.com

Revised 4/20/2012

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