PRIVACY POLICY
NOTICE OF PRIVACY POLICIES AND PRACTICES
4101 McEwen Rd, Ste 410, Dallas, TX 75244
Phone: (817) 350 4377 Fax: (817) 753 3216
THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW HEALTH INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.
All items outlined in this policy apply to both paper and electronic formats of medical records and protected health
information.
INTRODUCTION
Bethesda Mental Health Consultants is committed to treating and using protected health information about you responsibly. We are permitted to use and disclose health information about you for treatment, to obtain payment for treatment, for administrative purposes, and to evaluate the quality of care you receive. This notice describes our privacy practices. We may change our policies and this notice at any time. You can request a paper copy of this notice, or any revised notice, at any time. This notice is effective January 1, 2017 and applies to all protected health information as defined by federal regulations. For more information about this notice or our privacy practices and policies, please contact the person listed at the end of this document.
HOW WE MAY USE AND/OR DISCLOSE YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION
We are permitted to use and disclose your health information to those involved in your treatment. Your health information may be used by staff members, or disclosed to other health care professionals for the purpose of evaluating your health, diagnosing medical conditions, and providing treatment. For example: results of laboratory tests and procedures will be available in your medical record to all health professionals who may provide treatment, or who may be consulted by staff members.
We are permitted to use and disclose your health information to bill and collect payment for the services we provide to you.
Your health plan may request and receive information on dates of service, the services provided, and the medical condition being treated in order to pay for the service rendered to you.
We are permitted to use and disclose your health information for the purpose of health care operations, which are the activities that support this practice and ensure that quality care is delivered. For example: information on the services you received may be used to support budgeting and financial reporting, and activities to evaluate and promote quality.
DISCLOSURES THAT CAN BE MADE WITHOUT YOUR AUTHORIZATION
These are situations in which we are permitted to use or disclose your health information without your written authorization or an opportunity to object.
Public Health: We may disclose your health information for public health activities mandated by federal, state or local
government for the collection of information about disease, vital statistics, or injury by a public health authority.
Abuse or Neglect: Because Texas law requires healthcare providers to report abuse or neglect to children, individuals with
disabilities, and the abuse, neglect, self-neglect, or exploitation of elderly persons, we may disclose health information to a
public agency authorized to receive these reports.
Healthcare Oversight: We may disclose your health information to a health oversight agency for those activities authorized
by law. Examples of these activities are audits, investigations, licensure applications and inspections.
Law Enforcement and Legal Proceedings: We may disclose your medical information if asked by a law enforcement official. We may also release information if we believe the disclosure is necessary to prevent or lessen imminent threat to the health or safety of a person. We may disclose your health information in the course of judicial or administrative proceedings in response to an order of the court or other appropriate legal process.
Worker’s Compensation: We may disclose your health information as required by worker’s compensation law.
Military and National Security: We may disclose your health information for specialized governmental functions.
Research and Medical Examiners: We may release health information for research purposes. We may release your health
information to a coroner or medical examiner to identify a deceased person or a cause of death.
Business Associates: We may disclose your health information to “business associates” to perform our day-to-day operations. These “associates” require your health information in order to accomplish the tasks that we ask them to provide. Some examples of “business associates” might be a billing service, collection agency, answering services and computer software/hardware provider.
Appointment Reminders: We may contact you by telephone, mail or both to provide appointment reminders.
Required by Law: We may release your health information when the disclosure is required by law.
Other Uses or Disclosures: Disclosure of your health information or its use for any purpose other than those listed above requires your specific written authorization. If you change your mind after authorizing a use or disclosure of your information, you may submit a written revocation of the authorization. However, your decision to revoke the authorization will not affect or undo any use or disclosure of information that occurred before you notified us of your decision.
YOUR RIGHTS UNDER FEDERAL LAW
You have certain rights under the Federal Privacy Standards. These include:
- The right to request restrictions on the use and disclosure of your protected health information, WE DO NOT HAVE TO
AGREE TO THIS RESTRICTION. - The right to limit disclosure to family members, relatives or friends who may or may not be involved in your care.
Restrictions must be submitted in writing to the person listed at the end of this document. - The right to request that we send communications concerning health information by alternative means or to an alternative location. The request must be submitted in writing to the person at the end of this document and we are required to
accommodate only reasonable requests. - The right to inspect and copy your protected health information that is within the designated record set. Texas law requires
that request for copies are made in writing. We also require requests for inspection of your protected health information to
be made in writing. Texas law requires us to provide copies or a narrative within 15 business days from receipt of your
proper request. If we deny access, we will inform you in writing. HIPAA permits us to charge a reasonable cost-based fee. - The right to amend or submit corrections to your protected health information in the designated record set. If we refuse to
allow amendment, we will inform you in writing. - The right to receive an accounting of disclosures that are other than for treatment, payment, health care operations or made
via an authorization signed by either you or your representative. - The right to receive a printed copy of this notice.
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO REPORT A PROBLEM
If you have complaints, questions or would like additional information regarding this notice or the privacy practices of
Bethesda Mental Health Consultants please contact:
Privacy Officer
Bethesda Mental Health Consultants
4101 McEwen Rd, Ste 410, Dallas, TX 75244
If you believe that your privacy rights have been violated, please contact the aforementioned practice Privacy Official, or, you
may file a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. There will be no
retaliation for filing a complaint with either the practice’s Privacy Official or with the Office for Civil Rights. The address for
the Office for Civil Rights is listed below:
OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Room 509F, HHH Building
Washington, D.C. 20201
OUR RESPONSIBILITIES
Bethesda Mental Health Consultants is required by law and regulations to protect the privacy of your health information, to provide you with this notice of our practices with respect to protected health information, and to abide by the terms of the notice of privacy practices in effect.