Privacy Policy

My commitment to your privacy

My practice is dedicated to maintaining the privacy of your personal health information as part of providing professional care. I am also required by law to keep your information private. These laws are complicated, but I must give you this important information. This is a shorter version of the attached, full, legally required notice of privacy practices

How I use and disclose your protected health information with your consent

I will use the information I collect about you mainly to provide you with treatment, to arrange payment for your services, and for some other business activities that are called, in the law, healthcare operations.  You will be asked to sign a consent form to let me use and share your information in these ways. If you do not consent and sign this form, I cannot provide you with treatment. If I want to use or send share, or release your information for other purposes, I will discuss this with you and ask you to sign an authorization form to allow this.

Disclosing your health information without your consent

There are some times when the laws require us to use or share your information.

  1. When there is a serious threat to your or another’s health and safety or to the public. I will only share information with persons who are able to help prevent or reduce the threat.
  2. When I’m required to do so by lawsuits and other legal or court proceedings.
  3. If a law enforcement official requires me to do so.
  4. For workers’ compensation and similar benefit programs. There are some other rare situations. They are described in the longer version of our notice of privacy practices.

Disclosing your health information for purposes of billing and payment

I may use your information to bill you, your insurance, or others, so I can be paid for the treatments I provide to you. I may contact your insurance company to find out exactly what your insurance covers. I may have to tell them about your diagnoses, what treatments you have received, and the changes I expect in your conditions. I will need to tell them about when we meet, your progress, and other similar things. There are obligations and responsibilities when you choose to use your insurance to pay for services. Use of insurance to pay for services requires that this provider release confidential information/PHI in order to secure payment for services.