Notice of Privacy Practices

Link Modern Therapy is committed to protecting your privacy. The Practice is required by federal law to maintain the privacy of Protected Health Information (“PHI”) — information that identifies, or could be used to identify, you. The Practice is required to provide you with this Notice of Privacy Practices, which explains the Practice’s legal duties and privacy practices, and your rights regarding the PHI we collect and maintain.

Your rights

Your rights regarding PHI are explained below. To exercise these rights, please submit a written request to the Practice at the address noted below.

To inspect and copy PHI

• You can ask for an electronic or paper copy of PHI. The Practice may charge a reasonable fee.
• The Practice may deny your request if it believes the disclosure will endanger your life or another person’s life. You may have a right to have this decision reviewed.

To amend PHI

• You can ask to correct PHI you believe is incorrect or incomplete. The Practice may require you to make your request in writing and provide a reason for the request.
• The Practice may deny your request. If so, it will send a written explanation for the denial and allow you to submit a written statement of disagreement.

To request confidential communications

• You can ask the Practice to contact you in a specific way. The Practice will say “yes” to all reasonable requests.

To limit what is used or shared

• You can ask the Practice not to use or share PHI for treatment, payment, or business operations. The Practice is not required to agree if doing so would affect your care.
• If you pay for a service or health care item out of pocket in full, you can ask the Practice not to share PHI with your health insurer.
• You can ask the Practice not to share your PHI with family members or friends by stating the specific restriction requested and to whom you want it to apply.

To obtain a list of those with whom your PHI has been shared

• You can ask for a list — called an accounting — of the times your health information has been shared. You can receive one accounting every 12 months at no charge, but you may be charged a reasonable fee if you ask more frequently.

To receive a copy of this notice

• You can ask for a paper copy of this notice, even if you agreed to receive it electronically.

To choose someone to act for you

• If you have given someone medical power of attorney, or if someone is your legal guardian, that person can exercise your rights.

To file a complaint if you feel your rights are violated

• You can file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights by sending a letter to 200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20201, calling 1-877-696-6775, or visiting hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints.
• The Practice will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

To opt out of receiving fundraising communications

• The Practice may contact you for fundraising efforts, but you can ask not to be contacted again.

Our uses and disclosures

1. Routine uses and disclosures of PHI

The Practice is permitted under federal law to use and disclose PHI, without your written authorization, for certain routine purposes such as treatment, payment, and the operation of our business. The Practice typically uses or shares your health information in the following ways.

To treat you

• The Practice can use and share PHI with other professionals who are treating you.
• Example: your primary care doctor asks about your mental health treatment.

To run health care operations

• The Practice can use and share PHI to run the business, improve your care, and contact you.
• Example: the Practice uses PHI to send you appointment reminders, if you choose.

To bill for your services

• The Practice can use and share PHI to bill and receive payment from health plans or other entities.
• Example: the Practice gives PHI to your health insurance plan so that it will pay for your services.

2. Uses and disclosures that may be made without your authorization or opportunity to object

The Practice may use or disclose PHI without your authorization, including:

To help with public health and safety issues

• Public health: to prevent the spread of disease, assist in product recalls, and report adverse reactions to medication.
• Required by the Secretary of Health and Human Services: to investigate or determine our compliance with the Privacy Rule.
• Health oversight: for audits, investigations, and inspections by government agencies that oversee the health care system, government benefit programs, other regulatory programs, and civil rights laws.
• Serious threat to health or safety: to prevent a serious and imminent threat.
• Abuse or neglect: to report abuse, neglect, or domestic violence.

To comply with law, law enforcement, or other government requests

• Required by law: where required by federal, state, or local law.
• Judicial and administrative proceedings: to respond to a court order, subpoena, or discovery request.
• Law enforcement: to locate and identify you, or to disclose information about a victim of a crime.
• Specialized government functions: for military or national security concerns, including intelligence, protective services for heads of state, or your security clearance.
• National security and intelligence activities: as authorized by law.
• Workers’ compensation: to comply with workers’ compensation laws or support claims.

To comply with other requests

• Coroners and funeral directors: to perform their legally authorized duties.
• Organ donation: for organ donation or transplantation.
• Research: for research approved by an institutional review board.
• Inmates: where the Practice created or received your PHI in the course of providing care.
• Business associates: to organizations that perform functions, activities, or services on our behalf.

3. Uses and disclosures that may be made with your authorization or opportunity to object

Unless you object, the Practice may disclose PHI:

• To your family, friends, or others, if the PHI directly relates to that person’s involvement in your care.
• If it is in your best interest because you are unable to state your preference.

4. Uses and disclosures based upon your written authorization

The Practice must obtain your written authorization to use or disclose PHI for marketing, the sale of PHI, and psychotherapy notes.

You may revoke your authorization at any time by contacting the Practice in writing, using the information above. The Practice will not use or share PHI other than as described in this notice unless you give your permission in writing.

Our responsibilities

• The Practice is required by law to maintain the privacy and security of PHI.
• The Practice is required to abide by the terms of the notice currently in effect. Where more stringent state or federal law governs PHI, the Practice will abide by the more stringent law.
• The Practice reserves the right to amend this notice. All changes are applicable to PHI collected and maintained by the Practice. Should the Practice make changes, you may obtain a revised notice by requesting a copy using the information above.
• The Practice will inform you if PHI is compromised in a breach.