Client Rights & Therapist Duties
This document contains important information about federal law, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), that provides privacy protections and patient rights with regard to the use and disclosure of your Protected Health Information (PHI) used for the purpose of treatment, payment, and health care operations.
HIPAA requires that I provide you with a Notice of Privacy Practices (the Notice) for use and disclosure of PHI for treatment, payment and health care operations. The Notice, explains HIPAA and its application to your PHI in greater detail.
The law requires that I obtain your signature acknowledging that I have provided you with this. If you have any questions, it is your right and obligation to ask so I can have a further discussion prior to signing this document. When you sign this document, it will also represent an agreement between us. You may revoke this Agreement in writing at any time. That revocation will be binding unless I have taken action in reliance on it.
LIMITS ON CONFIDENTIALITY
The law protects the privacy of all communication between a patient and a therapist. In most situations, I can only release information about your treatment to others if you sign a written authorization form that meets certain legal requirements imposed by HIPAA. There are some situations where I am permitted or required to disclose information without either your consent or authorization. If such a situation arises, I will limit my disclosure to what is necessary. Reasons I may have to release your information without authorization:
1. If you are involved in a court proceeding and a request is made for information
concerning your diagnosis and treatment, such information is protected by the
psychologist-patient privilege law. I cannot provide any information without your
(or your legal representative's) written authorization, or a court order, or if I receive a
subpoena of which you have been properly notified and you have failed to inform me
that you oppose the subpoena. If you are involved in or contemplating litigation, you
should consult with an attorney to determine whether a court would be likely to order
me to disclose information.
2. If a government agency is requesting the information for health oversight activities,
within its appropriate legal authority, I may be required to provide it for them.
3. If a patient files a complaint or lawsuit against me, I may disclose relevant
information regarding that patient in order to defend myself.
4. If a patient files a worker's compensation claim, and I am providing necessary
treatment related to that claim, I must, upon appropriate request, submit treatment
reports to the appropriate parties, including the patient's employer, the insurance
carrier or an authorized qualified rehabilitation provider.
5. I may disclose the minimum necessary health information to my business associates
that perform functions on our behalf or provide us with services if the information is
necessary for such functions or services. My business associates sign agreements to
protect the privacy of your information and are not allowed to use or disclose any
information other than as specified in our contract.
There are some situations in which I am legally obligated to take actions, which I believe are necessary to attempt to protect others from harm, and I may have to reveal some information about a patient's treatment:
1. If I know, or have reason to suspect, that a child under 18 has been abused,
abandoned, or neglected by a parent, legal custodian, caregiver, or any other person
responsible for the child's welfare, the law requires that I file a report with the
Georgia Abuse Hotline. Once such a report is filed, I may be required to provide
additional information.
2. If I know or have reasonable cause to suspect, that a vulnerable adult has been
abused, neglected, or exploited, the law requires that I file a report with the Georgia
Abuse Hotline. Once such a report is filed, I may be required to provide additional
information.
3. If I believe that there is a clear and immediate probability of physical harm to the
patient, to other individuals, or to society, I may be required to disclose information
to take protective action, including communicating the information to the potential
victim, and/or appropriate family member, and/or the police or to seek
hospitalization of the patient.
CLIENT RIGHTS AND THERAPIST DUTIES
Use and Disclosure of Protected Health Information:
● For Treatment – I use and disclose your health information internally in the course of
your treatment. If I wish to provide information outside of our practice for your
treatment by another health care provider, I will have you sign an authorization for
release of information. Furthermore, an authorization is required for most uses and
disclosures of psychotherapy notes.
● For Payment – I may use and disclose your health information to obtain payment for
services provided to you as delineated in the Therapy Agreement.
● For Operations – I may use and disclose your health information as part of our internal
operations. For example, this could mean a review of records to assure quality. I may
also use your information to tell you about services, educational activities, and programs
that I feel might be of interest to you.
Patient's Rights:
● Right to Treatment – You have the right to ethical treatment without discrimination
regarding race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, disability status,
age, or any other protected category.
● Right to Confidentiality – You have the right to have your health care information
protected. If you pay for a service or health care item out-of-pocket in full, you can ask
us not to share that information for the purpose of payment or our operations with your
health insurer. I will agree to such unless a law requires us to share that information.
● Right to Request Restrictions – You have the right to request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures of protected health information about you. However, I am not required to agree to a restriction you request.
● Right to Receive Confidential Communications by Alternative Means and at
Alternative Locations – You have the right to request and receive confidential
communications of PHI by alternative means and at alternative locations.
● Right to Inspect and Copy – You have the right to inspect or obtain a copy (or both) of
PHI. Records must be requested in writing and release of information must be
completed. Furthermore, there is a copying fee charge of $1.00 per page. Please make
your request well in advanced and allow 2 weeks to receive the copies. If I refuse your
request for access to your records, you have a right of review, which I will discuss with
you upon request.
● Right to Amend – If you believe the information in your records is incorrect and/or
missing important information, you can ask us to make certain changes, also known as
amending, to your health information. You have to make this request in writing. You
must tell us the reasons you want to make these changes, and I will decide if it is and if I refuse to do so, I will tell you why within 60 days.
● Right to a Copy of This Notice – If you received the paperwork electronically, you have
a copy in your email. If you completed this paperwork in the office at your first session
a copy will be provided to you per your request or at any time.
● Right to an Accounting – You generally have the right to receive an accounting of
disclosures of PHI regarding you. On your request, I will discuss with you the details of
the accounting process.
● Right to Choose Someone to Act for You – If someone is your legal guardian, that
person can exercise your rights and make choices about your health information; I will
make sure the person has this authority and can act for you before I take any action.
● Right to Choose – You have the right to decide not to receive services with me. If you
wish, I will provide you with names of other qualified professionals.
● Right to Terminate – You have the right to terminate therapeutic services with me at any time without any legal or financial obligations other than those already accrued. I ask that you discuss your decision with me in session before terminating or at least contact me by phone letting me know you are terminating services.
● Right to Release Information with Written Consent – With your written consent, any
part of your record can be released to any person or agency you designate. Together, we
will discuss whether or not I think releasing the information in question to that person or
agency might be harmful to you.
Therapist’s Duties:
● I am required by law to maintain the privacy of PHI and to provide you with a notice of my legal duties and privacy practices with respect to PHI. I reserve the right to change the privacy policies and practices described in this notice. Unless I notify you of such changes, however, I am required to abide by the terms currently in effect. If I revise my policies and procedures, I will provide you with a revised notice in office during our session.
COMPLAINTS
If you are concerned that I have violated your privacy rights, or you disagree with a decision I made about access to your records, you may contact me, the State of Georgia Department of Health, or the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
©2015 by K2 Visionaries, LLC all rights reserved. *Updated 11.30.17, 4.16.18, 9.14.18
