UNDERSTANDING THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES OF HIPAA
DEFINITION OF TERMS
PHI - Protected health information refers to information in your health records that could identify you.
Treatment - when I provide, coordinate or manage your health care or other services related to your health care. An example of treatment would be when I consult with another health care provider, such as your family physician or another psychologist.
Payment - when I obtain reimbursement for your healthcare. Examples of payment are when I disclose PHI to your health insurer to obtain reimbursement for your health care or to determine eligibility or coverage.
Health Care Operations - activities that relate to the performance and operation of this practice. Examples of health care operations are quality assessments and improvement activities, business related matters such as audits and administrative services, and case management and care coordination.
Use - applies only to activities within this practice such as sharing, employing, applying, utilizing, examining, and analyzing information that identifies you.
Disclosure - applies to activities outside of this practice, such as releasing, transferring, or providing access to information about you to other parties.
Authorization - written permission above and beyond the general consent that permits only specific disclosures.
YOUR RIGHTS
You have the right to request restrictions on uses and disclosures of PHI (Protected Health Information).
You have the right to receive confidential communications by alternative means and at alternative locations. For example, you may not want a family member to know that you are seeing me. On your request, I will send your bills to another address.
You have the right to inspect and/or copy your PHI in my mental health and billing records used to make decisions about you for as long as the PHI is maintained in the record.
You have the right to amend your PHI for as long as the PHI is maintained in the record.
You have the right to an accounting of disclosures of your PHI. On your request I will discuss with you the details of the accounting process.
You have the right to obtain a paper copy of this notice from us upon request.
MY POLICIES
I may use or disclose your PHI for treatment, payment, and health care operation purposes only with your written consent.
I may use or disclose your PHI for purposes outside of treatment, payment, or health care operations only when the appropriate written authorization is obtained from you.
In those instances when I am asked for information for purposes outside of treat-ment, payment or health care operations, I must obtain written authorization from you before releasing this information.
You may revoke all such authorizations at any time, provided each revocation is in writing. You may not revoke an authorization to the extent that (1) I have relied on that authorization; or (2) if the authorization was obtained as a condition of obtaining insurance coverage
MY RESPONSIBILITIES
I am required by law to maintain the privacy of your PHI and to provide you with a notice of my legal duties, privacy practices and policies with respect to PHI.
I reserve the right to change the privacy policies and practices described in this brochure. 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 an updated version, either in person or through the US Postal Service, and make available those changes on my web site, www.DrChapman.org.
If you are concerned that I may have violated your privacy rights, or you disagree with a decision made about access to your records, please contact my office at the address listed on cover of this brochure. You may also send a written complaint to the Secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services.
EXCLUSIONS
Child Abuse - I may disclose PHI if there is reasonable cause to believe that a child has been abused.
Adult and Domestic Abuse - I may disclose PHI if there is reasonable cause to believe that a disabled adult or elderly person has had purposeful physical injury or injuries inflicted, or has been neglected or exploited.
Health Oversight Activities - If I are subject of an inquiry by the Georgia Board of Psychological Examiners, I may be required to disclose PHI regarding you in proceedings before the Board.
Judicial and Administrative Proceedings - If you are involved in a court proceeding and a request is made about the professional service I provided you or the records thereof, such information is privileged under state law, and I will not release information without your written consent or a court order. However, the privilege does not apply when you are being evaluated for a third party or where the evaluation is court ordered. You will be informed in advance if this is the case.
Worker’s Compensation - I may disclose PHI regarding you as authorized by and to the extent necessary to comply with laws relating to worker’s compensation or other similar programs, established by law, that provide benefits for work-related injuries or illness without regard to fault.
