Privacy Policy
Notice of Privacy Practices
Your Child’s Health Information Privacy is Important to Us
This notice describes how medical information about your child may be used and disclosed, and how you can access this information. Please read it carefully.
Our Responsibilities
We are required by law to:
- Maintain the privacy of your child’s protected health information (PHI)
- Provide you with this notice explaining our legal duties and privacy practices
- Notify you if there is a breach of unsecured PHI
- Follow the terms of the current version of this notice
Our Direct Primary Care Model
In our direct primary care model, we do not bill insurance. However, we may share PHI if you request reimbursement from an insurance plan or for other payment-related activities you authorize.
Because we do not bill insurance, most disclosures to health plans will only occur if you request them for reimbursement purposes. This gives you greater control over when your child’s PHI is shared outside our clinic.
How We May Use and Share Your Child’s Information
We may use or disclose your child’s PHI without written permission in the following situations:
- For Treatment: We may use or share PHI to provide medical care for your child—such as communicating with specialists, labs, or pharmacies.
- For Payment: We may use or share PHI if you request reimbursement from an insurance plan or for other payment-related activities you authorize.
- For Healthcare Operations: We may use PHI to improve our services, conduct quality assessments, train staff, or manage our clinic operations.
- As Required by Law: We will disclose PHI when required by federal, state, or local law.
- For Public Health and Safety: We may disclose PHI to prevent or control disease, report suspected abuse or neglect, or protect the health and safety of your child or others.
- For Legal and Administrative Purposes: We may share PHI in response to court orders, subpoenas, or legal investigations when legally required.
When We Need Your Written Authorization
We will not use or share your child’s PHI for purposes such as marketing, fundraising, or sharing psychotherapy notes without your written permission. You may revoke this authorization at any time, in writing.
Your Rights as a Parent or Legal Guardian
You have the right to:
- Access Medical Records: Request to see or get a copy of your child’s health records in paper or electronic form.
- Request Corrections: Ask us to correct information you believe is wrong or incomplete.
- Request Confidential Communications: Ask us to contact you in a specific way (e.g., cell phone, email).
- Limit What We Share: Request restrictions on the use or sharing of PHI. While we will consider your request, we are not required to agree in all cases.
- Get a List of Disclosures: Request a list of when and with whom we shared your child’s PHI.
Changes to This Notice
We may change our privacy practices and update this notice. The revised notice will apply to all PHI we maintain and will be available in our office and on our website.
Questions or Complaints
If you believe your child’s privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with:
Or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights:
Website: https://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints/
We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.