Privacy Policy and Practices

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN ACCESS YOUR INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.

The Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a federal law that grants patients certain rights with respect to the privacy and confidentiality of their individually identifiable health information, which is referred to as protected health information (PHI).

Below is an explanation of how we will maintain the privacy of your PHI and how we may disclose your PHI.

HOW WE MAY USE AND DISCLOSE YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION

Treatment: We may disclose your health information to doctors, nurses or other healthcare personnel that will provide, coordinate, or manage your healthcare.

Payment: We may disclose your health information to obtain reimbursement for services, confirm coverage, billing or collections activities, and utilization review.

Healthcare operations: We may disclose your health information to improve certain aspects of our business to include conducting quality assessments, auditing functions, and customer service.

Appointment Reminders, Follow-Up calls: We may use or disclose medical information about you to remind you of an upcoming appointment.

Victims of Abuse, Neglect or Domestic Violence: Under Georgia law all healthcare providers are designated as mandatory reporters, meaning we have a legal obligation to report known or suspected abuse and/or neglect of certain vulnerable populations including: children, the elderly and adults with disabilities to the appropriate government authority.

Threat of Safety to Self or Others: We may disclose medical information if you are at risk of harming yourself, another person, or the general public.

Health Oversight Activities: We may disclose your health information to a health oversight agency that is authorized to conduct audits, investigations, inspections, licensure and other activities necessary to monitor the health care system, government programs and compliance with civil rights laws.

Judicial Proceedings: We may disclose your health information if ordered to do so by a court handling a lawsuit or other dispute. We will inform you of any subpoenas or court orders received and seek to ensure certain precautions with respect to your health information are in place.

Medical Emergency: We may disclose your health information to 911 if you experience a medical emergency during a session and are unable to communicate or otherwise consent.

Other Limited Circumstances: As required by federal or Georgia law.

We will not disclosure your health information without your authorization for:

Most uses and disclosure of psychotherapy notes (these are notes taken by a mental health professional for the purpose of documenting or analyzing the content of a conversation during a therapy session and are note part of your medical record under HIPAA);

Uses and disclosures of your PHI for marketing purposes;

The sale of your health information; and

Any other uses and disclosures not described in this notice (which will be made only with your written consent).

You may revoke such authorization in writing, and we are required to honor and abide by that written request once received.

YOUR RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION

Right to Amend PHI: You may request that we amend PHI that you believe is inaccurate or incomplete. Please make the request in writing and allow up to 60 days for corrections to be made. We are not required to agree with your request, but will make every effort to communicate how we came to that determination.

Right to Inspect and Copy: You have the right to access your records and/or inspect them. You must submit your request in writing and allow up to 30 days to access.

Right to Request Restrictions: You may request that we restrict the way we use and disclose your PHI for treatment, payment, or health care operations which include insurance companies and family members.

Right to Request Confidential Communications: You have the right to make reasonable requests to receive confidential communication of PHI by alternative means or at alternative locations.

Right to an Accounting of Disclosures: You have the right to receive an accounting of disclosure of you PHI. This typically occurs as oversight to ensure HIPAA or compliance by regulatory boards, insurance companies, or other entities.

Right to Receive a Paper Copy of this Notice: You have the right to have a copy of this Notice. You will receive a copy upon your initial session and/or may request one at any point during treatment.

Rights of Minors to Consent to Care and Request Confidential Communications: Under Georgia law and HIPAA, individuals under age 18 (minors) have the right to consent to their own care and request confidential communications and other privacy protections under certain circumstances, such as if the minor is emancipated or the minor’s care relates to substance abuse, reproductive health, sexually transmitted infections, or the minor’s own minor child.

If you paid for services “out of pocket”, in full and in advance, and you request that we not disclose PHI related solely to those services to a health plan, we will accommodate your request, except where we are required by law to make a disclosure.

This notice is effective January 1, 2023 and it is our intention to abide by the terms of the Notice of Privacy Practices and HIPAA, including all related rules, regulations and guidelines currently in effect. We reserve the right to change the terms of this Notice at any time. The Notice will be posted our website at www.motivpsych.com. Copies of the Notice are available upon request.