Notice of privacy practices.
This notice describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information. Please review it carefully.
1. Who This Notice Covers
This notice applies to the health information created and kept by Found Voice Therapy, LLC and by Raevin Wade, LCSW, in the course of providing you with psychotherapy services. In this notice, "I" means Raevin Wade, LCSW, practicing as Found Voice Therapy, LLC.
If you receive services from me through Headway, those services are also covered by the joint Notice of Privacy Practices published by Headway for its organized health care arrangement. You may receive both notices. They describe the same commitments; this one describes my practice directly.
2. My Legal Duties
I am required by law to protect the privacy of your health information, to give you this notice describing my privacy practices and your rights, and to follow the terms of the notice currently in effect. I am also required to notify you if a breach occurs that compromises the privacy or security of your information.
Your health information includes anything in your record that identifies you and relates to your past, present, or future mental or physical health, the care you receive, or payment for that care.
3. How I May Use and Disclose Your Information Without Your Written Authorization
Treatment
I may use your information to provide and coordinate your care. For example, with your knowledge I may consult with your physician or psychiatrist about your treatment, or share information with another provider to whom I refer you.
Payment
I may use and disclose your information to bill and collect payment for services. For example, I may give a health plan information about a session so the plan will pay for it, or provide documentation needed to determine coverage.
Health care operations
I may use your information for activities necessary to run the practice and maintain quality of care. Examples include clinical consultation and supervision, record keeping, scheduling, and training.
Professional consultation
I may consult with other licensed professionals about your care. When I do, I share only the information necessary and I do not reveal your identity unless you have authorized it or disclosure is otherwise permitted by law.
4. Other Uses and Disclosures Permitted or Required by Law
I may use or disclose your information without your authorization in the following circumstances.
• When required by law, including by court order, subpoena, or other lawful process.
• To report suspected abuse or neglect of a child. Mississippi and Alabama law both require me to report when I have reasonable cause to suspect it.
• To report suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a vulnerable adult or an elderly person, as required by the law of the state where services are provided.
• To prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to the health or safety of you or another person, where disclosure is made to someone able to prevent or lessen the threat.
• For health oversight activities carried out by a licensing board or government agency with authority over my practice, including an investigation or inspection.
• To public health authorities for purposes such as preventing or controlling disease.
• To a coroner or medical examiner for identification or to determine cause of death.
• For workers compensation purposes, to the extent authorized by law.
• To law enforcement in limited circumstances defined by law, such as responding to a court order or reporting certain injuries.
• For specialized government functions, including military and veterans activities and national security activities authorized by law.
• To my business associates, meaning vendors who perform services on my behalf and who are contractually required to protect your information. My electronic health record system is an example.
• To contact you with appointment reminders or to discuss treatment alternatives, using the contact method you have given me.
If you are involved in a legal proceeding and your mental health is placed at issue, I may be compelled to disclose information. Please talk with me before filing anything that puts your treatment record into a court process, so you understand what may follow.
5. Psychotherapy Notes
Psychotherapy notes are notes I may record about the contents of a session that are kept separate from the rest of your record. They receive greater protection than other health information. With limited exceptions set by law, I will not use or disclose psychotherapy notes without your written authorization, and I may not condition treatment on your signing one.
Psychotherapy notes do not include your diagnosis, treatment plan, symptoms, prognosis, progress, medication information, session start and stop times, or types of treatment provided.
6. Substance Use Disorder Records
Some records are protected by a federal law known as 42 CFR Part 2, which places stricter limits on use and disclosure than HIPAA does. If I create, receive, or maintain records covered by Part 2, those limits apply to them.
Where Part 2 applies, records may generally be used or disclosed for treatment, payment, and health care operations only with your written consent, unlike other health information covered by this notice. Certain redisclosures are permitted once consent has been given, within the limits the law sets.
In addition, Part 2 records, and any testimony relaying their content, may not be used or disclosed against you in a civil, criminal, administrative, or legislative proceeding unless you have given written consent or a court has issued an order after notice to you and an opportunity to be heard.
7. Uses and Disclosures That Require Your Written Authorization
Any use or disclosure not described in this notice requires your written authorization. This includes, with narrow exceptions set by law:
• Most uses and disclosures of psychotherapy notes.
• Any use or disclosure for marketing purposes.
• Any sale of your health information. I do not sell client information.
You may revoke an authorization in writing at any time. A revocation does not undo any use or disclosure already made in reliance on it.
8. Your Rights Regarding Your Information
Right to see and get a copy of your record
You may inspect and receive a copy of the health information used to make decisions about your care, in paper or electronic form. You may also direct me to send a copy to a person you name. I may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee. In limited circumstances I may deny a request, and you may ask that the denial be reviewed.
Right to request an amendment
If you believe information in your record is incorrect or incomplete, you may ask in writing that I amend it. I may deny the request if I did not create the information or if I determine the record is accurate and complete. If I deny it, you may submit a written statement of disagreement that becomes part of your record.
Right to an accounting of disclosures
You may request a list of disclosures I have made of your information, other than those for treatment, payment, and health care operations and certain others the law excludes. The list may cover up to six years before the date of your request.
Right to request restrictions
You may ask me to limit how I use or disclose your information for treatment, payment, or health care operations. I am not required to agree to a restriction, except as described in the next paragraph. If I do agree, I will follow it unless the information is needed to provide you emergency treatment.
Right to restrict disclosure to a health plan
If you pay in full, out of pocket, for a service, you may require me not to disclose information about that service to your health plan, except where the law requires it. I must honor this request.
Right to request confidential communications
You may ask me to contact you in a particular way or at a particular location, for example by a specific phone number, or to leave no voicemail. I will accommodate reasonable requests and will not ask you to explain why.
Right to a paper copy of this notice
You may request a paper copy of this notice at any time, including if you agreed to receive it electronically.
Right to be notified of a breach
You will be notified if a breach occurs that compromises the privacy or security of your information.
Right 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 may exercise your rights and make choices about your information. I will verify that the person has this authority before acting.
9. Minors
When I provide services to a minor, a parent or legal guardian generally has the right to access the minor’s record, subject to limits set by state and federal law. Where I treat an adolescent, I will discuss with the family at the outset what will and will not be shared, so that everyone understands the arrangement before treatment begins.
10. Changes to This Notice
I may change this notice and make the new terms apply to information I already hold as well as information I receive in the future. The current notice will be available in my office, posted on foundvoicetherapy.com, and provided to you on request. The effective date appears at the top.
11. Complaints
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with me using the contact information below. You may also file a complaint with the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services:
Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20201
1-877-696-6775
ocrportal.hhs.gov/ocr/cp
You will not be retaliated against, and your care will not be affected, for filing a complaint.
12. Contact
Questions about this notice, or requests to exercise any right described in it, should be directed to:
Raevin Wade, LCSW, Privacy Officer
Found Voice Therapy, LLC
602 Adeline St
Hattiesburg, Mississippi 39401
Telephone: (601) 589-4719