PENNSYLVANIA NOTICE FORM

Notice of Policies and Practices to Protect the Privacy of Your Health Information

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

I. Uses and Disclosures forr Treatment, Payment, and Health Care Operations

We may use or disclose your protected health information (PHI), for treatment, payment, and health care operations purposes with your consent.  To help clarify these terms, here are some definitions:

	"PHI" refers to information in your health record that could identify you
	"Treatment, Payment and Health Care Operations"
		- Treatment is when we provide, coordinate or manage your health care and other services related to your health care.  An example of treatment would be when we consult with another health care provider, such as your family physician or another psychologist.
		- Payment is when we obtain reimbursement for your healthcare.  Examples of payment are when we disclose your PHI to your health insurer to obtain reimbursement for your health care or to determine eligibility or coverage.
		- Health Care Operations are activities that relate to the performance and operation of our practice.  Examples of health care operations are quality assessment and improvement activities, business-related matters such as audits and administrative services, and case management and care coordination.
	"Use" applies only to activities within our [office, clinic, practice group, etc.], such as sharing, employing, applying, utilizing, examining, and analyzing information that identifies you.
	"Disclosure" applies to activities outside our [office, clinic, practice group, etc.], such as releasing, transferring, or providing access to information about you to other parties.

II. Uses and Disclosures Requiring Authorization

We may use or disclose PHI for purposes outside of treatment, payment, and health care operations when your appropriate authorization is obtained.  An "authorization" is written permission above and beyond the general consent that permits disclosure of our psychotherapy notes.  In those instances when we are asked for information purposes outside of treatment, payment, and health care operations, we will obtain an authorization from you before releasing this information.

You may revoke all such authorizations (of PHI or psychotherapy notes) at any time, provided each revocation is in writing.  You may not revoke an authorization to the extent that (1) we have relied on that authorization; or (2) if the authorization was obtained as a condition of obtaining insurance coverage, and the law provides the insurer the right to contest the claim under the policy.

III. Uses and Disclosures with Neither Consent nor Authorization

We may use or disclose PHI without your consent or authorization in the following circumstances:

	Child Abuse: If we have reasonable cause, on the basis of my professional judgment, to suspect abuse of children with whom we come into contact in my professional capacity, we are required by law to report this to the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare.
	Adult and Domestic Abuse: If we have reasonable cause to believe that an older adult is in need of protective services (regarding abuse, neglect, exploitation or abandonment), we may report such to the local agency which supplies protective services.
	Judicial or Administrative Proceedings: If you are involved in a court proceeding and a request is made about the professional services we provided you or the records thereof, such information is privileged under state law, and we will  not release the information without your written consent. or a court order.  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.
	Serious Threat to Health or Safety:  If you express a serious threat, or intent to kill or seriously injure an identified or readily identifiable person or group of people, and we determine that you are likely to carry out the threat, we must take reasonable measures to prevent harm.  Reasonable measures may include directly advising the potential victim of the threat or intent.
	Worker's Compensation:  If you file a Worker's Compensation claim, we will be required to file periodic reports with your employer, which shall include, where pertinent, history, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.

IV.  Patient's Rights and Psychologist's Duties

Patient's Rights:

	Right to Request Restrictions - You have the right to request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures of protected health information about you.  However, we are 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. (For example, you may not want a family member to know that you are seeing us.  Upon request, we will send your bills to another address.)
	Right to Inspect and Copy - You have the right to inspect or obtain a copy (or both) of 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.  We may deny your access to PHI under certain circumstances, but in some cases, you may have this decision reviewed.  On your request, we will discuss with you the details of the request and denial process.
	Right to Amend - You have the right to request an amendment of PHI for as long as the PHI is maintained in the record.  We may deny your request.  On your request, we will discuss with you the details of the amendment process.
	Right to an Accounting - You generally have the right to receive an accounting of disclosures of PHI for which you have neither provided consent nor authorization (as described in Section III of this Notice).
	Right to a Paper Copy - You have the right to obtain a paper copy of the notice from us upon request, even if you have agreed to receive the notice electronically.

Our Duties:

	We are 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
	We reserve the right to change the privacy policies and practices described in this notice.  Unless we notify you of such changes, however, we are required to abide by the terms currently in effect.
	If we revise my policies and procedures, we will provide you with an updated copy at your next scheduled visit.

V.  Complaints

If you are concerned that we have violated your privacy rights, or you disagree with a decision we made about access to your records, you may contact Barbara Thomas, Practice Administrator at 610-865-1303 x13.

You may also send a written complaint to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  The person listed above can provide you with the appropriate address upon request.

VI.  Effective Date, Restrictions and Changes to Privacy Policy

This notice will go in effect on April 11, 2003

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