Notice of Privacy Practices

Your Rights

• Get an electronic or paper copy of your medical record.
  • You can ask to see or get an electronic or paper copy of your medical record and other health information we have about you. Ask us how to do this.
  • We will provide a copy or a summary of your health information, usually within 30 days of your request. We may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee.
• Ask us to correct your medical record.
  • You can ask us to correct health information about you that you think is incorrect or incomplete. Ask us how to do this.
  • We may say “no” to your request, but we’ll tell you why in writing within 60 days.
• Request confidential communications.
  • You can ask us to contact you in a specific way (for example, home or office phone) or to send mail to a different address.
  • We will say “yes” to all reasonable requests.
• Ask us to limit what we use or share.
  • You can ask us not to use or share certain health information for treatment, payment, or our operations.
    • We are not required to agree to your request, and we may say “no” if it would affect your care.
  • If you pay for a service or health care item out-of-pocket in full, you can ask us not to share that information for the purpose of payment or our operations with your health insurer.
    • We will say “yes” unless a law requires us to share that information.
• Get a list of those with whom we’ve shared information.
  • You can ask for a list (accounting) of the times we’ve shared your health information for six years prior to the date you ask, who we shared it with, and why.
  • We will include all the disclosures except for those about treatment, payment, and health care operations, and certain other disclosures (such as any you asked us to make). We’ll provide one accounting a year for free but will charge a reasonable, cost-based fee if you ask for another one within 12 months.
• Get a copy of this privacy notice.
  • You can ask for a paper copy of this notice at any time, even if you have agreed to receive the notice electronically. We will provide you with a paper copy promptly.
• Choose someone to act for you.
  • If you have given someone medical power of attorney or if someone is your legal guardian, that person can exercise your rights and make choices about your health information.
  • We will make sure the person has this authority and can act for you before we take any action.
• File a complaint if you feel your rights are violated.
  • You can complain if you feel we have violated your rights by contacting us using the information on page 1.
  • You can file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights by sending a letter to 200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20201, calling 1-877-696-6775, or visiting www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints/ .
  • We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

Your Choices

• For certain health information, you can tell us your choices about what we share. If you have a clear preference for how we share your information in the situations described below, talk to us. Tell us what you want us to do, and we will follow your instructions.
  • In these cases, you have both the right and choice to tell us to:
    • Share information with your family, close friends, or others involved in your care.
    • Share information in a disaster relief situation.
    • Include your information in a hospital directory.
    • Contact you for fundraising efforts.
    • If you are not able to tell us your preferences, for example if you are unconscious, we may go ahead and share your information if we believe it is in your best interest. We may also share your information when needed to lessen a serious and imminent threat to health or safety.
  • In these cases, we never share your information unless you give us written permission:
    • Marketing purposes
    • Sale of your information
    • Most sharing of psychotherapy notes

Other Uses and Disclosures

• We can use your health information and share it with other professionals who are treating you.
• We can use and share your health information to run our practice, improve your care, and contact you when necessary.
• We can use and share your health information to bill and get payment from health plans or other entities.
• We are allowed or required to share your information in ways that contribute to the public good, such as public health and research. We have to meet many conditions in the law before we can share our information for these purposes. For more information see: www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/consumers/index.html .
  • Help with public safety issues
  • Do research
  • Comply with the law
  • Respond to organ and tissue donation requests
  • Work with a medical examiner or funeral director
  • Address workers’ compensation, law enforcement, and other government requests
  • Respond to lawsuits and legal actions

Our Responsibilities

• We are required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information.
• We will let you know promptly if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your information.
• We must follow the duties and privacy practices described in this notice and give you a copy of it.
• We will not use or share your information other than as described here unless you tell us we can in writing. If you tell us we can, you may change your mind at any time. Let us know in writing if you change your mind.
• For more information see: www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/consumers/noticepp.html .

Changes to the Terms of This Notice

We can change the terms of this notice, and the changes will apply to all information we have about you. The new notice will be available upon request, in our office, and on our web site.

Data Sharing

• Customer data is not shared with 3rd parties for promotional or marketing purposes.
• Mobile opt-in and consent are never shared with anyone for any purpose. Any information sharing that may be mentioned elsewhere in this policy excludes mobile opt-in data.

Viewpoint Psychological Services Messaging Terms and Conditions

1. The messaging program consists exclusively of appointment changes, confirmation, and rescheduling of appointments, as well as requests to complete patient portal paperwork.
   • Message frequency may vary.
   • Message and data rates may apply.
   • Reply STOP to cancel SMS messages at any time.
   • Reply HELP for help, or contact us at 859-442-8439 or staff@viewpointpsych.com
2. You can cancel the SMS service at any time. Just text ‘STOP’ to the phone number from which you received messages. After you send the SMS message ‘STOP’ to us, we will send you an SMS message to confirm that you have been unsubscribed. After this, you will no longer receive SMS messages from us. If you want to join again, just sign up as you did the first time and we will start sending SMS messages to you again.
3. If you are experiencing issues with the messaging program you can reply with the keyword HELP for more assistance, or you can get help directly at staff@viewpointpsych.com, call us at 859-442-8439.
4. Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages.
5. As always, message and data rates may apply for any messages sent to you from us and to us from you. Message frequency will vary based on communication needs. If you have any questions about your text plan or data plan, it is best to contact your wireless provider.
6. If you have any questions regarding privacy, please read our privacy policy contained in the rest of this document/page, or please contact our office staff at 859-442-8439, or staff@viewpointpsych.com.