Thank you for choosing "True Self Practice" ("a DBA of Your True Self Family Therapy"). We are committed to providing you with the highest quality of care. Please take a few minutes to read our privacy policies.
THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW HEALTH INFORMATION MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED, AND HOW YOU MAY ACCESS THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW CAREFULLY.
Confidentiality
We understand that health information is personal. We are committed to protecting health information about you. We will create a record of the care and services you receive from us. We need this record to provide you with quality care and to comply with certain legal requirements. This notice applies to all of the records of your care generated by this mental health care practice and explains how we may use and disclose health information about you. Described in this notice are your rights to the health information we keep about you, and certain obligations we have regarding the use and disclosure of your health information. By law, we are required to:
- Make sure that protected health information ("PHI") that identifies you is kept private.
- Give you this notice of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to health information.
- Follow the terms of the notice that is currently in effect.
- We can change the terms of this Notice, and such changes will apply to all information we have about you. The new notice will be available upon request, in our office, and on our website.
When Disclosure Is Required or May Be Required by Law
The following categories describe different ways we use and disclose health information. Not every specific use or disclosure in a category will be listed. However, all of the ways we are permitted to use and disclose information will fall within one of the categories:
- For Treatment, Payment, or Health Care Operations: Federal privacy rules (regulations) allow health care providers who have a direct treatment relationship with the patient/client to use or disclose the patient/client's personal health information without the patient's written authorization, to carry out the health care provider's own treatment, payment, or health care operations. We may also disclose your protected health information for the treatment activities of any health care provider. For example, if a clinician were to consult with another licensed health care provider about your condition, we would be permitted to use and disclose your personal health information in order to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of your mental health condition. Disclosures for treatment purposes are not limited to the minimum necessary standard because therapists and other health care providers need access to the full record in order to provide quality care.
- Lawsuits and Disputes: If you are involved in a lawsuit, we may disclose health information in response to a court or administrative order. We may also disclose health information in response to a subpoena, discovery request, or other lawful process by someone else involved in the dispute, but only if efforts have been made to tell you about the request or to obtain an order protecting the information requested.
When Disclosure Requires Your Authorization
- Psychotherapy Notes are made and kept. Any use or disclosure of such notes requires your authorization unless the use or disclosure is: for our use in treating you; for our use in training or supervising mental health practitioners; for our use in defending ourselves in legal proceedings; for use by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to investigate our compliance with HIPAA; required by law and limited to the requirements of such law; required by law for certain health oversight activities; required by a coroner performing duties authorized by law; or required to help avert a serious threat to the health and safety of others.
- As psychotherapists, we will not use or disclose your PHI for marketing purposes.
- As psychotherapists, we will not sell your PHI.
When Disclosure Does Not Require Your Authorization
Subject to certain limitations in the law, we can use and disclose your PHI without your authorization for reasons including:
- When disclosure is required by state or federal law.
- For public health activities, including reporting suspected child, elder, or dependent adult abuse, or preventing a serious threat to anyone's health or safety.
- For health oversight activities, including audits and investigations.
- For judicial and administrative proceedings, although our preference is to obtain an authorization from you first.
- For law enforcement purposes, including reporting crimes occurring on our premises.
- To coroners or medical examiners performing duties authorized by law.
- For research purposes.
- Specialized government functions, including national security and protective services.
- For workers' compensation purposes.
- Appointment reminders and health-related benefits or services: We may use and disclose your PHI to remind you of an appointment, or to tell you about treatment alternatives or other services we offer.
Certain Uses and Disclosures Requiring Your Objection
We may provide your PHI to a family member, friend, or other person that you indicate is involved in your care or the payment for your health care unless you object in whole or in part. The opportunity to consent may be obtained retroactively in emergency situations.
Your Rights With Respect to Your PHI
- The right to request limits on uses and disclosures of your PHI for treatment, payment, or health care operations purposes. We may say "no" if we believe it would affect your health care.
- The right to request restrictions for disclosures to health plans if the PHI pertains solely to a service you have paid for out-of-pocket in full.
- The right to choose how we send PHI to you, including contacting you in a specific way or at a different address.
- The right to see and get copies of your PHI, other than psychotherapy notes, within 30 days of a written request; a reasonable fee may apply.
- The right to get a list of disclosures we have made for purposes other than treatment, payment, or health care operations, covering the last six years, within 60 days of your request.
- The right to correct or update your PHI if you believe there is a mistake or missing information; we will respond in writing within 60 days.
- The right to get a paper or electronic copy of this notice at any time.
Effective Date of This Notice
This notice went into effect on January 1, 2024.
How to Complain About Our Privacy Practices
If you think we may have violated your privacy rights, you may file a complaint with us, as the Privacy Officer for our practice, at the following address and phone number:
True Self Practice
("a DBA of Your True Self Family Therapy")
1849 Sawtelle Blvd Suite 610
Los Angeles, California 90025-7013
1.424.361.9895
intake@trueselfpractice.com
You can also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights by:
We will not retaliate against you if you file a complaint about our practices.