Your Privacy Matters

At Sycamore Mental Health & Wellness, protecting your privacy is an important part of providing quality psychiatric care.

This Notice of Privacy Practices explains how your protected health information ("PHI") may be used and disclosed, your privacy rights, and our legal responsibilities under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Please read this notice carefully. If you have questions, we are happy to discuss them with you.

Our Commitment to You

We are required by law to:

• Maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information.

• Provide you with this Notice of Privacy Practices.

• Follow the privacy practices described in this notice.

• Notify you if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your information, as required by law.

How We May Use and Disclose Your Health Information

We may use or disclose your health information without your written authorization for the following purposes:

Treatment

We may use your health information to provide psychiatric evaluation, diagnosis, medication management, treatment planning, and supportive therapeutic interventions.

When appropriate, we may communicate with:

• Your pharmacy

• Other healthcare providers involved in your care

• Hospitals or emergency departments

• Laboratories or diagnostic facilities

We generally will obtain your written authorization before sharing information with other providers for purposes beyond treatment, payment, or healthcare operations, unless disclosure is otherwise permitted or required by law.

Payment

We may use or disclose your health information to:

• Submit claims to your insurance company

• Verify insurance eligibility

• Obtain prior authorization

• Collect payment for services

• Provide billing information related to your care

Healthcare Operations

We may use your information to:

• Improve the quality of care we provide

• Maintain accurate medical records

• Conduct internal quality improvement activities

• Meet legal and regulatory requirements

• Train staff or contractors who support our operations, when permitted by law and subject to appropriate confidentiality obligations

Uses Requiring Your Written Authorization

Except as otherwise permitted or required by law, we will obtain your written authorization before:

• Sharing information with family members or friends who are not involved in your care

• Releasing records to schools, employers, attorneys, or other third parties

• Using or disclosing psychotherapy notes, if applicable

• Using your information for marketing purposes where authorization is required

• Selling your protected health information

You may revoke an authorization at any time in writing, except to the extent action has already been taken in reliance on your authorization.

Situations Where We May Be Required or Permitted to Share Information

Federal or state law may require or permit us to disclose health information without your authorization in certain circumstances, including:

• Medical emergencies

• To prevent or lessen a serious threat to your health or safety or the health or safety of another person

• Suspected child abuse or neglect

• Suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a vulnerable or protected adult, when required by law

• Certain public health activities

• Court orders or other lawful legal processes

• Law enforcement requests, when permitted by law

• Workers' compensation claims

• Health oversight activities

We will disclose only the information necessary to comply with applicable legal requirements.

Telehealth Privacy

Telehealth appointments are conducted using secure technology designed to protect your privacy.

Although reasonable safeguards are used, no electronic communication system can guarantee complete security.

Patients are encouraged to participate in telehealth visits from a private location whenever possible.

Your Privacy Rights

You have the right to:

Request Access

You may request access to your medical records, subject to applicable federal and state laws.

Request Corrections

If you believe information in your record is inaccurate or incomplete, you may request that it be amended.

Request Restrictions

You may request restrictions on certain uses or disclosures of your health information. While we will consider your request, we are not always required to agree.

Request Confidential Communications

You may request that we communicate with you in a specific way or at a specific location.

Receive an Accounting of Disclosures

You may request a list of certain disclosures of your protected health information made outside of treatment, payment, and healthcare operations.

Receive a Paper Copy

You have the right to receive a paper copy of this Notice at any time, even if you previously agreed to receive it electronically.

Our Responsibilities

Sycamore Mental Health & Wellness reserves the right to update this Notice of Privacy Practices.

Any revised notice will apply to all protected health information maintained by the practice and will be made available upon request and posted as required.

Questions or Concerns

If you have questions about this Notice or believe your privacy rights have been violated, please contact Sycamore Mental Health & Wellness.

You also have the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights. Filing a complaint will not affect your care or result in retaliation.

Thank you for trusting Sycamore Mental Health & Wellness with your care.

We are committed to protecting your privacy while providing compassionate, evidence-based psychiatric treatment.