Privacy Policy

Introduction

Stuart J. Nathan, Ph.D. and Associates are committed to treating and using protected health information about you responsibly. This notice describes the personal information we collect, and how and when we use or disclose the information.

This notice is effective immediately and applies to all protected health information as defined by federal regulations.

Understanding Your Medical Record/Health Information

Each time you visit our office, a record of your visit is made. Typically this record contains information about your visit including your diagnosis, test results, treatment and other pertinent healthcare data. This information, referred to as your health or medical record, serves as a:

Basis for planning your care and treatment;
Means of communication with other health professionals involved in your care;
Legal document outlining and describing the care you received;
Tool that you, or another payer (your insurance company) will use to verify that services billed were actually provided;
Basis for public health officials who might use this information to assess and/or improved state as well as national healthcare standards;
Tool that we can reference to ensure the highest quality of care and client satisfaction.

Understanding what is in your record and how your health information is used helps you to ensure its accuracy, determine what entities have access to your health information and make an informed decision when authorizing the disclosure of this information to other individuals.

Your Rights

You have certain rights under the federal privacy standards. These include:

The right to request restrictions on the use and disclosure of your protected health information;
The right to receive confidential communications concerning your medical condition and treatment;
The right to inspect and copy your protected health information;
The right to amend or submit corrections to your protected health information;
The right to receive an accounting of how and to whom your protected health information has been disclosed;
The right to receive a printed copy of this notice.

Our Responsibilities

Stuart J. Nathan, Ph.D. and Associates is required to:

Maintain the privacy of your health information;
Provide you with this notice as to our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to information we collect and maintain about you;
Abide by the terms of this notice;
Abide by the terms of this notice;
Notify you if we are unable to agree to a requested restriction;
Accommodate reasonable requests you may have regarding communication of health information via alternative means and locations.

As permitted by law we reserve the right to amend or modify our privacy policies and practices. These changes in our policies and practices may be required changes in federal and state laws and regulations.

Whatever the reason for these revisions, we will provide you with a revised notice on your next office visit. The revised policies and practices will be applied to all protected health information that we maintain. We will not use or disclose your health information without your authorization, except as described in this notice. We will also discontinue using or disclosing your health information after we have received a written revocation of the authorization according to procedures included in the authorization.

How We May Use or Disclose Your Health Information

Treatment: Your health information may be used by staff or disclosed to other health care professionals for the purpose of evaluating your health, diagnosing medical conditions and providing treatment. For example, results of tests and procedures will be available in your medical record to all health professionals who may provide treatment or who may be consulted.

Payment: Your insurance plan may request and receive information on dates of service, services provided and the medical condition being treated in order to pay for the services.

Operations: Your health information may be used as necessary to support day to day management and activities. For example, this information may be used to support budgeting, financial reporting, and activities to evaluate and promote quality.

Healthcare Oversight: Federal law allows us to release your information to an appropriate federal or state health oversight agency or public health authority.

Court Order/Law Enforcement: Your information may be disclosed to respond to a court order or subpoena, or to law enforcement agencies, without your permission, to support government audits and inspections and to facilitate law enforcement investigations. These may include allegations of child, adult, elder or domestic abuse, and threats to your health or safety.

Other Issues/Disclosures: Disclosure of your health information or its use for any purpose other than those listed above requires your specific written authorization. If you change your mind after authorizing a disclosure of your information, you may submit a written revocation of the authorization. Your decision to revoke the authorization will not affect or undo any use or disclosure of information that occurred before you notified us of your decision.

For More Information or to Report a Problem

If you have any questions, concerns or complaints or would like more information about this notice, please contact this office at 713.789.7560. If you believe that your rights have been violated, you may contact the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologist, 1.512.305.7700. You may also send a written complaint to the:

Office for Civil Rights
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Ave., S.W.
Room 509F, HHH Building
Washington, D.C. 20201