NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES

HOW YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION MAY BE USED OR DISCLOSED

Treatment

Your information may be used as necessary to provide psychotherapy and manage your treatment.

Because New Jersey professional-counselor confidentiality law may provide greater protection than HIPAA alone, disclosures of information obtained during counseling will be made only as permitted by applicable New Jersey and federal law or with your written authorization when authorization is required.

When clinically appropriate, I may ask you to authorize communication with another healthcare or mental health provider to coordinate your care.

Payment

Information may be used or disclosed as permitted by law to obtain payment for services. For example, if you use health insurance, information necessary to submit and process a claim may be provided to your health plan.

Information submitted to an insurer may include your name, identifying information, dates and type of service, diagnosis, procedure codes, and other information required or permitted for payment purposes.

Healthcare Operations

Information may be used as permitted by law for activities necessary to operate the practice, such as quality improvement, compliance, billing, administrative functions, and business operations.

Business associates that perform services involving PHI on behalf of Center Within Therapy, LLC are required to appropriately safeguard that information as required by law.

USES AND DISCLOSURES THAT MAY OCCUR WITHOUT YOUR AUTHORIZATION

Your information may be used or disclosed without your written authorization when permitted or required by applicable law. Circumstances may include:

• When disclosure is required by federal or state law or regulation;

• When required in connection with an authorized investigation by the New Jersey State Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners, Professional Counselor Examiners Committee, or the Office of the Attorney General;

• When required by a valid order of a court of competent jurisdiction;

• When information indicates that you present a clear and present danger to the health or safety of yourself or another individual and disclosure is permitted or required by law;

• When required or permitted for certain public-health or health-oversight activities;

• When required for legally mandated reporting, including applicable reports concerning suspected abuse or neglect;

• For certain workers' compensation purposes when authorized by law;

• To coroners or medical examiners when authorized or required by law; or

• When otherwise expressly permitted or required under applicable state or federal law.

Where New Jersey law provides greater confidentiality protection than HIPAA, the New Jersey requirement will be followed.

FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS, AND OTHERS INVOLVED IN YOUR CARE

Your participation in therapy is confidential.

Information will not ordinarily be disclosed to family members, friends, partners, employers, or other persons simply because they are involved in your life or know that you receive services.

When permitted by applicable law, limited information may be disclosed to a person involved in your care or payment for your care when you agree, authorize the disclosure, or when another legally recognized exception applies.

Identification of someone as your emergency contact does not give that person general access to your treatment information or clinical record.