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CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE FOR CLIENTSThis notice describes how therapy information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information. Please review it carefully.Keeping your therapy records confidentialWhat you need to know about SpeechCare, Inc.’s Confidentiality PolicySpeechCare, Inc. is committed to providing you with high quality therapy and to forming a relationship with you that is built on trust. That means respecting your privacy and confidentiality of your/your child’s therapy information. We protect the client’s privacy and confidentiality rights by creating and putting into practice policies and procedures that allow access to the client’s protected health information, whether written or oral, only for legitimate reasons. Healthcare providers must obtain an individual’s consent prior to using or disclosing protected health information (PHI) for treatment or health care operations. In the case of treatment, we require the client’s consent before we can share information with your physician or another therapist from another agency. Health care operations include such things as monitoring, compliance, and quality assurance. In these cases we will also need to ask for your consent. Your/Your Child’s Designated Record SetA designated record set is a group of
records maintained by SpeechCare, Inc. that includes billing records and
any item, collection, or grouping of information that includes personal
health information (PHI) that is used in whole or in part to make therapy
decisions. Health information is any information, whether written or oral,
that is created or received by a provider that relates to the past,
present, or future physical or mental health or condition of or
provision of healthcare to an individual. Whether this information
is stored in writing, on a computer, or other means, we will keep this
information in a safe and secure way that protects the client’s privacy
and confidentiality. Of course, the therapists and other professionals who
are involved in your/your child’s care need to access this information
in order to provide appropriate treatment for the client. Certain
information needs to be accessed by clerical staff for billing purposes. The client’s protected health information is private and confidentialYou, or anyone to whom you give written permission, or your legal representatives, have the right to read or get a copy of your protected health information. Your therapy record is the physical property of SpeechCare, Inc. Your individual rightsYou have individual rights to obtain complete current information concerning your diagnosis, treatment and prognosis in terms that you can understand, to ask for restrictions on your protected health information (but the provider does not have to comply to unreasonable requests), to inspect and copy your information, to amend your information, to designate a personal representative(s) to have reasonable access, to receive an accounting of disclosures of your protected health information made within the last six years, and the right to complain. If you wish to amend your protected health information, you may do so in writing. You then need to designate who will receive a copy of this amendment. Requests to review your therapy record should be made in writing and sent to: SpeechCare, Inc., 5989 Meadow Lark Lane, East Petersburg, PA 17520, attention Roberta Kornfield, privacy officer and review officer. We are obliged to act on this request within thirty (30) days. A fee will be charged to cover the cost of supplies, labor and mailing, if applicable. How do we assure your privacy?SpeechCare, Inc. has put in place detailed policies regarding access to therapy records by our staff and employees and has carefully outlined the circumstances under which your protected health information may be released to parties outside the practice. These policies conform with state and federal law and are designed to safeguard your privacy. Our staff and employees are trained in the appropriate use of information and know that it is available to them only to continue to provide care to the client or for other limited but legitimate reasons. SpeechCare, Inc. makes efforts to limit information to the minimum necessary to accomplish the intended purpose of the use, disclosure, or request. A violation of confidentiality or the failure of an employee to protect client information from accidental or unauthorized access will not be tolerated. This may include the employee being fired from his or her job. We ask for your permissionWe do not allow others outside SpeechCare, Inc. to access the client’s protected health information unless we have the appropriate consent to do so. We will request your consent to release information at your first visit, or at a later date should the need arise. In the case of unemanicipated minors, the parents, legal guardian, or person acting in loco parentis has authority under applicable law to act on behalf of the minor. In the case where a translator is needed, you will be asked to give your permission for the translator to be present. We will ask for your consent to leave a message with a family member or on an answering machine. In addition, some laws prevent certain types of client information from being released without specific client permission. Examples include, but are not limited to: 1. Confidential details of:
2. HIV test results (Patient authorization required for EACH release request.) 3. Records pertaining to sexually transmitted diseases. 4. Alcohol and Drug Abuse Records that are protected by Federal Confidentiality Rules. Please note, however, that the law requires some information to be disclosed in certain circumstances. This includes threats made to others , and mandatory reports of abuse of children, the elderly, or persons who are disabled. Also, subpoenas or court orders may compel the disclosure of confidential or privileged health information in the context of a lawsuit or administrative proceeding. Therapy records are sometimes used for reasons other than client care. For example, records are periodically reviewed to evaluate the quality of care, or to be sure that SpeechCare, Inc. follows the rules of regulatory agencies for the efficient and effective utilization of care. Examples of these regulatory agencies include the Department of Public Welfare and the Department of Mental Retardation. Your insurance company or third party payor may request information that we are required to submit in order to provide and bill for your therapy. Anyone reviewing records must follow the same confidentiality laws and rules required of all health care providers. Client records are valuable tools used by researchers in finding the best possible treatments for disorders and medical conditions. All researchers must follow the same rules and laws that other health care workers are required to follow to insure the privacy of client information. In all research conducted within SpeechCare, Inc. concern for the client’s privacy and well-being is our first priority. Client records and information are de-identified whenever it is possible. If you have questions or complaintsIf you have questions about the privacy of your protected therapy records, please speak with your therapist, a member of SpeechCare’s office staff, or Roberta T. Kornfield, M.S.,CCC/SLP, privacy officer. We will be happy to help you. You can revoke your consent or authorization by placing your specific request in writing and mailing it to SpeechCare, Inc., 5989 Meadow Lark Lane, East Petersburg, PA 17520, attention Roberta Kornfield, privacy officer and review officer. Clients do have a right to complain to their therapist, to a member of SpeechCare’s office staff, or to Roberta T. Kornfield, M.S.,CCC/SLP, privacy officer, if they feel their privacy rights have been violated. They may also contact the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services at (202)619-0257 or 1-877-696-6775. Clients should be assured that SpeechCare, Inc. or its employees will not intimidate, threaten, coerce, discriminate against or take any other retaliatory action in response to anyone who exercises their rights under the regulations. SpeechCare, Inc. reserves the right to revise this notice of policies and procedures at any time. Effective 9/30/02 |
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