308 East 38th Street,
Suite 201
New York, NY 10016 – (917) 806-0155
THE NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES DESCRIBES HOW PSYCHOLOGICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.
Effective as of March 1, 2022
- Uses and disclosures for treatment, payment and health care operations.
We may use or disclose your protected health information (PHI), for treatment, payment and health care operations purposes with your consent. To help clarify these terms, here are some definitions:- “PHI” refers to information in your health record that could identify you.
- “Treatment, Payment and Healthcare Operations”
- Treatment is when we provide, coordinate or manage your health care and other services related to your healthcare. An example of treatment would be when we consult another health care provider, such as your family physician or another therapist.
- Payment is when we obtain reimbursement for your health care. Examples of payment are when we disclose your PHI to your health insurer to obtain reimbursement for your health care or to determine eligibility or coverage.
- Health Care Operations are activities that relate to the performance and operation of our practice. Examples of health care operations are quality assessment and improvement activities, business-related matters such as audits and administrative services, and case management and care coordination.
- “Use” applies only to activities within our office such as sharing, employing, applying, utilizing, examining, and analyzing information that identifies you.
- “Disclosure” applies to activities outside of our office, such as releasing, transferring, or providing access to information about you to other parties.
- Uses and Disclosures Requiring Authorization
We may use or disclosure PHI for purposes outside of treatment, payment, and health care operations when your appropriate authorization is obtained. An “authorization” is written permission above and beyond the general consent that permits only specific disclosures. In those instances when we are asked for operations, we will obtain an authorization from you before releasing this information. We will also need to obtain a separate and specific authorization before releasing your psychotherapy notes. “Psychotherapy notes” are notes we have made about our conversation during a private, group, joint, or family counseling session, which we have kept separate from the rest of your psychological record. These notes are given a greater degree of protection than PHI. In addition, we will obtain an authorization from you before releasing your PHI for any uses and disclosures not described in the Privacy Notice.You may revoke all such authorizations (of PHI or psychotherapy notes) at any time, provided each revocation is in writing. You may not revoke an authorization to the extent that (1) we have relied on that authorization; or (2) if the authorization was obtained as a condition of obtaining insurance coverage, and the law provides the insurer the right to contest the claim under the policy. - Uses and Disclosures with Neither Consent nor Authorization
We may use or disclose PHI without your consent or authorization in the following circumstances:- Child Abuse: If, in our professional capacity, we know or suspect that a child under 18 years of age or an intellectually disabled, developmentally disabled, or physically impaired under 21 years of age has suffered or faces a threat of suffering any physical or mental wound, injury, disability or condition of a nature that reasonably indicates abuse or neglect, we are required by law to immediately report that knowledge or suspicion to Child Protective Services.
- Elder and Domestic Abuse: If we have reasonable cause to believe that an elder is being abused, neglected, or exploited or is in a condition which is the result abuse, neglect, or exploitation, we are required by law to immediately report such belief to the local police department.
- Judicial or Administrative Proceedings: If you are involved in a court proceeding and a request is made for information about your evaluation, diagnosis and treatment and the records thereof, such information is privileged under state law and we will not release this information without written authorization from you or your legally appointed representative, or a court order. The privilege does not apply when you are being evaluated for a third party or where the evaluation is court ordered. You will be informed in advance if this is the case.
- Serious Threat to Health or Safety: If we believe that you pose a clear and substantial risk of imminent serious harm to yourself or another person, we may disclose your relevant confidential information to public authorities, the potential victim, other professionals, and/ or your family I order to protect against such harm. If you communicate to us an explicit threat of inflicting imminent and serious physical harm or causing the death of one or more clearly identifiable victims, and we believe you have the intent and ability to carry out the threat, then we are required by law to take one or more of the following actions in a timely manner: 1) take steps to hospitalize you on an emergency basis, 2) establish and undertake a treatment plan calculated to eliminate the possibility that you will carry out the threat, and initiate arrangements for a second opinion risk assessment with another mental health professional, 3) communicate to a law enforcement agency and, if feasible, to the potential victim(s), or victim’s parent or guardian if a minor, all of the following information: a) nature of the threat, b) your identity, and c) the identity of the potential victim(s).
- Worker’s Compensation: If you file a worker’s compensation claim, we may be required to give your mental health information to relevant parties and officials.
For any further information or requests regarding our Privacy Policy please contact Ori Shinar, Psychologists NYC at (917) 806-0155 or by email at drshinar@psychologistsnyc.com.