Effective date: April 14, 2003

 Atlee Counseling, LLC has been and will always be totally committed to maintaining your confidentiality. We will only release healthcare information about you in accordance with federal and state laws and ethics of the counseling profession.  This notice describes our policies related to the use and disclosure of your healthcare information. 

Uses and disclosures of your health information for the purposes of providing services: Providing treatment services, collecting payment and conducting healthcare operations are necessary activities for quality care.  State and federal laws allow us to use and disclose your health information for these purposes.

Treatment: We may need to use or disclose health information about you to provide, manage or coordinate your care or related services.  This could include consultants and potential referral sources.

Healthcare Operations: We may need to use information about you to review our treatment procedures and business activity. Information maybe used for certification, compliance and licensing activities.

Other uses or disclosures of your information which do not require your consent

There are some instances where we may be required to use and disclose information without your consent.  For example, but not limited to:

1.      Information you and/or your child or children report about physical or sexual abuse: by State Law, we are obligated to report this to the Department of Social Services.

2.       If you provide information that informs us that you are in danger of harming yourself or others. 

3.      Information to remind you of /or to reschedule appointments or treatment alternatives.

4.      Information shared with law enforcement if a crime is committed on our premises or against our staff or as required by law such as a subpoena or court order.

Client Rights

Right to request how we contact you

It is our normal practice to communicate with you at your daytime phone number you gave us when you scheduled your appointment, about health matters, such as appointment reminders etc.  Sometimes we may leave messages on your voicemail.  You have the right to request that our office communicate with you in a different way. 

Right to release your medical records

You may consent in writing to release your records to others.  You have the right to revoke this authorization, in writing, at any time.

Right to inspect and copy your medical and billing records

You have the right to inspect and obtain a copy of your information contained in our medical records.  To request access to your billing or health information, contact the office manager.  Under limited circumstance we may deny your request to inspect and copy. If you ask for a copy of any information, we may charge a reasonable fee for the costs of copying, mailing and supplies.

Right to add information or amend your medical records

If you feel that information contained in your medical record is incorrect or incomplete, you may ask us to add information to amend the record.  We will make a decision on your request with 60 days, or some cases within 90 days.  Under certain circumstances, we may deny your request to add or amend information.  If we deny your request, you have a right to file a statement that you disagree. Your statement and our response will be added to your record. To request an amendment, you must contact the office manager.  We will require you to submit your request in writing and to provide an explanation concerning the reason for your request.

Right to an accounting of disclosures

You may request an accounting of any disclosures, if any, we have made related to your medical information, except for information we used for treatment, payment, or health care operational purposes or that we shared with you or your family, or information that you gave us specific consent to release.  It also excludes information we were required to release. To receive information regarding disclosure made for a specific time period no longer than six years and after April 14, 2003, please submit your request in writing to the Privacy Officer.  We will notify you of the cost involved in preparing this list.

Right to request restrictions on uses and disclosures of your health information

You have the right to ask for restrictions on certain uses and disclosures of your health information. This request must be in writing and submitted to our office manager. However, we are not required to agree to such a request.

Right to complain

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, please contact us personally, and discuss your concerns.  If you are not satisfied with the outcome, you may file a written complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. An individual will not be retaliated against for filing such a complaint.

Right to receive changes in policy

You have the right to receive any future policy changes secondary to changes in state and federal laws. This can be obtained from the office manager.