Counseling ·  Psychotherapy ·  Jungian Psychoanalysis

Rainer Maria Kohler, JD, NCPsyA
Jungian Psychoanalyst
80 C Seminary Avenue, Unit 264
Auburndale, MA 02466-2670
617-969-2314

NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES

I. THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.

II. I HAVE A LEGAL DUTY TO SAFEGUARD YOUR PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION (“PHI”).

This notice explains how I use and disclose your PHI. I am required by law to protect the privacy of your PHI, to provide you with this notice and follow the privacy practices described in it.

PHI includes information that I create or receive about your past, present, or future physical or mental health or condition, the provision of health care to you, or the payment for health care provided to you.

I may change the terms of this notice and my privacy practices at any time. Any change I make will apply to the PHI I already have as well as to any new PHI I create or receive. When I change my practices, I will promptly change this notice and post it in my office.

III. HOW I MAY USE AND DISCLOSE YOUR PHI.

I use and disclose PHI for many different reasons. Below, I describe the different reasons and give you some examples.

A. Use and Disclosure of PHI for Treatment, Payment, or Health Care Operations. I may use and disclose PHI for the following reasons:

1. For treatment. I may use and disclose PHI in order to provide therapy, counseling, treatment, and other services to you. For example, I may use and disclose PHI about you to consult with other professionals about your care. I will obtain your consent before disclosing your PHI for treatment purposes if state law requires me to do so.

2. For payment. I may use and disclose PHI in order to bill and collect payment for the treatment and services provided to you. For example, I may disclose PHI to your health plan to get paid for the health care services provided to you. I may also disclose PHI to billing companies and companies that process health care insurance claims. I will obtain your consent before disclosing your PHI for payment purposes if state law requires me to do so.

3. For health care operations. I may use and disclose your PHI in order to operate my practice. For example, I may use your PHI in order to evaluate the quality of services that you receive. I may also disclose your PHI to my accountants, attorneys, and others in order to make sure I am complying with the laws that affect me. I will obtain your consent before disclosing your PHI for the purposes of my health care operations if state law requires me to do so.

B. Other Uses of PHI. I may also use and disclose your PHI for the following reasons:

1. Reports required by law. I may disclose your PHI when legally required to do so. For example, I may use your PHI to make mandatory reports to various government agencies about suspected abuse, mistreatment, neglect, or exploitation of vulnerable people such as children and the elderly.

2. Health oversight. I may disclose your PHI to certain government agencies authorized by law to license, audit, inspect, or investigate health and mental health care providers and the health care system.

3. To avoid harm. Consistent with state law, I may disclose PHI to the police or other appropriate persons, in order to avoid a serious threat to the health or safety of a client, another person, or the public.

4. Appointment reminders, treatment alternatives, and health related benefits or services. I may use your PHI to give you appointment reminders; or give you information about treatment choices or other health or mental health care services or benefits I offer.

5. Legal proceedings. I may disclose your PHI pursuant to a valid court order, search warrant, and, under certain circumstances, in response to a subpoena or other discovery request.

6. As required by law. I will disclose your PHI when required to do so by federal or state law.

C. When My Use or Disclosure of PHI Requires Your Prior Written Authorization. I must ask for your written authorization for any use or disclosure of your PHI not described in Sections III-A or III-B above. If you authorize me to use or disclose your PHI, you can later withdraw the authorization and stop any future use or disclosure of your PHI based on it. You can withdraw an authorization by sending your written request to: Rainer Maria Kohler, JD, NCPsyA, at the address given above.

IV. YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING YOUR PHI.

A. Your Right to Request Limits on My Use and Disclosure of PHI. You may ask that I limit how I use and disclose your PHI. I will consider your request but am not legally required to agree to it. If I agree to your request, I will comply with your limits, except in emergency situations.

B. Your Right to Choose How I Send Your PHI to You. You may ask that I send information to you at a different address (for example, to your work address rather than your home address) or by different means (for example, by mail instead of telephone). I will agree to your request, as long as I can easily provide the information in the way you request

C. Your Right to View and Get a Copy of Your PHI. You have the right to view or obtain a copy of your PHI. Your request must be in writing. However, there are some circumstances in which I may deny your request. If I deny your request, I will tell you, in writing, my reason(s) for the denial and explain what appeal rights, if any, you have.

If you request a copy of your PHI, I may charge a fee for it if permitted to do so by law. Instead of providing the PHI you requested I might offer to give you a summary or explanation of the PHI, as long as you agree to it, and to the associated cost, in advance. To view or obtain a copy of your PHI, please send your written request to: Rainer Maria Kohler, JD, NCPsyA, at the address given above.

D. Your Right to a List of the Disclosures of Your PHI that I Have Made. You have the right to an accounting of instances in which I disclosed your PHI to others. Some disclosures will not be listed, however. For example, the list will not include disclosures made for the purpose(s) of treatment, payment, or health care operations, or disclosures that you authorized or that were made directly to you.

I will report disclosures made within the six years prior to your request, unless you request a shorter timeframe. However, my obligation to account for disclosures begins with disclosures made after April 13, 2003.

E. Your Right to Correct or Update Your PHI. If you feel that there is a mistake in your PHI, or that important information is missing, you may request a correction. Your request must be in writing and include the reason for the request. Your request must be made to: Rainer Maria Kohler, JD, NCPsyA, at the address given above.

I may deny your request for a variety of reasons. If I deny your request, I will inform you in writing of the reason(s) for the denial and explain your rights regarding your response to the denial. If I agree to your request, I will change your PHI, inform you of the change and tell others who need to know about the change to your PHI.

F. Your Right to a Paper Copy of This Notice. You have the right to a paper copy of this notice, even if you agreed to receive it electronically. You may request a paper copy at any time.

V. PERSONS TO CONTACT FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THIS NOTICE OR TO FILE A COMPLAINT ABOUT MY PRIVACY PRACTICES.

If you have any questions about this notice, wish to exercise any of the rights explained in it or file a complaint about my privacy practices, feel that I may violated your privacy rights, or disagree with a decision I made about your PHI, please contact: Rainer Maria Kohler, JD, NCPsyA, at the address given above.

You also may send a written complaint to: Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, J. F. Kennedy Federal Building, Boston, MA 02203. I will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

VI. EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS NOTICE.

This notice is effective as of November 2, 2003, and supercedes any and all prior versions of this notice.