Scott Family Services, LLC (referred to as “Scott Family Services,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is required by the Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) to maintain the confidentiality of all medical and mental health records, as well as other individually identifiable health information in our possession. This Notice informs you of how we may use and disclose confidential information, Scott Family Services’ legal duties with respect to confidential information, and your rights. This Notice is effective as of January 1, 2024, and will remain in effect until replaced.
Our Commitment to Medical and Behavioral Health Information Privacy
We understand that information about you and your health is personal, and we are committed to protecting your privacy. The following sections describe the ways in which we may use and disclose your Protected Health Information (PHI).
Ways We May Use and Disclose Your PHI
Disclosure at Your Request We may disclose information at your request, which may require written authorization.
For Treatment We may use or disclose information for providing, coordinating, or managing treatment and related services.
For Payment We may use and disclose information to bill and collect payment from you, an insurance company, or a third party. For instance, we may need to give information to your health plan for reimbursement purposes.
Health Care Operations We may use and disclose information to run our organization and ensure quality care. This includes reviewing our services and evaluating our staff’s performance.
Incidental Uses and Disclosures Certain incidental uses or disclosures of health information may occur as we provide services. For example, individuals waiting in a shared area may hear your name called. We take reasonable steps to limit such incidental disclosures.
Members of Our Workforce Our workforce members may share client health information to the extent necessary to perform their legitimate duties while respecting your confidentiality.
Business Associates Scott Family Services may contract certain individuals or entities, such as data processors or legal services. We may disclose health information to these business associates as needed, and they are required to maintain confidentiality.
Appointment Reminders We may use or disclose information to remind you about appointments.
Family Members or Designated Individuals We may share information with family members or others you designate as caregivers, as long as the information is directly relevant to their involvement in your care. You may request that we withhold certain information.
As Required by Law We will disclose information as required by federal, state, or local law.
Research We may conduct studies to advance care. Generally, we ask for your authorization for research, but under limited circumstances, we may use or disclose your information without authorization if legally permitted.
Special Situations Not Requiring Authorization
Public Health Activities We may disclose information for public health purposes, such as:
- Disease prevention or control
- Reporting abuse or neglect
- Notifying a person of potential exposure to a disease
Required by Law We will use and disclose your information if required by law in specific situations, such as to prevent serious harm or comply with court orders.
Multidisciplinary Personnel Teams We may disclose information to multidisciplinary teams for the prevention, management, or treatment of abuse.
Therapy Notes Therapy notes are kept separate from medical records. We may use or disclose them as required by law or for specific purposes, such as training or legal defense.
Your Rights Regarding Medical and Behavioral Health Information
Right to Inspect and Copy You have the right to inspect and obtain copies of your information.
Right to Amend If you feel that information we have about you is incorrect or incomplete, you can request an amendment.
Right to an Accounting of Disclosures You may request a list of certain disclosures of your information, excluding those made for treatment, payment, or health care operations.
Right to Request Restrictions You may request restrictions on the use or disclosure of information for treatment, payment, or health care operations.
Right to Request Confidential Communications You may request communications in a specific way, such as by email or at a particular location.
Right to a Paper Copy of This Notice You may request a paper copy of this Notice at any time.
Changes to This Notice
Scott Family Services reserves the right to change this Notice at any time. Changes will apply to the information we already have, as well as any new information received in the future. We will post the current Notice with the effective date at our facility and on our website.
Complaints
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with us and/or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Civil Rights:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Civil Rights
90 7th Street, Suite 4-100
San Francisco, CA 94103
Attention: OCR Regional Manager
Phone: (800) 368-1019
Fax: (202) 619-3818
TDD: (800) 537-7697
Email: OCRmail@hhs.gov
Scott Family Services, LLC will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.