HIPAA Privacy & Practice Policies
A. Purpose & Scope
This Notice describes how your Protected Health Information (PHI) may be used and disclosed, and how you can access it. Ready Psych Go is committed to safeguarding your privacy and security in accordance with HIPAA's Privacy and Security Rules. This Notice applies to all psychotherapy services provided in person and via telehealth.
B. Our Legal Duties
We are legally required to (1) maintain the privacy of your PHI and protect electronic PHI (ePHI) with appropriate safeguards; (2) provide you with this Notice of Privacy Practices and follow it; and (3) notify you without unreasonable delay if a breach of unsecured PHI occurs.
C. Definitions PHI
Individually identifiable health information related to your health, care, or payment. Psychotherapy Notes: A therapist's notes analyzing counseling session content; kept separate from the medical record and subject to heightened protections. TPO: Treatment, Payment, and Healthcare Operations.
D. Information We Collect
We collect the minimum necessary information: demographics (name, contact, DOB); clinical PHI (presenting concerns, history, diagnoses, treatment plans, progress notes); psychotherapy notes (maintained separately); administrative details (appointments, modality), billing/insurance; and emergency contacts.
E. Uses & Disclosures Without Authorization
We may use/disclose PHI for Treatment (coordination with providers), Payment (insurance claims), and Healthcare Operations (quality assurance, compliance). We may disclose PHI when required by law (e.g., mandatory reporting), or to prevent a serious and imminent threat to health or safety. Psychotherapy notes require your specific written authorization and are not disclosed for TPO purposes, except when required by law.
F. Other Uses & Disclosures With Authorization
We will obtain your written authorization before disclosing psychotherapy notes, using PHI for marketing, or any use not described in this Notice. You may revoke any authorization in writing, except to the extent already relied upon.
G. Your Rights
You have the right to access and obtain copies of your PHI (excluding psychotherapy notes); request amendments; request restrictions on disclosures; receive confidential communications; obtain an accounting of certain disclosures; and receive a paper or electronic copy of this Notice.
H. Our Security Practices (HIPAA Security Rule)
We use administrative (training, policies, access controls), physical (facility/device security), and technical (encryption, authentication, audit logs) safeguards, plus backups and disaster recovery, to protect PHI.
I. Telehealth & Electronic Communications
Telehealth sessions use HIPAA-compliant platforms. We will discuss communication preferences and any residual risks of email/SMS. Please ensure a private setting for remote sessions.
J. Breach Notification, Complaints, & Changes
We will notify you following a breach of unsecured PHI within required timelines. You may file privacy complaints with Ready Psych Go or HHS/OCR; we will not retaliate. We may revise this Notice and will post updates in-office and online.
K. Practice Policies
Self-referrals are welcomed. Your general physician does not need to refer you for psychological services, as you may seek them out on your own. Late cancellations/no-shows may incur fees not billable to insurance.