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Privacy Policy

Notice of Privacy Practices

Pathway Counseling Services, P.C.

755 West Carmel Drive, Suite 205, Carmel, IN 46032

Effective Date: March 1, 2005

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

This Notice describes the practices of Pathway Counseling Services, P.C. in connection with the use and disclosure of your health information and your rights and certain obligations we have regarding the use and disclosure of your health information.  It applies to Carla Morgan, Ph.D., HSPP and any other health care professionals within Pathway Counseling Services, P.C., who are involved in your care and/or are authorized to enter information into your records, and all of the employees, staff and other personnel working for Pathway Counseling Services, P.C.  We are required by law to maintain the privacy of your health  information and to provide you with this Notice describing our privacy practices.  We are required to abide by the terms of this Notice, as it is modified from time to time.

WE MAY MAKE CHANGES TO THIS NOTICE IN THE FUTURE, AND ANY OF THE TERMS OF THIS NOTICE THAT ARE CHANGED WITH APPLY TO ALL OF YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION.  IF WE CHANGE OUR NOTICE, YOU MAY OBTAIN A COPY OF THE REVISED NOTICE BY REQUESTING IT IN PERSON AT ANY OF OUR SITES OR BY SENDING A WRITTEN REQUEST FOR A COPY TO OUR PRIVACY OFFICER AT THE ABOVE ADDRESS.  [YOU MAY ALSO REVIEW OUR NOTICE ON OUR WEB PAGE AT www.pathwaycounselingservices.org]

How we may use or disclose your health information

We are permitted or required to use your health information for various purposes.  we cannot describe every possible use or disclosure of your health information in this Notice.  However, uses or disclosures that we are permitted or required to make will generally fall within one of the following categories:

For Treatment.  We may use and disclose health information about you in order to ensure that you receive proper treatment.  For example, we may disclose your health information to another health care provider involved in your care.  

For Payment.  We may use and disclose medical information about you so that we obtain payment for the treatment and services we provide to you from another third party. 

For Health Care Operations.  We may use and disclose medical information about you for our healthcare operations.  Healthcare operations are activities that are necessary to run our offices, maintain licensure, and to make sure that our patients receive quality care.  For example, we may use your health information to review your treatment and  the services provided to you in order to evaluate the quality of care you were provided while under our care.

Appointment Reminders.  We may contact you or your personal representative with a reminder that you have an appointment with us.

Treatment Alternatives.  We may tell you about or recommend possible treatment options or alternatives that may be of interest to you.

Health-Related Benefits and Services.  We may tell you about health-related benefits or services that we provide that may be of interest to you.

Individuals Involved in Your Care or Payment for Your Care.  We may discuss your health care with family members or close personal friends who are involved in your health care or payment for that care.  You have the right to restrict or refuse any of these uses or disclosures.

As Required by Law.  We will disclose health information about you when required to do so by federal, state or local law (i.e. reporting the abuse of a dependent).  

To Avert a Serious Threat to Health or Safety.  We may use and disclose health information about you when necessary to prevent a serious threat to your health and safety or the health and safety of the public or another person.  Any disclosure, however, would only be to someone able to prevent the threatened harm.

Worker's Compensation.  We may release health information about you for worker's compensation or similar programs that provide benefits for work-related injuries or illness as required or permitted by law if you are injured at work.  

Health Oversight Activities.  We may disclose your medical information to a health oversight agency such as licensing boards for activities authorized by law.

Lawsuits and Disputes.  We may disclose health information about you in response to a court or administrative order, a subpoena, discovery request, or other lawful process, but only if efforts have been made to tell you about eh request or to obtain an order protecting the information requested.

Law Enforcement.  Under certain circumstances, we may release information about you if asked to do so by a law enforcement official.

Limited Data Sets.  We may use or disclose certain information that does not directly identify you for research, public health or health care operations if the recipient of that information agrees to protect the information.

Certain types of health information are subject to more stringent protections under state law than those described above.  For example, mental health records, HIV related information and drug and/or alcohol abuse or dependence is subject to special protections.

Disclosures with your authorization

We must obtain your authorization before we release psychotherapy notes prior to engaging in certain marketing activities.  we are also required to obtain your authorization to use or disclose health information in those situations not otherwise described in this Notice.  if you do authorize us to use or disclose your health information, you have the right to revoke that authorization at any time.

Your rights in connection with your health information

You have the following right in connection with the health information we mentioned about you:

Right to Inspect and Copy.  You have the right to inspect and copy your health information that is in our possession.  You may not, however, have access to psychotherapy notes or information that is put together for use in a civil, criminal or administrative proceeding.  To inspect or copy your health information, you must submit your request in writing to our office.  If you request a copy of the information, we may charge a fee for the costs of copying, mailing, or other supplies associated with your request.  We may deny your request to inspect or copy your health information in certain, very limited circumstances.  If you are denied access to your health information you may be able to request that the denial be reviewed.

Right to Request Amendment.  If you feel that your health information is incorrect or incomplete, you may ask us to amend that information.  You have the right to request an amendment for as long as the information is kept by our offices.  To request an amendment, your request must e made in writing and submitted to our office.  You must explain why you believe that your health information in incorrect or incomplete.  If we deny your request, you have the right to give us a short statement to be placed with your health information or to have us include your request for an amendment with your health information.

Right to Accounting of Disclosures.  You have the right to request, and we must provide you with, a list of certain of our disclosures of your health information.  We are not required to include on that list disclosures to carry out your treatment, payment for your care, and our health care operations and certain other disclosures.  To request this list or accounting of disclosures, you must submit your request in writing to our office.  Your request must state a time period covered by your request.  That time period may not be longer than six years and may not include dates before March 1, 2005.  Your request should indicate in what form you want he list (for example, on paper or electronically).  The fires list you request within a 12 month period will be free.  For additional lists, we may charge you for the costs of providing the list.  We will notify you of the cost involved and you may choose to withdraw or modify your request at that time, before any costs are incurred.

Right to Request Restrictions.  You have the right to request a restriction or limitation on the health information we use or disclose about you for treatment, payment or health care operations.  You also have the right to request a limit on the medical information we disclose about you to someone who is involved in your care or the payment of your care.  We are not required to agree to your request.  To request restrictions, you must make your request in writing to our office.

Right to Request Confidential Communications.  You have the right to request that we communicate with you about health-related matters in a certain way or at a certain location.  For example, you can ask that we contact you only at work or by mail.  Your request must specify how or where you whish to be contacted.  To request confidential communications, you must make your request tin writing to our office.  We will not ask you the reason for your request, and we will accommodate all reasonable requests.

Right to a Paper Copy of this Notice.  You may ask us to give you a copy of this notice at any time by asking for it in person or in writing.  Even if you have agreed to receive this notice electronically, you are still entitled to a paper copy of this notice.  [You may also obtain a copy of this notice at our website, www.pathwaycounselingservices.org]

Complaints

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with us or with the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  To file a complaint with us, contact our office in writing.  You will not be penalized for filing a complaint.

If you have questions about this notice, please contact Carla Morgan, Ph.D., HSPP, the Privacy Officer, at 317-650-0851.