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.

Metro Psychotherapy & Counseling ("we" or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. We are required by federal law to maintain the privacy of Protected Health Information (“PHI”), which is information that identifies or could be used to identify you. We are also required to provide you with this Notice of Privacy Practices (this “Notice”), which explains Metro Psychotherapy & Counseling's legal duties and privacy practices and your rights regarding PHI that we collect and maintain.


YOUR RIGHTS

*Information obtained as part of the SMS consent process will not be shared with third parties. ( NO SMS consent will be shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing purposes.)


Your rights regarding PHI are explained below. To exercise these rights, please submit a written request to Metro Psychotherapy & Counseling at the address noted below.

To inspect and copy PHI.
• You can ask for an electronic or paper copy of PHI. We may charge you a reasonable fee.
• We may deny your request if we believe the disclosure will endanger your life or another person's life. You may have a right to have this decision reviewed.

To amend PHI.
• You can ask to correct PHI you believe is incorrect or incomplete. We may require you to make your request in writing and provide a reason for the request.
• We may deny your request. We will send a written explanation for the denial and allow you to submit a written statement of disagreement.

To request confidential communications.
• You can ask us to contact you in a specific way. We will say “yes” to all reasonable requests.

To limit what is used or shared.
• You can ask us not to use or share PHI for treatment, payment, or business operations. We are not required to agree if it would affect your care.
• If you pay for a service or health care item out-of-pocket in full, you can ask us not to share PHI with your health insurer.
• You can ask for us not to share your PHI with family members or friends by stating the specific restriction requested and to whom you want the restriction to apply.

To obtain a list of those with whom your PHI has been shared.
• You can ask for a list, called an accounting, of the times your health information has been shared. You can receive one accounting every 12 months at no charge, but you may be charged a reasonable fee if you ask for one more frequently.

To receive a copy of this Notice.
• You can ask for a paper copy of this Notice, even if you agreed to receive the Notice electronically.

To choose someone to act for you.
• If you have given someone medical power of attorney or if someone is your legal guardian, that person can exercise your rights.

To file a complaint if you feel your rights are violated.
• You can file a complaint by contacting us using the following information:
Metro Psychotherapy Counseling, LCSW, PLLC
825 East Gate Blvd, Suite 205
Garden City, New York 11530
Privacy Officer: Lucas Mayrsohn
(516) 738-4844  

• You can file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights by sending a letter to 200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20201, calling 1-877-696-6775, or visiting www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints/.
• We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

To opt out of receiving fundraising communications.
• We may contact you for fundraising efforts, but you can ask not to be contacted again.


OUR USES AND DISCLOSURES
1. Routine Uses and Disclosures of PHI
We are permitted under federal law to use and disclose PHI, without your written authorization, for certain routine uses and disclosures, such as those made for treatment, payment, and the operation of our business. We typically use or share your health information in the following ways:

To treat you.
• We can use and share PHI with other professionals who are or may be treating you.
• Example: Your primary care doctor asks about your mental health treatment.

To run the health care operations.
• We can use and share PHI to run the business, improve your care, and contact you.
• Example: We use PHI to send you appointment reminders if you choose.

To bill for your services.
• We can use and share PHI to bill and get payment from health plans or other entities.
• Example: We give PHI to your health insurance plan so it will pay for your services.

2. Uses and Disclosures of PHI That May Be Made Without Your Authorization or Opportunity to Object
We may use or disclose PHI without your authorization or an opportunity for you to object, including:

To help with public health and safety issues
• Public health: To prevent the spread of disease, assist in product recalls, and report adverse reactions to medication.
• Required by the Secretary of Health and Human Services: We may be required to disclose your PHI to the Secretary of Health and Human Services to investigate or determine our compliance with the requirements of the final rule on Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information.
• Health oversight: For audits, investigations, and inspections by government agencies that oversee the health care system, government benefit programs, other government regulatory programs, and civil rights laws.
• Serious threat to health or safety: To prevent a serious and imminent threat.
• Abuse or Neglect: To report abuse, neglect, or domestic violence.

To comply with law, law enforcement, or other government requests
• Required by law: If required by federal, state or local law.
• Judicial and administrative proceedings: To respond to a court order, subpoena, or discovery request.
• Law enforcement: For law locate and identify you or disclose information about a victim of a crime.
• Specialized Government Functions: For military or national security concerns, including intelligence, protective services for heads of state, or your security clearance.
• National security and intelligence activities: For intelligence, counterintelligence, protection of the President, other authorized persons or foreign heads of state, for the purpose of determining your own security clearance and other national security activities authorized by law.
• Workers' Compensation: To comply with workers' compensation laws or support claims.

To comply with other requests
• Coroners and Funeral Directors: To perform their legally authorized duties.
• Organ Donation: For organ donation or transplantation.
• Research: For research that has been approved by an institutional review board.
• Inmates: We created or received your PHI in the course of providing care.
• Business Associates: To organizations that perform functions, activities or services on our behalf.

3. Uses and Disclosures of PHI That May Be Made With Your Authorization or Opportunity to Object
Unless you object, We may disclose PHI:

To your family, friends, or others if PHI directly relates to that person's involvement in your care.

If it is in your best interest because you are unable to state your preference.

4. Uses and Disclosures of PHI Based Upon Your Written Authorization
We must obtain your written authorization to use and/or disclose PHI for the following purposes:

  • Marketing purposes

  • Sale of your information

  • Most sharing of psychotherapy notes except those included above

  • We are required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information. 

  • We will let you know promptly if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your information.

  • We must follow the duties and privacy practices described in this notice and give you a copy of it. 

  • We will not use or share your information other than as described here unless you tell us we can in writing. If you tell us we can, you may change your mind at any time. Let us know in writing if you change your mind. 


This Notice is effective on 11/28/21