HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices

The Health Insurance Portability Act (HIPAA) includes rules that health care providers must follow regarding personal medical record information. These new rules were designed by the U.S. Government to help you to understand how your medical record information can be used. These U.S. Government rules apply to every health care provider that transmits health information electronically.

Protected Health Information (PHI) means any information, including demographics, whether oral, electronic, or paper, which is created or received by a health care provider and relates to your health care or payment for the provision of health care. This includes the results of your tests, and notes written by providers, as well as your name, address, and telephone number.

This notice describes how medical record information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to your protected health information.

How Evil Plan Productions LLC (referred to as EPP LLC) Handles Your Medical Record Information

“Use” is the sharing of PHI among the employees of EPP LLC (consisting of therapists, student interns, and consultants) who work together for your improved mental health. All of your information is stored in a secured electronic medical record. Everyone who works at Evil Plan Productions, LLC is required to protect your medical record information. Health care professionals access your medical record information only when necessary, such as for treatment, payment, or health care operations.

Evil Plan Productions LLC Duties

EPP LLC, as required by state and federal laws, keeps all PHI secured, encrypted, and confidential. EPP LLC is required by law and will provide you with this Notice explaining the legal duties and privacy practices relating to your PHI. This Notice is posted in the office and a written copy will be provided to you upon request. EPP LLC is required to, and will follow, the rules of this Notice currently in effect.

Fulfillment of those Duties

EPP LLC staff, employees, and independent contracted therapists, shall access only the information necessary to perform their job and those who violate these rules are subject to discipline, up to and including termination.

Information about this Notice

The effective date of this Notice is July 1, 2024, and EPP LLC reserves the right to change the terms of this Notice in accordance with the HIPAA rules or other laws. From time to time, this Notice may be revised or updated and it will be posted in the office, posted on the EPP LLC website, and made available upon patient request.

Use and Discloses of PHI

Any uses and disclosures, other than those specified in this section, will be made only with your written authorization which may be later revoked by you, except to the extent that your authorization has already been relied upon.

Treatment

EPP LLC will use and disclose your PHI to provide, coordinate, for referrals, or continuing care outside of EPP LLC if need be. For example, treatment for a substance dependence disorder or eating disorder if medically necessary.

Payment

EPP LLC IS A DIRECT PAY PRIVATE PRACTICE. THERE IS NO TRANSMISSION, ELECTRONIC OR OTHERWISE, OF YOUR PHI FOR PAYMENT PURPOSES TO THE U.S. GOVERNMENT, MEDICARE, MEDICAID, TO ANY PRIVATE INSURANCE CARRIER, NOR ANY OTHER THIRD PARTY PAYOR UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE. Therefore, EPP LLC does not share any of your personal medical record information. However, your demographic information is shared with the bank to process your personal checks and/ or your credit card payment for medical services rendered at time of service.

Health Care Operations

Under certain limited circumstances, EPP LLC may use your PHI for various internal purposes such as monitoring and improving patient care, educational and training purposes, and for consultation purposes. An example would be that information from your assessment, or individual therapy notes would be presented as a case for consultation if you are in the DBT program.

Patient Contacts

At times, EPP LLC may use your PHI such as your name, address, e-mail address, or telephone number to contact you to provide appointment reminders or facilitate on-line electronic billing through EPP LLC’s secure patient portal. EPP may use your PHI to establish an account on our HIPAA-compliant Learning Management System.

Individuals Involved in Care and Notification

EPP LLC may not disclose PHI to your family members or friends involved in your care unless you provide written authorization.

Patient’s Rights with Respect to PHI Breach of PHI

If in the unlikely event of a breach of medical record information maintained by EPP LLC due to events such as fire, computer theft or hacking, you will be notified of such breach and circumstances as soon as practicable.

Right to Inspect and Copy

You have a right to inspect and copy your PHI maintained in your medical record. You or a person authorized by you may request a print-out of your medical record during regular business hours. To obtain a copy, please ask your individual therapist. A reasonable fee will be charged to cover the expense of providing that paper copy to you.

Right to Request an Amendment or Restriction

You have the right to request that your PHI maintained in the EPP LLC electronic medical record be amended. You may send in a written request to do so. The request should include a reason to support the amendment. EPP LLC may deny it. If it is denied, EPP LLC will give you a written explanation of the denial and explain your rights.

Right to Request Type of Communication

You have the right to ask EPP LLC to restrict the use or disclosure of your PHI to your family members or other persons involved in your care or to request that discussions about your condition or care be between only your and your therapist.

Right to Obtain a Paper Copy of the Notice of Privacy Practices

You may request a paper coy of this Notice of Privacy Practices at any time. Additionally, this Notice is posted in the office.

Complaints

If you believe that EPP LLC has violated your privacy rights and you want to file a complaint, you may send a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services, 200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20201. EPP LLC respects your right to file a complaint. EPP LLC would not legally or ethically take action against you for filing a complaint. EPP LLC reserves the right to maintain an environment that serves the best interests of its clients, their families, and the therapists.