Welcome to My Phoenix Therapist, LLC! My Phoenix Therapist, LLC and its affiliates (collectively “My Phoenix Therapist, LLC,” “we,” and “us”) respects your privacy. This privacy policy describes the types of personal data we collect and how we use personal data, with whom we share it, your rights and choices, and how you can contact us about our privacy practices. This policy does not apply to third-party websites, products, or services, even if they link to our services or site, and you should consider the privacy practices of those third parties carefully.
We obtain personal data about you when you set up services with us. Personal data is any information that relates to an identified or identifiable individual. The personal data that you provide directly to us through the site will be apparent from the context in which you provide the data. Specifically, we may collect your name, phone number and email address. Your information is used to set up your initial appointment and to create your client record on SimplePractice (a HIPAA-compliant, encrypted site). This info is kept confidential and is not sold or rented to marketers or third parties. Your client record is confidential unless you request in writing to have all or portions of such content released to a specifically named person/persons. Limitations of confidentiality are outlined in the Privacy Policy you sign prior to your first session.
You have choices regarding our use and disclosure of your personal data. You have the right not to enter your information on the website and choose a different provider. You have the right to opt out of appointment reminders by notifying us. You have the right to update or correct your information by notifying us of the changes. We make reasonable effort to ensure a level of security appropriate to the risk associated with the processing of personal data. Your personal data is accessible only to a limited number of personnel who need access to the information to perform their duties. Unfortunately, no data transmission or storage system can be guaranteed 100% secure. If you have reason to believe that your interaction with us is no longer secure, or that the security of your account has been compromised, please contact us immediately.
If you are a client, we retain your personal data as long as we are providing services to you. We retain personal data after we cease services to you to the extent necessary to comply with our legal and regulatory obligations.
We may change this privacy policy periodically and will post changes on our website.
If you have questions or complaints about this privacy policy, please contact us:
My Phoenix Therapist, LLC
34975 N. North Valley Parkway, Ste. 152, Bldg. 8
Phoenix, AZ 85086
602-492-1886
NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES
THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION.
PLEASE REVIEW THIS NOTICE CAREFULLY.
Your health record contains personal information about you and your health. This information about you that may identify you and that relates to your past, present or future physical or mental health or condition and related health care services is referred to as Protected Health Information (“PHI”). This Notice of Privacy Practices describes how we may use and disclose your PHI in accordance with applicable law, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”), regulations promulgated under HIPAA including the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules. It also describes your rights regarding how you may gain access to and control your PHI.
We are required by law to maintain the privacy of PHI and to provide you with notice of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to PHI. We are required to abide by the terms of this Notice of Privacy Practices. We reserve the right to change the terms of our Notice of Privacy Practices at any time. Any new Notice of Privacy Practices will be effective for all PHI that we maintain at that time. We will provide you with a copy of the revised Notice of Privacy Practices by posting a copy in our office, sending a copy to you in the mail upon request or providing one to you at your next appointment.
HOW WE MAY USE AND DISCLOSE HEALTH INFORMATION ABOUT YOU
For Treatment. Your PHI may be used and disclosed without authorization by those who are involved in your care for the purpose of providing, coordinating, or managing your health care treatment and related services. This includes consultation with clinical supervisors or other treatment team members.
For Payment. We may use and disclose PHI without authorization so that we can receive payment for the treatment services provided to you. Examples of payment-related activities are: making a determination of eligibility or coverage for insurance benefits, processing claims with your insurance company, reviewing services provided to you to determine medical necessity, or undertaking utilization review activities. If it becomes necessary to use collection processes due to lack of payment for services, we will only disclose the minimum amount of PHI necessary for purposes of collection.
For Health Care Operations. We may use or disclose without authorization, as needed, your PHI in order to support our business activities including, but not limited to, quality assessment activities, employee review activities, licensing, and conducting or arranging for other business activities. For example, we may share your PHI with third parties that perform various business activities (e.g., billing or typing services) provided we have a written contract with the business that requires it to safeguard the privacy of your PHI.
Required by Law. Under the law, we must disclose your PHI to you upon your request. In addition, we must make disclosures to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services for the purpose of investigating or determining our compliance with the requirements of the Privacy Rule.
Without Authorization. Following is a list of the other categories of uses and disclosures permitted by HIPAA without an authorization. Applicable law permits us to disclose information about you without your authorization only in a limited number of situations.
Child Abuse or Neglect. We may disclose your PHI to a state or local agency that is authorized by law to receive reports of child abuse or neglect.
Judicial and Administrative Proceedings. We may disclose your PHI pursuant to a subpoena (with your written consent), court order, administrative order or similar process.
Deceased Patients. We may disclose PHI regarding deceased patients as mandated by state law, or to a family member or friend that was involved in your care or payment for care prior to death, based on your prior consent. A release of information regarding deceased patients may be limited to an executor or administrator of a deceased person’s estate or the person identified as next-of-kin. PHI of persons that have been deceased for more than fifty (50) years is not protected under HIPAA.
Medical Emergencies. We may use or disclose your PHI in a medical emergency situation to medical personnel only in order to prevent serious harm. Our staff will try to provide you a copy of this notice as soon as reasonably practicable after the resolution of the emergency.
Family Involvement in Care. With your authorization or in an emergency situation we may disclose information to close family members or friends directly involved in your treatment.
Health Oversight. If required, we may disclose PHI to a health oversight agency for activities authorized by law, such as audits, investigations, and inspections. Oversight agencies seeking this information include government agencies and organizations that provide financial assistance to the program (such as third-party payors based on your prior consent) and peer review organizations performing utilization and quality control.
Law Enforcement. We may disclose PHI to a law enforcement official as required by law, in compliance with a subpoena (with your written consent), court order, administrative order or similar document, for the purpose of identifying a suspect, material witness or missing person, in connection with the victim of a crime, in connection with a deceased person, in connection with the reporting of a crime in an emergency, or in connection with a crime on the premises.
Specialized Government Functions. We may review requests from U.S. military command authorities if you have served as a member of the armed forces, authorized officials for national security and intelligence reasons and to the Department of State for medical suitability determinations, and disclose your PHI.
Public Health. If required, we may use or disclose your PHI for mandatory public health activities to a public health authority authorized by law to collect or receive such information for the purpose of preventing or controlling disease, injury, or disability, or if directed by a public health authority, to a government agency that is collaborating with that public health authority.
Public Safety. We may disclose your PHI if necessary to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to the health or safety of a person or the public. If information is disclosed to prevent or lessen a serious threat it will be disclosed to a person or persons reasonably able to prevent or lessen the threat, including the target of the threat.
Research. PHI may only be disclosed after a special approval process or with your authorization.
Fundraising. We will not send you fundraising communications without your authorization. You have the right to opt out of such fundraising communications with each solicitation you receive.
Verbal Permission. We may also use or disclose your information to family members that are directly involved in your treatment with your verbal permission.
With Authorization. Uses and disclosures not specifically permitted by applicable law will be made only with your written authorization, which may be revoked at any time, except to the extent that we have already made a use or disclosure based upon your authorization. In addition, authorization may be required for the use or disclosure of PHI if a more stringent state or federal law applies, such as substance abuse treatment information protected by 42 C.F.R. Part 2. The following uses and disclosures will be made only with your written authorization: (i) most uses and disclosures of psychotherapy notes which are separated from the rest of your medical record; (ii) most uses and disclosures of PHI for marketing purposes, including subsidized treatment communications; (iii) disclosures that constitute a sale of PHI (we will not sell your PHI); and (iv) other uses and disclosures not described in this Notice of Privacy Practices.
YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING YOUR PHI
You have the following rights regarding PHI we maintain about you. To exercise any of these rights, please submit your request in writing to our Privacy Officer at My Phoenix Therapist, LLC, 34975 N. North Valley Parkway, Ste 152, Bldg 8, Phoenix, AZ 85086.
Right of Access to Inspect and Copy. You have the right, which may be restricted only in exceptional circumstances, to inspect and copy PHI that is maintained in a “designated record set.” A designated record set contains mental health/medical and billing records and any other records that are used to make decisions about your care. Your right to inspect and copy PHI will be restricted only in those situations where there is compelling evidence that access would cause serious harm to you or if the information is contained in separately maintained psychotherapy notes. We may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee for copies. If your records are maintained electronically, you may also request an electronic copy of your PHI. You may also request that a copy of your PHI be provided to another person.
Protocol for Preservation of Patient Records. Pursuant to ARS 32-3211 and the requirements of the State of Arizona for the preservation of patient records, this is intended to inform all patients of My Phoenix Therapist, LLC and its providers and members (herein MPT) of their rights and obligations. Patients, or their representatives, may request copies of their records, in writing. MPT agrees to comply with Arizona law for the production of these records and will timely respond to any reasonable requests. MPT will maintain your records for a period of at least six years from the last date of service. MPT reserves the right to destroy your records. Should MPT exercise that right, MPT will first attempt to contact you and inform you of your right to obtain a copy of these records. MPT will attempt to contact you by email, at your last known email address, and will give you 30 days to respond and request in writing that your records not be destroyed. If you do not respond to this notice, you will be waiving your rights to have your records preserved. Should MPT or its providers retire their services, cease to practice, or sell the practice to another health care professional and the patient’s medical records will not remain in the same physical location, MPT will notify all eligible patients, by email, at least 30 days beforehand about the location of their records and how they may request copies of those records. The required notice will be sent to each eligible patient’s last known email address.
Right to Amend. If you feel that the PHI we have about you is incorrect or incomplete, you may ask us to amend the information although we are not required to agree to the amendment. If we deny your request for amendment, you have the right to file a statement of disagreement with us. We may prepare a rebuttal to your statement and will provide you with a copy. Please contact the Privacy Officer if you have any questions.
Right to an Accounting of Disclosures. You have the right to request an accounting of certain of the disclosures that we make of your PHI. We may charge you a reasonable fee if you request more than one accounting in any 12-month period.
Right to Request Restrictions. You have the right to request a restriction or limitation on the use or disclosure of your PHI for treatment, payment, or health care operations. We are not required to agree to your request unless the request is to restrict disclosure of PHI to a health plan for purposes of carrying out payment or health care operations, and the PHI pertains to a health care item or service that you paid for out of pocket. In that case, we are required to honor your request for a restriction.
Right to Request Confidential Communication. You have the right to request that we communicate with you about health matters in a certain way or at a certain location. We will accommodate reasonable requests. We may require information regarding how payment will be handled or specification of an alternative address or other method of contact as a condition for accommodating your request. We will not ask you for an explanation of why you are making the request.
Breach Notification. If there is a breach of unsecured PHI concerning you, we may be required to notify you of this breach, including what happened and what you can do to protect yourself.
Right to a Copy of this Notice. You have the right to a copy of this notice.
COMPLAINTS
If you believe we have violated your privacy rights, you have the right to file a complaint in writing with our Privacy Officer at My Phoenix Therapist, LLC, 34975 N. North Valley Parkway, Ste 152, Bldg 8, Phoenix, AZ 85086 or with the Secretary of Health and Human Services at 200 Independence Avenue, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20201 or by calling (800) 368-1019. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.
The effective date of this Notice is 3/16/2021.
Acknowledgement of Receipt of Privacy Notice
Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), you have certain rights regarding the use and disclosure of your protected health information.