HIPAA Policy

HIPAA 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 IT CAREFULLY.

The terms of this Notice of Privacy Practices apply to Matrix Behavior Solutions, LLC. We are required by law to maintain the privacy of protected health information (“PHI”) and to provide patients with notice of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to protecting your PHI. We are required to abide by the terms of this Notice of privacy practices (“Notice”) (or other notice in effect at the time of the use or disclosure). We reserve the right to change the terms of this notice as necessary and to make the new Notice effective for all PHI maintained by us. If we change this Notice, a copy may be obtained by mailing a request to Attention: Privacy Officer, Matrix Behavior Solutions, LLC, 175 East Brown Street, East Stroudsburg, PA 18301.

WE KEEP A RECORD OF THE HEALTH CARE SERVICES WE PROVIDE YOU. YOU MAY ASK US TO SEE AND COPY THAT RECORD. YOU MAY ALSO ASK US TO CORRECT THAT RECORD. WE WILL NOT DISCLOSE YOUR RECORD TO OTHERS UNLESS YOU DIRECT US TO DO SO OR UNLESS THE LAW AUTHORIZES OR COMPELS US TO DO SO. YOU MAY SEE YOUR RECORD OR GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT IT BY CONTACTING THE PRIVACY OFFICER AT THE ADDRESS LISTED ABOVE.

Your Authorization.

Except for the allowed and required uses and disclosures described in this Notice, we will use and disclose your health information only with written authorization from you. This includes, except for limited circumstances allowed by federal privacy laws, not using or disclosing psychotherapy notes about you, selling your health information to others, or using or disclosing your health information for certain promotional communications that are prohibited marketing communications under federal law, without your written authorization. Once you authorize us to release your health information, we cannot guarantee that the recipient we gave the information to is obligated to protect and will not further disclose your information. You may take back or “revoke” your written authorization at any time in writing. This will not apply to uses and disclosures we have already acted upon based on your initial authorization.

Uses and Disclosures for Treatment.

We use and disclose your PHI to provide treatment and other services to you–for example, to provide our services or to consult with specialists about your healthcare. We may also disclose PHI to other providers involved in your treatment.

Uses and Disclosures for Payment.

We may use and disclose of your PHI as necessary for payment purposes of those health professionals and facilities that have treated you or provided services to you. For example, we may forward information regarding services provided to your insurance company to arrange payment for the services provided to you.

Uses and Disclosures for Health Care Operations.

We may use and disclose your PHI for our health care operations, which include internal administration and planning and various activities that improve the quality of the care that we deliver to you.

Family and Friends Involved in Your Care.

With your approval, we may from time to time disclose your PHI to designated family, friends and others who are involved in your care. If you are unavailable, incapacitated, or facing an emergency medical situation and we determine that a limited disclosure may be in your best interest, we may share limited PHI with such individuals without your approval.

Business Associates.

Certain aspects and components of our services are performed through contracts with outside persons or organizations, such as auditing, accreditation, vendors, legal services, etc. At times, it may be necessary for us to provide certain of your PHI to one or more of these outside persons or organizations who assist us with our health care operations. In all cases, we require these business associates to appropriately safeguard the privacy of your PHI.

Other Uses and Disclosures.

We are permitted or required by law to make certain other uses and disclosures of your PHI without your consent or authorization.

We may use and disclose your PHI when required to do so by any applicable federal, state or local law.
We may release your PHI as required by law if we suspect child abuse or neglect.
We may also release your PHI as required by law if we believe you to be a victim of abuse, neglect, or domestic violence.
We may disclose your PHI as authorized by and to the extent necessary to comply with state law relating to workers compensation or other similar programs.
We may release your PHI if required by law to a government oversight agency conducting audits, investigations, or civil or criminal proceedings.
We may release your PHI to law enforcement officials as required by law to report wounds and injuries and crimes.

YOUR PRIVACY RIGHTS

Access to Your PHI.

You have the right to copy and/or inspect much of the PHI that we retain on your behalf. All requests for access must be made in writing and signed by you or your representative. If we maintain your PHI in electronic form, you may request to receive a copy in electronic form.

Amendments to Your PHI.

You have the right to request in writing that PHI that we maintain about you be amended or corrected. We are not obligated to make all requested amendments but will give each request careful consideration. All amendment requests, in order to be considered by us, must be in writing, signed by you or your representative and must state the reasons for the amendment/correction request. If we make an amendment or correction you request, we may also notify others who work with us and have copies of the uncorrected record if we believe that such notification is necessary.

Accounting for Disclosures of Your PHI.

You have the right to receive an accounting of certain disclosures made by us of your PHI. Requests must be made in writing and signed by you or your representative.

Restrictions on Use and Disclosure of PHI.

You have the right to request restrictions on certain of our uses and disclosures of your PHI for treatment, payment, or health care operations. We are not required to agree to your restriction request but will attempt to accommodate reasonable requests when appropriate and we retain the right to terminate an agreed-to restriction if we believe such termination is appropriate. In the event of a termination by us, we will notify you of such termination. You also have the right to terminate, in writing or orally, any agreed-to restriction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, we must agree to your request to restrict disclosure of your PHI to a health plan if the disclosure is for the purpose of carrying out payment or health care operations and is not otherwise required by law.

Confidential Communications.

You have the right to ask to receive confidential communications by asking us to send information by alternative means or at alternative locations — for example, to another address instead of your home address. You must make a written request to receive confidential communications or to cancel or change an earlier request. Please see the section called “Making a Written Request” for instructions. We will honor reasonable requests.

Secure Retention and Disposal of Your PHI.

We safeguard your PHI throughout our collection, use, and disclosure of that PHI in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations. Your PHI will be retained by in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, and then will be disposed of securely.

Notification of Breach.

In the event of a breach of the security of your PHI, we will provide you with a notification about the breach, including what steps we have taken in response to the breach and what you may do to reduce the risk of harm from the breach.

EXERCISING YOUR RIGHTS

Making a Written Request

You must submit a written request to exercise your rights under this Notice. Your request should be mailed to Attention: Privacy Officer, Matrix Behavior Solutions, LLC 175 East Brown Street Suite 202, East Stroudsburg, PA 18301.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

If you have questions or need further assistance regarding this Notice, you may contact us:
By phone: (570)-234-3989
By email: info@matrixaba.com
By mail: Attention: Privacy Officer,
Matrix Behavior Solutions, LLC
175 East Brown Street, Suite 202
East Stroudsburg, PA 18301

You retain the right to obtain a paper copy of this Notice of Privacy Practices, even if you have requested such copy by email or other electronic means.