Notice Of Privacy Practices
At Sound Choice Mental Health, your privacy is a top priority.
In Washington State, Protected Health Information (PHI) refers to any data that identifies patients and relates to their health condition(s) and care. This includes information about past, present, or future physical or mental health and the services received.
PHI is confidential and can only be used or disclosed in specific situations, such as for treatment, payment, or legal requirements, and with your consent when necessary. This notice describes how PHI might be used or shared and how to access it. We are dedicated to maintaining your confidentiality and adhering to privacy laws. We will inform you of any changes and follow the Notice's terms.
Sound Choice Mental health (SCMH) requirements
Keep patient PHI private. Provide written information such as this on our duties and privacy practices about PHI. Provide notification in the event of any breach of PHI. Not use or discloser genetic information for underwriting purposes. Follow the terms of this Notice
How PHI May Be Disclosed
We may use or disclose PHI to facilitate and coordinate medical treatment and services. We might share PHI with other healthcare providers, such as physicians, therapists, surgery centers, hospitals, rehabilitation therapists, home health providers, laboratories, nurse case managers, worker’s compensation adjusters, etc., to ensure that all relevant information is available for accurate diagnosis and treatment.
Payment
We may use PHI to facilitate payment for your treatment and services from your insurance company or another third party. We might provide your health insurance plan with details about the services received to ensure reimbursement. Additionally, we may inform insurance payors about upcoming treatments to get prior approval or confirm coverage.
Practice Operations
We may use and share PHI to manage and support our practice's operations. We may share information with business associates who provide services necessary to run the practice and promote quality care such as consultants, educators, transcription companies, or billing services. We may also use PHI to remind patients of appointments and to inform them about treatment options or other health-related benefits and services that may be of interest.
Research
Your PHI may be used or shared for research in certain cases.
Mandatory Reporting
We are required to report to authorities when there is reasonable cause to believe that a child or vulnerable adult has suffered abuse or neglect in the past forty-eight hours.
To Avert Serious Threat to Health or Safety
We may disclose PHI to any person without authorization if we reasonably believe that disclosure will avoid or minimize an imminent danger to your or another’s health or safety. Threats of harming another may be reported to appropriate authorities.
As Required by Law
We will disclose PHI when required to do so by Federal, State or Local Law. We may release information in response to a valid court subpoena, warrant, or summons.
Health Oversight Activities
We may disclose PHI to a health oversight agency for activities authorized by law. Oversight activities include audits, investigations, inspections, and licensure. These activities are necessary for the government to monitor the healthcare system, government programs, and compliance with civil rights laws.
Worker’s Compensation
With certain exceptions, we must make PHI available at any stage of the proceedings, all PHI information in our possession that is relevant to that injury in the opinion of the Washington Department of Labor and Industries, to employer, representatives, and the Department of Labor and Industries upon request.
Other Disclosures
PHI may be shared with funeral directors or coroners to help them do their jobs.
Your Rights
Request Restrictions on PHI Uses or Disclosures (Sharing of Your PHI) You may ask us not to share your PHI to carry out treatment, payment or health care operations. You may also ask us not to share your PHI with family, friends or other persons you name who are involved in your health care. You will need to make your request in writing. You may use Sound Choice Mental Health's (SCMH) form to make your request.
Request Confidential Communications of PHI
You may ask SCMH to give you your PHI in a certain way or at a certain place to help keep your PHI private. We will follow reasonable requests if you tell us how sharing all or a part of that PHI could put your life at risk. You will need to make your request in writing. You may use SCMH's form to make your request.
Review and Copy Your PHI
A secure electronic record is kept of services received. Patients will provide written requests to access their PHI providing proper identification and specifying the information needed. Please note, that electronic format via a secure patient portal shared directly to the patient is the most HIPAA compliant. If the information is requested in paper format there may be a fee according to charges stipulated by the State Law of Washington. A patient has a right of access to inspect and obtain a copy of PHI or health care information maintained by SCMH except forinformation that is compiled in anticipation of, or for use in, a civil, criminal, or administrative action or proceeding. Under certain circumstances where seeing the record may put a patient or other person at risk, we may redact certain information in the record and/or require a review of the record in consultation with another healthcare provider. You may receive an accounting of non-routine uses and disclosures of your record. If issues arise, patients can follow up with the provider or file a complaint with relevant authorities.
Amend Your PHI
You may ask that we amend (change) your PHI. This involves only those records created by SCMH regarding your care. You will need to make your request in writing.
Adolescent’s Privacy
In Washington State, patients aged 13 and older have the legal right to keep their medical information confidential. They may choose to keep information private from family members. Parents or guardians involved in a consenting minor’s care must be authorized through a signed release of information. Sound Choice Mental Health will not share medical details or appointment information without this release. Patients can revoke access by providing written notice. Confidential information for those aged 13 to 18 will only be disclosed without consent in cases of suspected abuse, threats of self-harm, or other safety concerns.
This Notice is Subject to Change
SCMH reserves the right to change its information practices and terms of this Notice. If we do, the new terms and practices will then apply to all PHI we keep. If we make any material changes, SCMH will post the revised Notice on our web site and send the revised Notice, or information about the material change and how to obtain the revised Notice.
Contact Information
If you have any questions, please contact the following office: Sound Choice Mental Health PO Box 3103 Lacey, WA 98509
Good Faith Estamate (GFE)
If uninsured, you have the right to receive a 'Good Faith Estimate' explaining how much you medical care may cost upon request.