THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU AND YOUR CHILD MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN ACCESS THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.

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At Expanding Connections, protecting your privacy is one of our highest priorities. We are required by law to maintain the privacy of your Protected Health Information (PHI), provide you with this Notice of our legal duties and privacy practices, and notify you following a breach of unsecured PHI if one occurs.

This Notice explains how we may use and disclose your health information and outlines your rights regarding that information.

 

What Is Protected Health Information (PHI)?

Protected Health Information (PHI) includes any information that identifies you or your child and relates to:

• Physical or mental health

• Healthcare services received

• Payment for healthcare services

Examples include evaluation reports, therapy notes, treatment plans, appointment records, billing information, and insurance information.

 

How We May Use and Disclose Your Information

We may use or disclose your health information without your written authorization for the following purposes:

 

Treatment

We may use your child's health information to provide speech-language evaluations, therapy services, consultations, and treatment planning.

This may include communicating with physicians, teachers, occupational therapists, psychologists, or other healthcare providers involved in your child's care when appropriate.

 

Payment

We may use your information to bill and receive payment for services provided.

This may include:

• Insurance companies

• Medicaid

• Billing services

• Collection of unpaid balances

 

Healthcare Operations

We may use your information to improve the quality of our services through activities such as:

• Quality assurance

• Staff training

• Compliance reviews

• Business management

• Licensing and accreditation

 

Other Uses Permitted by Law

HIPAA allows certain disclosures without your authorization when required or permitted by law, including:

• Public health reporting

• Reporting abuse or neglect

• Health oversight activities

• Court orders or legal proceedings

• Law enforcement requests

• Preventing serious threats to health or safety

• Workers' compensation claims (when applicable)

We will disclose only the minimum information necessary as required by law.

 

Uses Requiring Your Written Authorization

Any use or disclosure not described in this Notice requires your written authorization.

Examples include:

• Sharing information with individuals not involved in treatment

• Marketing communications

• Use of photographs or videos

• Release of records to schools or outside agencies (unless otherwise permitted by law)

You may revoke your authorization at any time in writing, except to the extent we have already acted on it.

 

Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Request Access

• You may request copies of your child's medical records.

• Reasonable fees may apply for copies as permitted by law.

• Request Corrections

  • If you believe information in your records is incorrect or incomplete, you may request that we amend it.

• Request Restrictions

  • You may ask us to limit how we use or disclose your information.

While we are not required to agree to every request, we will consider all reasonable requests.

 

Request Confidential Communications

You may request that we communicate with you through a preferred method or at a specific location.

Examples include:

• Cell phone only

• Email

• Mailing address

• Alternate parent or guardian

 

Receive an Accounting of Disclosures

You may request a list of certain disclosures we have made of your PHI, as permitted by HIPAA.

 

Receive a Paper Copy

You have the right to receive a paper copy of this Notice at any time, even if you agreed to receive it electronically.

 

Our Responsibilities

Expanding Connections is required to:

• Maintain the privacy of your health information

• Provide you with this Notice

• Follow the privacy practices described in this Notice

• Notify you if a breach of unsecured PHI occurs

• Obtain your authorization when required by law

 

Electronic Communication

If you choose to communicate with us by email or text message, please understand that these methods may not always be fully secure.

Whenever possible, confidential medical information will be shared using secure, HIPAA-compliant communication methods.

 

Website Contact Form

Our website contact form is intended for general inquiries only.

Please do not submit confidential medical information, diagnoses, insurance information, Social Security numbers, or treatment details through the website contact form.

If you become a client, protected health information will be collected through secure, HIPAA-compliant systems.