Your Right to Privacy and Confidentiality: We follow the privacy provisions of state and federal laws and rules. You have the right to know the policies, practices, and limitations of the privacy of the information that you share with us.

Your treatment record will be stored in a locked cabinet or computer, which is protected from unauthorized access. It is accessible only to personnel whom we have authorized to help provide treatment to you. Your treatment record includes your diagnosis, treatment plan, progress notes, psychological test report, psychiatric and other medical reports, and closing summary.

• Your billing record will be stored in a locked cabinet or computer protected form unauthorized access. If you request that your insurance company pay for these services, only share the minimum information necessary for your insurance company will be shared; a) name and address of your insurance company; b) your subscriber and group plan numbers; c) your name, birth date, social security number, diagnosis, dates of service, type of service.
  • If your insurance company requires further information to process your claim (such as date of onset of your problems, history of your problems, symptoms that meet criteria for your diagnosis, your progress in treatment to date, and your goals and objectives for treatment), we will first consult you about your insurance company’s request and give you the option to decide what, if anything, may be released. It is your choice whether to use your insurance coverage for payment of our services.
• All personnel (clinical, support, or billing) authorized to have access to your information in this office will limit their access and use of your healthcare information to only what is necessary.
• If you are receiving clinical services from other health care professionals, we may need to routinely confer with them about your diagnosis, treatment plan, and progress for the purpose of coordinating your treatment.
• At times, we may also seek out professional consultation about some aspect of our work with you. Usually, it will not be necessary to share your identifying information with the consultant (s). The consulting professionals (S) also must abide by applicable laws and ethics to protect your confidentiality in all cases.

Other than the routine disclosure noted above which are necessary to perform treatment and billing services on your behalf, no information will be released to any other persons or agencies outside of this office without your written authorization except by court order. If anyone outside this office requests information from us or from your records, your permission in writing on a special “authorization for lease of information” for is necessary. Before giving permission, satisfy yourself that the information is needed, that you understand the information being sent out, and that giving the information will help you. You have the right to approve or refuse the release of information to anyone, except as provided by law.

Exceptions to Information Release Procedures

When we have knowledge of, or reasonable cause to believe, that a child/adult is being neglected or physically or sexually abused, in which case state law requires that information be reported authorities.

1. Reporting of maltreatment of vulnerable adults as specified in state law.
2. Reporting of alleged practitioner sexual misconduct as specified in state law.
3. Reporting of instances of threatened homicide or physical violence against another. We must report such threats to the appropriate police agency as well as to the intended victim.
4. In cases of threatened suicide, at lease one concerned person and/or the appropriate police agency may be contacted to intervene, and the client will be referred for evaluation.
5. In cases in which a client, with a history of sexual and/or physical abuse of others, terminates therapy against our advice, we will notify those past victims of abuse that the client has terminated therapy against our advice so that proper precautions may be taken.
6. It is our policy to employ the use of collection agencies or to file in small claims court on all accounts, which are overdue by 90 days. Information necessary to pursue such payment due to MMH will be shared with the agency or court.

Right Not To be Discriminated Against: You have the right not to be discriminated against in the provision of professional services based on race, age, gender ethnic origin, disability, creed, or sexual orientation.

Right to Know Your Providers Qualifications: You are entitled to ask us what your providers training is, where it was received, if they are licensed or certified, their professional competencies, experience, education, biases or attitudes, and any other relevant information that may be important to you in the provision of services. You have the right expect that we have met the minimum qualifications of training and experience required by state law and to examine public records maintained by the licensure boards that regulate my practice.

Right to Be Informed: You have the right to be informed of our assessment of your problem in a language you understand, to know available treatment alternatives. You also have the right to understanding the purpose of the profession services, including an estimate of the number of sessions, the length of the time involved, the cost of the services, the methods used, and the expected outcomes of the treatment. In addition, you have the right and responsibility to help develop your own treatment plan.

Right to Read Your Own Records: You have the right to read your own records created by our agency with a provider assisting you. Under HIPPA regulations if it is believed that the information that is contained in the file would be detrimental to your further treatment process then we have the right to withhold information with an explanation provided to you. We will assist you in understanding your written records by being available to answer questions and to explain the meaning of test scores and technical terminology. You may inform us of any inaccuracies of information in your file and give a written amendment, which will be placed in your file. In addition, you have the right to be told why the information requested is needed and be told how the information will be used. You should also be informed of other possible consequences if any, of refusing to supply requested information. We will use the information collected for evaluation and treatment purposes. If you choose not to supply such information, we cannot determine which services are most appropriate for you and that will make it more difficult to carry out an effective treatment plan for you. Refusal to provide such information could result in my inability to provide effective treatment for you and thereafter have the right to refuse treatment. If this occurs, we will provide you with a list of available resources to assist you.

Records retention policy is as follows: The complete record will be retained for five years. At the end of five years, the record will be destroyed, leaving only the name of the client and date of record destruction. The time begins from the date of the last visit. Should there be any further direct client contacts; the counting period will begin again at the date of the new service.

Right to Refuse Treatment: You have the right to consent or refuse recommended treatment. You can be treated without consent only if there is an emergency, and in our opinion failure to act immediately would jeopardize your health. In such emergency cases, we will make reasonable efforts to involve a close relative or friend prior to providing emergency services. No audio or video recording of a treatment sessions can be made without your permission.

Right to Voice Grievances: You have the right to voice grievances and request changes in your treatment without restraint, interference, coercion, discrimination, or reprisal. We encourage you to share you concerns directly with your provider. You have the right to report violations of our privacy practices to the Secretary of Health and Human Services. People with developmental and mental disabilities are entitled to protection and must have access to advocacy in securing the benefits, services and rights to which they are entitled. The following are resources, which persons with developmental disabilities may call upon:

Advocacy

Idaho Parents Unlimited, Inc.: 1-800-242-4785, V/TT 208-342-5884
Disability Rights Idaho TT: 208-336-5353, VT/TT: 1-800-632-5125

Protection

Children and Family Services: 208-334-5437
Adult Protection Services: 208-334-3833
Law Enforcement Agencies:

Right Not to Be Subjected by Harassment: You have the right to not be subjected to sexual, physical, or verbal harassment.

Minors’ Right to Privacy: Non-emancipated minor clients under the age of 18 must have consent of their parents or guardians following an initial intake session to receive further treatment services. State law provides that minor have the right to request that their records be withheld from their parents or guardians. If a minor client requests that records be withheld and we concur that the denial of parental access is in the best interest of the child, information in the minor’s file will not be disclosed to the parents. We may deny a parent’s or legal guardian’s request for access in his or her child’s treatment record when, in our professional judgment, parental or guardian access to the record would result in harm to the child.

Rights of Adults Judge Unable to Give Informed Consent: For adults judged tunable to give informed consent, the same policy as that for minors applies regarding permission for services and requests that records be withheld.

Referral Rights: You have the right to be referred or terminated. You have the right to active assistance from Morgan Mental Health Group, LLC in referring you to other appropriate services.