Notice of Privacy Practices

Your Choices

For certain health information, you may have choices about what is shared.

For example, when permitted by law, you may tell Ryan Hayes Therapy your preferences regarding sharing relevant information with:

• Family members
• Friends
• Caregivers
• Other people involved in your care

In situations where you are unable to communicate your preference, information may sometimes be shared when legally permitted and when professional judgment indicates that doing so is in your best interest.

Other uses or disclosures that require your written authorization will not be made without that authorization.

If you provide written authorization, you may generally revoke that authorization in writing at any time, except to the extent that action has already been taken in reliance on it.

Ryan Hayes Therapy does not sell your protected health information.

How Your Information May Be Used or Shared

The law permits health information to be used or disclosed in certain circumstances without obtaining a separate authorization each time.

Other Situations in Which Information May Be Disclosed

Health information may also be used or disclosed when permitted or required by law.

Depending on the circumstances, this may include:

• Reporting suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation when required by law
• Preventing or reducing a serious threat to health or safety when disclosure is legally permitted or required
• Responding to lawful court orders or other legal processes
• Complying with applicable state or federal law
• Responding to certain government or regulatory requests
• Workers' compensation matters when applicable
• Public-health activities when legally authorized
• Working with medical examiners or other officials when permitted by law

Only information permitted or required under applicable law will be disclosed.

Special Protection for Mental Health Information

Because Ryan Hayes Therapy provides mental-health services in Texas, your counseling communications and mental-health records receive important confidentiality protections under both federal and Texas law.

Texas law generally treats communications between a patient and a mental-health professional, as well as records relating to a patient's identity, diagnosis, evaluation, or treatment, as confidential.

These records will not be disclosed except with appropriate authorization or when disclosure is otherwise permitted or required by applicable law.

Where Texas law provides greater privacy protection than federal law, the more protective applicable requirement will be followed.

Psychotherapy Notes

HIPAA gives additional protection to certain psychotherapy notes, a specific legal category that is separate from the regular clinical record.

When psychotherapy notes as defined by HIPAA are maintained, written authorization is generally required for their use or disclosure except in limited circumstances permitted by law.

Not every therapy note or progress note qualifies as a HIPAA psychotherapy note.

Substance Use Disorder Records

Federal law provides additional protections for certain substance use disorder patient records subject to 42 CFR Part 2.

To the extent Ryan Hayes Therapy creates, receives, or maintains records that are subject to Part 2, those records will be handled according to the additional confidentiality requirements that apply.

Part 2 records may not be used or disclosed in civil, criminal, administrative, or legislative proceedings against a patient based on the content of those records except as specifically permitted by federal law, including when appropriate written consent or a qualifying court order is obtained.

My Responsibilities

Ryan Hayes Therapy is committed to protecting the privacy and security of your protected health information.

I am required by law to:

• Maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information
• Follow applicable federal and state privacy laws
• Follow the privacy practices described in the current version of this Notice
• Provide you with a copy of this Notice
• Notify you as required by law if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your protected health information

Your information will not be used or disclosed in ways not described by this Notice unless you provide written authorization or the use or disclosure is otherwise permitted or required by law.

If you provide authorization, you may generally revoke it in writing at any time.

Electronic Communication and Technology

Ryan Hayes Therapy may use electronic systems and service providers to support scheduling, telehealth, documentation, billing, communication, neurofeedback services, or other aspects of your care.

When those services involve protected health information, reasonable safeguards and applicable HIPAA requirements are used, including appropriate agreements with service providers when required by law.

Because ordinary email and text messaging can carry privacy risks, clients are encouraged to use designated secure communication methods for sensitive clinical information whenever possible.

Specific risks, preferences, and consent regarding electronic communication or telehealth may also be addressed separately in your informed-consent documents.

Changes to This Notice

The terms of this Notice may change in the future.

Any revised Notice may apply to health information already maintained as well as information received after the change.

The current Notice will be available upon request and posted on the Ryan Hayes Therapy website.

Questions or Privacy Complaints

If you have questions about this Notice, would like to exercise one of your privacy rights, or believe your privacy rights have been violated, please contact:

Acknowledgment of Receipt

Clients may be asked to acknowledge that they received this Notice of Privacy Practices.

Your acknowledgment simply confirms that you received the Notice.

Signing an acknowledgment does not mean that you are giving additional permission for your health information to be used or disclosed.