Notice of Privacy Practices

The Nurture Nest, LLC
2 E. Baltimore Avenue, 2nd Floor
Clifton Heights, PA 19018
Phone: 800-591-0141
Email: info@nurturenestphl.org

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

PURPOSE OF THIS NOTICE

The Nurture Nest, LLC is committed to protecting the privacy and security of your health information. This Notice explains our responsibilities, how we may use or disclose your protected health information, and the rights you have concerning that information.

Protected health information, or PHI, includes information that identifies you and relates to your physical or mental health, healthcare services, diagnosis, treatment, or payment for care.

HOW WE MAY USE AND DISCLOSE YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION

Treatment

We may use and share your health information to provide, coordinate, or manage your care. This may include communicating with other healthcare professionals involved in your treatment when permitted by law.

Payment

We may use or share health information to bill for services and obtain payment from you, an insurance plan, or another responsible party. This may include confirming eligibility, requesting authorization, submitting claims, and responding to payment reviews.

Healthcare Operations

We may use and share health information to operate our practice, improve services, conduct quality reviews, train staff, maintain records, manage risk, complete audits, and perform other lawful administrative functions.

Business Associates

We may share information with vendors that perform services on our behalf, such as billing, electronic health records, secure communications, technology support, or legal and accounting services. When required, these vendors must agree to safeguard protected health information.

Public Health and Safety

We may disclose health information when authorized or required for certain public-health or safety purposes, including:

• Reporting suspected abuse, neglect, or domestic violence
• Preventing or reducing a serious and imminent threat to health or safety
• Reporting certain diseases, injuries, or adverse events
• Supporting authorized public-health investigations

Required by Law

We may use or disclose health information when federal or state law requires us to do so.

Health Oversight

We may disclose information to authorized oversight agencies for activities such as audits, investigations, inspections, professional licensing, or compliance reviews.

Legal Proceedings and Law Enforcement

We may disclose health information in response to a valid court order, administrative order, subpoena, or other lawful process when the applicable legal requirements have been satisfied.

Workers’ Compensation

We may disclose information as authorized by and necessary to comply with workers’ compensation laws or similar programs.

Coroners, Medical Examiners, and Funeral Directors

We may disclose health information to these professionals as permitted or required by law.

Research

We may use or disclose health information for approved research only when applicable legal requirements and privacy protections have been satisfied.

YOUR CHOICES

In certain circumstances, you may tell us whether and how you want your information shared. This may include sharing information with:

• Family members
• Close friends
• Caregivers
• Other people involved in your care or payment for your care
• Disaster-relief organizations

If you cannot communicate your preference, we may share limited information when permitted by law and when we reasonably believe it is in your best interest or necessary to address a serious and imminent threat.

WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION

We will obtain your written authorization before:

• Using or disclosing health information for purposes not otherwise permitted by law
• Using PHI for most marketing purposes
• Selling your protected health information
• Disclosing most psychotherapy notes, when applicable

You may revoke an authorization in writing at any time. Revocation will not affect disclosures already made in reliance on a valid authorization.

MENTAL-HEALTH RECORDS

Mental-health records may receive additional protection under Pennsylvania or federal law. When a law provides greater privacy protection than HIPAA, The Nurture Nest, LLC will follow the more protective requirement.

SUBSTANCE-USE-DISORDER RECORDS

To the extent The Nurture Nest, LLC maintains substance-use-disorder patient records protected by 42 CFR Part 2, those records will receive the additional protections required by federal law.

Protected substance-use-disorder records will not be used or disclosed in a civil, criminal, administrative, or legislative investigation or proceeding against you unless you provide written consent or the disclosure is authorized by a qualifying court order and legal process.

YOUR HEALTH-INFORMATION RIGHTS

Obtain a Copy of Your Records

You may ask to inspect or receive an electronic or paper copy of health information maintained about you. We will generally respond within the period required by law. A reasonable, cost-based fee may apply.

Request a Correction

You may ask us to correct health information that you believe is inaccurate or incomplete. We may deny the request in certain circumstances, but we will provide a written explanation when required.

Request Confidential Communications

You may ask us to contact you in a particular way or at a different address. We will accommodate reasonable requests.

Request Restrictions

You may ask us to limit how we use or disclose information for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations. We are generally not required to agree, except in certain circumstances.

If you pay for a service entirely out of pocket, you may ask us not to disclose information about that service to your health plan for payment or healthcare operations. We will honor the request unless disclosure is required by law.

Receive an Accounting of Disclosures

You may request a list of certain disclosures made during the six years before your request. The accounting will not include every type of disclosure, such as many disclosures made for treatment, payment, healthcare operations, or disclosures you authorized.

One accounting within a 12-month period will be provided without charge. A reasonable, cost-based fee may apply to additional requests.

Receive a Copy of This Notice

You may request a paper copy of this Notice at any time, even if you previously agreed to receive it electronically.

Choose a Personal Representative

If another person has legal authority to act on your behalf, such as a legal guardian or healthcare power of attorney, that person may exercise your health-information rights after we verify their authority.

File a Complaint

You may file a complaint if you believe your privacy rights have been violated. You will not be retaliated against or denied services for filing a complaint.

OUR RESPONSIBILITIES

The Nurture Nest, LLC is required to:

• Maintain the privacy and security of protected health information
• Follow the duties and privacy practices described in the current Notice
• Provide you with a copy of this Notice
• Notify affected individuals when a breach may have compromised the privacy or security of their protected health information
• Refrain from using or disclosing information except as described in this Notice or otherwise permitted by law
• Obtain written authorization when an authorization is legally required

CHANGES TO THIS NOTICE

We may change the terms of this Notice. Any revised Notice may apply to health information already maintained as well as information received in the future.

The current Notice will be available upon request, at our office, and on our website.

PRIVACY QUESTIONS OR COMPLAINTS

To ask questions, exercise your rights, or submit a privacy complaint, contact:

Ricktesha Hall, LCSW, LBS
Privacy Officer
The Nurture Nest, LLC
2 E. Baltimore Avenue, 2nd Floor
Clifton Heights, PA 19018
Phone: 800-591-0141
Email: info@nurturenestphl.org

You may also submit a complaint to:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Office for Civil Rights
200 Independence Avenue SW
Washington, DC 20201
Phone: 1-877-696-6775
Website: hhs.gov/hipaa/filing-a-complaint

The Nurture Nest, LLC will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint with the organization or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.