HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices


Purpose of Privacy Notice

This Notice of Privacy Practices (NPP) explains your rights and RDLLC’s obligations under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), providing you with a comprehensive understanding of the law. Ensuring your privacy is paramount, and this document serves as a detailed resource on its mechanisms. Romain Diaz LLC (RDLLC) includes an extensive discussion of HIPAA, particularly as it pertains to counseling and therapy services.

This notice delineates how your medical information (protected health information) may be utilized, safeguarded, and disclosed, as well as how you can access this information. It is imperative to review this notice attentively. Please note that while not all information outlined below may pertain directly to your circumstances, it serves as a general overview of HIPAA protections.

Use of Terminology

Throughout this Notice of Privacy Practices and other pertinent documents on this website concerning counseling services, "We" refers to RDLLC and encompasses licensed therapy providers, contractors operating within RDLLC services, and any personnel or entities providing ancillary or administrative services. "You" pertains to any potential, current, or past clients availing counseling services from RDLLC.

By law, every therapy practice is mandated to display a notice of privacy practices (NPP). The last update to this notice was made in April 2024.

Please find below a link directing you to a video provided by the Health and Human Services Office of Civil Rights. These videos underscore the importance of reviewing the notice of privacy practices. It's important to note that YouTube and the videos accessible via this link are not HIPAA-compliant applications; hence, viewing a YouTube video will be recorded in your user history if you're logged into your Google account.

HSS OCR - Youtube Informational Videos

Your Rights: An Overview

As an individual, you have the right to:

  • Obtain a copy of your paper or electronic medical record

  • Correct any inaccuracies in your paper or electronic medical record

  • Request confidential communication

  • Request restrictions on the information we share

  • Obtain a list of entities with whom we've shared your information

  • Obtain a copy of this privacy notice

  • Designate someone to act on your behalf

  • File a complaint if you believe your privacy rights have been violated

Your Choices: An Overview

You hold choices regarding how we use and share information, including decisions about:

  • Disclosures to family and friends about your condition (upon your request)

  • Provision of mental health care

Our Uses and Disclosures: An Overview

We may use and disclose your information in various capacities, including:

  • Providing treatment

  • Organizational operations

  • Billing for services rendered

  • Assisting with public health and safety concerns

  • Conducting research

  • Complying with legal requirements

  • Addressing organ and tissue donation requests

  • Collaborating with medical examiners or funeral directors

  • Handling workers' compensation, law enforcement, and other governmental inquiries

  • Responding to legal proceedings and actions

Your Security: An Overview

You have the right to seek clarification and pose queries about:

  • Acronym definitions

  • Unfamiliar or unclear terminology

  • Technology employed for service delivery

  • Secure use of technology

  • Safeguards implemented for your protection

  • Security measures for payment methods

  • Secure and confidential communication channels

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

HIPAA mandates covered entities, such as counselors and other healthcare practitioners, to uphold the privacy and security of your personal health information (PHI) while facilitating necessary communication regarding your care. The HIPAA privacy rule applies to PHI across all mediums—paper, electronic, or verbal.

To understand whom we're permitted to communicate with and under what circumstances, please refer to the Office for Civil Rights' paper, "HIPAA Privacy Rule and Sharing Information Related to Mental Health." For information on whom to contact in crisis situations or when intending to harm yourself or others, consult "HIPAA Helps Caregiving Connections."

PHI: Protected Health Information

Protected health information (PHI) encompasses individually identifiable health information transmitted, maintained, or stored across various mediums, including electronic and paper formats.

Individually Identifiable Health Information

Individually identifiable health information is a subset of health data that pertains to an individual's past, present, or future physical or mental health, treatment, or payment for healthcare services, and can be used to identify the individual.

What Constitutes PHI?

Your personal information qualifies as PHI for healthcare purposes if it contains any of the identifiers outlined in HIPAA regulations.

Disclosure of Client Information

Client authorization is mandatory for disclosing information to third parties, except when utilizing or disclosing PHI for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations. Authorization must be provided in writing via a HIPAA-secure form.

Information on HIPAA-Compliant Technology

As part of your informed consent agreement, familiarize yourself with our technology and security policies and procedures to understand the significance of HIPAA-compliant technology and its usage.

Additional Information about HIPAA

For further insights into HIPAA regulations and healthcare information privacy and security, consult the recommended resources.

Privacy Safeguards

RWWC adheres to stringent privacy measures, employing HIPAA-secure technology, annual trainings, and ethical standards. We encourage proactive steps to safeguard your security and privacy.

Protecting Your Security and Privacy

Take proactive measures to protect your security and privacy, including safeguarding login credentials, using multi-factor authentication, and ensuring secure communication channels.

Please be mindful that despite our safeguards, your privacy may still be compromised if you share information recklessly. Ultimately, ensuring security on your end remains your responsibility.