Notice of Privacy Practices
OUR COMMITMENT TO YOUR PRIVACY
Maréas Youth & Wellness is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of your Protected Health Information (“PHI”). This Notice describes how your medical information may be used and disclosed, your rights regarding your health information, and our legal responsibilities under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”) and applicable state law.
Please review this Notice carefully. If you have any questions, please contact us using the information provided at the end of this document.
OUR RESPONSIBILITIES
Maréas Youth & Wellness is required by law to:
- Maintain the privacy and security of your Protected Health Information (PHI).
- Provide you with this Notice of our legal duties and privacy practices.
- Notify you if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your PHI.
- Follow the privacy practices described in this Notice.
HOW WE MAY USE AND DISCLOSE YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION
Federal and state laws allow us to use and disclose your health information for certain purposes without your written authorization.
Treatment
We may use and share your health information to provide, coordinate, or manage your care. This may include communication among members of your care team, specialists, laboratories, pharmacies, imaging centers, or other healthcare providers involved in your treatment.
Payment
We may use and disclose your health information to obtain payment for healthcare services. This may include insurance companies, health plans, billing services, or other organizations responsible for processing payment.
Healthcare Operations
We may use your information to support our day-to-day operations, including:
- Quality improvement
- Staff training
- Licensing and accreditation
- Business management
- Compliance activities
- Audits
- Risk management
Appointment Reminders and Care Communications
We may contact you regarding:
- Appointment reminders
- Follow-up care
- Wellness recommendations
- Laboratory results
- Medication reminders
- Billing matters
- Administrative updates
These communications may be made by telephone, voicemail, text message, email, mail, or other communication methods you authorize.
Individuals Involved in Your Care
Unless you object, we may share relevant health information with family members, caregivers, or others involved in your care when appropriate.
Business Associates
We work with trusted vendors that assist in operating our practice, such as electronic health record providers, billing companies, technology providers, and consultants.
These organizations are required by law and contract to protect your health information.
Public Health Activities
We may disclose your health information when required or permitted by law for public health purposes, including:
- Disease reporting
- FDA reporting
- Public health investigations
- Preventing or controlling disease
- Reporting abuse or neglect where required by law
Health Oversight Activities
We may disclose information to agencies responsible for:
- Licensure
- Inspections
- Audits
- Investigations
- Regulatory oversight
Legal Proceedings
We may disclose health information when required by law, court order, subpoena, or other lawful legal process.
Law Enforcement
Certain disclosures may be made to law enforcement officials when permitted or required by law.
Serious Threat to Health or Safety
We may disclose health information when necessary to prevent or lessen a serious threat to your health or safety or the health and safety of others.
Workers’ Compensation
We may disclose health information as authorized by workers’ compensation laws or similar programs.
Research
Certain health information may be used or disclosed for approved research purposes when permitted by law and subject to appropriate safeguards.
USES REQUIRING YOUR WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION
Except as described above, we will obtain your written authorization before using or disclosing your Protected Health Information for purposes such as:
- Most marketing communications involving PHI
- The sale of Protected Health Information
- Certain psychotherapy notes (where applicable)
- Other uses or disclosures not otherwise permitted by law
You may revoke your authorization at any time in writing, except to the extent action has already been taken in reliance upon it.
YOUR RIGHTS
You have important rights regarding your health information.
Right to Inspect and Receive Copies
You have the right to inspect and obtain copies of your medical records, subject to certain legal limitations.
Applicable fees may apply as permitted by law.
Right to Request Corrections
If you believe information in your medical record is incorrect or incomplete, you may request that it be amended.
We may deny certain requests as permitted by law but will explain the reason in writing.
Right to Request Restrictions
You may request restrictions on how your health information is used or disclosed.
While we will carefully consider every request, we are not required to agree to every requested restriction unless required by applicable law.
Right to Request Confidential Communications
You may request that we communicate with you through alternative methods or at different locations when reasonable.
For example:
- Cell phone instead of home phone
- Email instead of mail
- Alternate mailing address
Right to Receive an Accounting of Disclosures
You may request a list of certain disclosures of your Protected Health Information made during a specified period as permitted by HIPAA.
Right to Receive a Paper Copy of This Notice
You may request a paper copy of this Notice at any time, even if you have agreed to receive it electronically.
Right to Choose Someone to Act for You
If you have granted another person legal authority to act on your behalf, such as through a healthcare power of attorney or guardianship, that individual may exercise your privacy rights consistent with applicable law.
Right to File a Complaint
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint without fear of retaliation.
Complaints may be submitted directly to:
Maréas Youth & Wellness
4020 Bonney Rd Ste105
Virginia Beach, VA 23452
Phone: [Phone Number]
Email: [Privacy Email]
Website: https://mareaswellness.com/
You may also file a complaint with:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Office for Civil Rights
Filing a complaint will not affect the quality of care you receive.
OUR RIGHT TO CHANGE THIS NOTICE
Maréas Wellness reserves the right to revise this Notice at any time.
Updated versions will apply to all Protected Health Information maintained by our practice and will be posted on our website and made available upon request.
QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS
If you have questions regarding this Notice or our privacy practices, please contact:
Maréas Youth & Wellness
4020 Bonney Rd Ste105
Virginia Beach, VA 23452
Phone: [Phone Number]
Email: [Privacy Email]
Website: https://mareaswellness.com/
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF RECEIPT
Patients may be asked to acknowledge that they have received or been offered a copy of this Notice of Privacy Practices. Refusal to sign an acknowledgment does not prevent Maréas Youth & Wellness from providing care but may be documented in accordance with applicable law.
IMPORTANT NOTICE
This Notice describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can access this information. Please review it carefully.
This Notice applies only to Maréas Youth & Wellness and is intended to comply with applicable federal privacy regulations, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), as well as applicable state laws governing the privacy of health information.
