This Notice of Privacy Practices applies to Olive Branch Counseling ("we," "us," and "our"). This notice describes our practices regarding your health information and those of:
- Any healthcare professional authorized to enter information into the Olive Branch Counseling electronic health record.
- Health professionals providing services at Olive Branch Counseling facilities.
When it comes to health information about you, you have certain rights. You have the right to:
- Request an Electronic or Paper Copy of the Medical Record: You may request a copy of certain health information we have about you.
- Correct the Medical Record: You may ask us to correct health information that you believe is incorrect or incomplete.
- Request Confidential Communication: You may ask us to contact you in a specific way (for example, at your home or office phone) or to send mail to a different address. We will accommodate all reasonable requests.
- Ask Us to Limit the Information We Share: You may ask us not to use or share certain health information for treatment, payment, or operations. In most cases, we are not required to agree to your request, and we may deny it if it affects your care. If you pay for a service out-of-pocket in full, you may request that we not share that information for payment or operations with your health insurer. We will say “yes” unless a law requires us to share that information.
- Get a List of Those with Whom We Have Shared Information: You may ask for a list (accounting) of the times we have shared health information about you for up to six years prior to the date you ask, who we shared it with, and why. We will provide one accounting a year for free, but will charge a reasonable cost-based fee if you request another within 12 months.
- Receive a Copy of This Privacy Notice: You may ask for a paper copy of this notice at any time, even if you have agreed to receive it electronically.
- Choose Someone to Act for You: If you have given someone medical power of attorney or if someone is your legal guardian, that person can exercise your rights and make choices about your health information. We will verify that the person has this authority before taking any action.
- Treatment: We will use and share health information to treat you. For example, a staff member will record information provided and enter it into the electronic health record to be used by your provider for your treatment.
- Payment: We may use and share health information about you to bill and obtain payment from health plans or other entities. For example, we may give information about you to your health insurance plan so it will pay for the services you receive.
- Operations: We may use and share health information about you to run our business, improve your care, and contact you when necessary. For example, we may use health information to coordinate your treatment and services.
- Our Business Associates: We may share health information with those who provide services to us involving the use or disclosure of health information. We require our business associates to agree to protect the privacy and security of health information and safeguard your rights.
We are allowed or required to share information about you in other ways that contribute to the public good or as required by law. We must meet many conditions in the law before we share your information for these purposes. For example, we may use and share health information:
- For law enforcement purposes
- With health oversight agencies for activities authorized by law
- In response to a court or administrative order, or in response to a subpoena
- To respond to lawsuits and legal actions
- To prevent or reduce a serious threat to anyone’s health or safety
- To report suspected abuse, neglect, or domestic violence
- For workers’ compensation claims
- For special government functions such as military, national security, and presidential protective services
- With a coroner, medical examiner, or funeral director when an individual dies
- For limited research purposes
In certain situations, you may make choices about what we share. If you have a clear preference for how we share information about you in the situations described below, tell us what you want us to do:
- Share information with your family, close friends, or others involved in your care.
- Share information in a disaster relief situation.
If you are unable to express your preference (for example, if you are unconscious), we may share information if we believe it is in your best interest.
Health information about you will not be used or disclosed without your written permission except as described in this notice. You may change your mind regarding authorizations you have provided at any time by submitting an updated written notice. We never share information about you unless you give us written permission for:
- Marketing or fundraising purposes
- Sharing of psychotherapy notes
- Sale of protected health information
We are required by law to maintain the privacy and security of protected health information. We must follow the practices described in this notice and give you a copy of this notice. We will notify you if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your information.
We reserve the right to change the terms of this notice at any time. Any new Notice of Privacy Practices will be effective for all health information we maintain at that time. We will make a revised Notice of Privacy Practices available by posting the revised version on the Olive Branch Counseling website.
If you have questions about this notice or would like additional information, you may contact our Privacy Officer at the telephone number listed below. If you believe your rights have been violated, you have the right to file a complaint with our Privacy Officer or with the Department of Health and Human Services. All complaints to our Privacy Officer should be in writing and describe your concerns.
1020 Main Street, Corvallis MT 59828
+1 (406) 361-0110