THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED, HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION, AND YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.
MindVita Wellness LLC (“MindVita”) is committed to protecting the privacy of your health information. This Notice describes our responsibilities under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”), how we may use and disclose your Protected Health Information (“PHI”), and your rights concerning that information.
This Notice applies to PHI maintained by MindVita in connection with the healthcare services we provide, including information maintained or communicated through our patient portal and mobile application.
How We May Use and Disclose Your Health Information
Treatment
We may use your health information in connection with providing and coordinating your treatment.
Information may also be disclosed as permitted by applicable law to healthcare professionals involved in your care for purposes such as treatment and care coordination.
Written authorization will be obtained when required by applicable federal or state law. Authorization is required for most uses and disclosures of psychotherapy notes.
Payment
We may use and disclose your health information as necessary to obtain payment for healthcare services provided to you, including communications with your health plan or other responsible payer.
Healthcare Operations
We may use and disclose your health information as part of MindVita’s healthcare operations. This may include quality review, compliance activities, administrative functions, and other activities necessary to operate our practice.
We may also use your information to communicate with you regarding services, educational activities, or programs that may be relevant to your care, as permitted by applicable law.
Other Uses and Disclosures
We may use or disclose health information without your written authorization when permitted or required by law. This may include certain disclosures involving:
- Public health activities;
- Reporting of abuse or neglect;
- Prevention of a serious threat to health or safety;
- Health oversight activities;
- Judicial or administrative proceedings;
- Certain law-enforcement activities;
- Workers’ compensation;
- Certain governmental functions; and
- Other circumstances permitted or required by federal, state, or District law.
Certain categories of information, including mental-health information, psychotherapy notes, HIV-related information, substance-use-disorder records, and information concerning minors, may be subject to additional protections under applicable law.
MindVita will comply with applicable federal law and the laws of Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia concerning the confidentiality and disclosure of health information.
Your Rights Regarding Your Health Information
Right to Confidentiality
You have the right to have your health information protected in accordance with applicable law.
If you pay for a healthcare service or item completely out of pocket, you may request that we not disclose information concerning that service to your health plan for purposes of payment or healthcare operations. We will honor that request unless disclosure is required by law.
Right to Request Restrictions
You may ask us to restrict certain uses or disclosures of your PHI. Except where otherwise required by law, we generally are not required to agree to your requested restriction.
Right to Confidential Communications
You may request that we communicate with you regarding your health information by alternative means or at alternative locations. We will accommodate reasonable requests as required by law.
Right to Access Your Health Information
You generally have the right to inspect and obtain a paper or electronic copy of PHI maintained about you, subject to certain exceptions permitted by law.
Requests may be submitted to MindVita using the contact information below. Any fees associated with providing records will be limited to those permitted by applicable law.
Right to Request an Amendment
If you believe information in your health record is incorrect or incomplete, you may request an amendment.
We may deny the request under circumstances permitted by law. If we deny your request, we will provide information regarding the denial and any additional rights available to you.
Right to an Accounting of Disclosures
You generally have the right to request an accounting of certain disclosures of your PHI as provided by law.
Right to a Copy of This Notice
You have the right to receive a paper or electronic copy of this Notice at any time.
Right to Choose Someone to Act for You
If another person is legally authorized to act as your personal representative, that individual may exercise your privacy rights and make decisions concerning your health information to the extent permitted by law.
MindVita may verify the individual’s authority before allowing access to PHI or permitting that person to exercise rights on your behalf.
Right to Authorize Disclosure
You may authorize MindVita in writing to disclose health information to an individual or organization you designate.
You may revoke an authorization in writing as permitted by law. A revocation will not affect actions MindVita has already taken in reliance on a valid authorization.
Minors and Authorized Representatives
The privacy rights of minors and the ability of parents, guardians, or other representatives to access a minor’s health information depend upon applicable federal and state or District law, the nature of the healthcare services involved, and who has legal authority to consent to those services.
In some circumstances, minors may have independent confidentiality rights concerning certain healthcare services.
MindVita will provide access to and disclose information concerning minors in accordance with applicable law.
Electronic Communications, Patient Portal, and Mobile App
MindVita may provide electronic access to healthcare services and information through our patient portal and MindVita mobile application.
These services may be used for functions including appointment management, secure messaging, prescription refill requests, and other patient-portal activities.
MindVita uses reasonable administrative, physical, and technical safeguards designed to protect electronic PHI.
Patients are responsible for taking reasonable precautions to protect their own accounts and devices, including safeguarding passwords and authentication credentials.
The MindVita App may provide generic push notifications concerning matters such as appointments or new messages. Notification content is designed to limit the display of detailed clinical information; however, information appearing on a device may be visible to individuals who have access to that device.
For additional information regarding information collected through mindvita.org and the MindVita App, please review our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Our Responsibilities
MindVita is required by law to:
- Maintain the privacy and security of your PHI;
- Provide you with notice of our legal duties and privacy practices;
- Follow the privacy practices described in the Notice currently in effect;
- Notify affected individuals when required following a breach of unsecured PHI; and
- Comply with applicable federal and state or District privacy laws.
We will not use or disclose your PHI for purposes requiring your written authorization unless you provide that authorization.
Complaints
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may submit a complaint directly to MindVita.
You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights.
MindVita will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint or exercising your privacy rights.
Changes to This Notice
MindVita reserves the right to change this Notice and our privacy practices as permitted by law.
Changes may apply to PHI we already maintain as well as information received after the change.
The current Notice will be available on mindvita.org, through MindVita upon request, and may also be accessible through the MindVita mobile application or patient portal.
Contact Information
For questions regarding this Notice, requests concerning your privacy rights, or privacy complaints, please contact:
MindVita Wellness LLC
278 Cedar Lane SE #4104
Vienna, VA 22180
Telephone: 703-278-3767
Email: admin@mindvita.org
Website: mindvita.org