Effective Date:
2025-07-01
Last Reviewed:
2025-07-01
FamilyTime Centers is committed to protecting your personal information and maintaining your trust. We collect, use, and safeguard your data responsibly while providing quality mental health services in accordance with HIPAA regulations and California privacy laws.
Introduction
FamilyTime Centers is required by law to maintain the privacy of your protected health information. This notice describes how we may use and disclose your health information in accordance with HIPAA Privacy Rule requirements and federal healthcare regulations.
Our Legal Obligations
Privacy Protection: We are legally required to maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information (PHI) and to provide you with this Notice of Privacy Practices.
Permitted Uses: We may only use and disclose your health information as described in this notice or as authorized by you in writing.
Compliance: We must comply with the terms of this notice and notify you of any breaches of your unsecured health information.
Updates: We reserve the right to change our privacy practices and make new provisions effective for all health information we maintain.
How We May Use and Disclose Your Health Information
Treatment: We use your health information to provide, coordinate, and manage your mental health treatment. This includes:
Conducting therapy sessions and assessments
Developing and implementing treatment plans
Coordinating care with other healthcare providers
Monitoring your progress and adjusting treatment approaches
Providing crisis intervention and safety planning
Documenting all aspects of your care in your medical record
Payment: We use and disclose your health information to obtain payment for services provided. This includes:
Submitting claims to your insurance company
Verifying insurance coverage and benefits
Processing payments and handling billing inquiries
Collecting outstanding balances
Obtaining prior authorization for services
Conducting utilization review activities
Healthcare Operations: We may use your health information for healthcare operations including:
Quality assurance and improvement activities
Training healthcare professionals and students
Conducting performance evaluations
Business planning and administrative functions
Complying with regulatory requirements
Managing risks and legal compliance
Uses and Disclosures Requiring Your Authorization
Marketing: We will not use your health information for marketing purposes without your written authorization, except for face-to-face communications or promotional gifts of nominal value.
Sale of Information: We do not and will not sell your health information to third parties.
Psychotherapy Notes: Special protection applies to psychotherapy notes. We will not use or disclose these notes without your written authorization except for limited purposes such as treatment by the original note author, training purposes, or when required by law.
Other Uses: Any other uses or disclosures not described in this notice will only occur with your written authorization. You may revoke authorization at any time except where we have already acted based on your permission.
Uses and Disclosures Without Your Authorization
Required by Law: We may disclose your health information when required by federal, state, or local law.
Public Health Activities: We may disclose information to public health authorities for activities such as:
Disease prevention and control
Reporting suspected abuse or neglect
Food and Drug Administration activities
Workplace safety investigations
Health Oversight: We may disclose information to health oversight agencies for activities such as audits, investigations, and compliance monitoring.
Judicial Proceedings: We may disclose information in response to court orders, subpoenas, or other legal processes when proper legal safeguards are in place.
Law Enforcement: We may disclose limited information to law enforcement officials for specific law enforcement purposes including:
Identifying suspects, fugitives, or missing persons
Reporting crimes occurring on our premises
Responding to emergencies
Serious Threats: We may disclose information if we believe it is necessary to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to health or safety.
Specialized Government Functions: We may disclose information for military, national security, or protective services activities when appropriate.
Workers' Compensation: We may disclose information for workers' compensation programs when services are related to work-related injuries.
Your Individual Rights
Right to Access: You have the right to inspect and obtain copies of your health information contained in your medical record. Requests must be submitted in writing, and reasonable fees may apply for copying costs.
Right to Amendment: You may request amendments to your health information if you believe it contains errors or is incomplete. We may deny requests that are not properly submitted or when the information is accurate and complete.
Right to Accounting: You may request an accounting of disclosures of your health information made by us for purposes other than treatment, payment, or healthcare operations.
Right to Restrictions: You may request restrictions on how we use or disclose your health information. We are not required to agree to restrictions except in limited circumstances involving payment to health plans.
Right to Confidential Communications: You may request that we communicate with you about your health information through alternative means or at alternative locations.
Right to Notification: You have the right to be notified of any breaches of your unsecured health information.
Right to File Complaints: You may file complaints about our privacy practices with us or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights.
Minors and Personal Representatives
Parental Rights: Generally, parents or legal guardians may access their minor child's health information. However, California law provides certain privacy protections for adolescents seeking mental health treatment.
Personal Representatives: Individuals legally authorized to make healthcare decisions on your behalf may exercise your rights regarding health information.
Restrictions: In some cases, we may deny access to personal representatives if we believe it would not be in your best interest.
Complaints and Contact Information
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated or have questions about our privacy practices, you may:
Contact Us Directly:
Speak with your therapist or our Privacy Officer
Submit written complaints to our administrative office
File Federal Complaints:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Office for Civil Rights
Complaint Portal: www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy
Phone: 1-800-368-1019
We will not retaliate against you for filing complaints or exercising your privacy rights.
Effective Date and Changes
This Notice of Privacy Practices is effective as of the date posted on our website. We reserve the right to modify our privacy practices and make changes effective for all health information we maintain. Current notices are available on our website and upon request.
