Notice of Privacy Practices

The law requires us to:

• Keep your child's health information private and secure.
• Give you this notice of our legal duties and privacy practices.
• Follow the notice that is currently in effect.
• Tell you promptly if a breach happens that may have put your information at risk.

We will not use or share health information in ways not described here unless you tell us we can in writing. You can change your mind at any time by letting us know in writing.

To treat your child.Your child's SLP uses their information to plan and provide therapy, and may share it with other people caring for your child, such as their pediatrician, with your knowledge.

To bill for services. We may use and share information to bill and get paid by you or by a health plan, for example by sending session details to your insurance company.

To run our practice. We may use information to run our practice, improve care, train staff, and contact you when needed, for example to review the quality of therapy or send appointment reminders.

With people involved in your child's care.As the parent or guardian, you are your child's personal representative and may make these choices for them. We may share information with another family member or caregiver you involve in your child's care, unless you tell us not to.

With business associates. Companies that help us (for example, secure record keeping or email) may receive information only under a written agreement that requires them to protect it.

We may share health information without your written permission only when the law allows or requires it, including to:

• Report suspected child abuse or neglect, which Texas law requires.
• Prevent a serious and imminent threat to someone's health or safety.
• Help with public health activities and health oversight, such as licensing board reviews.
• Respond to a court order, subpoena, or other lawful process.
• Respond to law enforcement requests in the limited cases the law allows.
• Respond to workers' compensation claims and specialized government functions where the law requires.
• Comply with other federal or Texas laws, including showing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that we follow HIPAA.

We will never sell your child's health information or use it for marketing, and we will only do either with your written permission. Any other use not described in this notice also requires your written permission.

Texas electronic disclosures.Your child's health information may be stored and shared electronically. Under Texas law, we will not share it electronically for any reason other than treatment, payment, health care operations, or as the law otherwise requires or allows, without your written permission.

For your child's health information, you have the right to:

• Get a copy of their records, on paper or electronically. We will respond within 30 days, and within 15 business days for an electronic copy of an electronic record, as Texas law requires. We may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee.
• Ask us to correct information you think is wrong or incomplete. We may say no, but we will tell you why in writing within 60 days.
• Ask for confidential communications, such as contacting you at a different phone number or address. We will say yes to all reasonable requests.
• Ask us to limit what we use or share. We are not required to agree, except that if you pay for a service in full yourself, you can ask us not to share it with your health plan and we will agree unless the law requires us to share it.
• Get a list of those we've shared information with in the last six years, other than for treatment, payment, operations, and certain other disclosures. One list a year is free.
• Get a copy of this notice at any time, on paper or electronically.
• Choose someone to act for you, such as a legal guardian, and we will confirm they have that authority before acting.

To use any of these rights, send a request through our contact form addressed to our Privacy Officer.

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you can file a complaint with our Privacy Officer through our contact form.

You can also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights by writing to 200 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, D.C. 20201, calling 1-877-696-6775, or visiting hhs.gov/ocr/complaints.

We will never retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

We can change the terms of this notice, and the changes will apply to all information we have about your child. The current notice, with its effective date, is always available on this page, and we will give you a copy on request.