Privacy Policy 
HIPAA COMPLIANCE
NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES IN COMPLIANCE WITH: The Health Insurance
Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)
Effective Date: May 1, 2003
THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW YOUR MEDICAL INFORMATION MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED
AND HOW YOU CAN GAIN ACCESS TO THE INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.
YOUR PRIVACY RIGHTS, OUR RESPONSIBILITIES
Rutgers-Newark Psychological Services and Counseling Center is required
by law to protect the privacy of your health information and provide you
with this Notice of Privacy Practices. This notice describes how we may
use and share your health information and explains your privacy rights.
PsyACS will use or disclose your information only as described in this notice.
We do however, reserve the right to change our privacy practices and terms
of this notice and to make new provisions effective for all health information
that we maintain. Revised notices will be posted in the waiting area, and
we will make a copy of the revised notice for you upon request.
USE AND DISCLOSURE OF PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION
The law permits the University Counseling Center to use or disclose your
health information without your written consent or authorization for the
following purposes:
Treatment: We may use health information about you to
provide treatment and services. We may disclose your health information
to counselors, supervisor, or administrators at the PsyACS who are involved
in your treatment. In addition, counselors may share relevant details about
your treatment during case staffing with other counselors and psychologists.
Center Operations: We may use your health information
for the purposes of Center operations. For example, your records will be
reviewed by the PsyACS staff in order to make sure that the Rutgers-Newark
Psychological and Counseling Services Center is the best place for you to
receive treatment. In addition, your records may be reviewed by our counseling
staff for quality assurance purposes to assess the care, outcomes, and quality
of services you receive.
Other Circumstances: In addition, we may use or disclose
your health information for the following purposes without your consent
or authorization:
- As required or permitted by law (e.g., cooperation with law enforcement,
court officials, or government agencies)
- For health oversight activities (e.g., investigations, inspections,
accreditation, licensure, etc.)
- To avoid serious threat to health or safety
- As authorized by worker's compensation laws or similar programs that
provide benefits for work-related injuries or illness
- Research approved by the Rutgers University-Newark Human Subjects
Protection Committee.
USE AND DISCLOSURE OF PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION THAT REQUIRES YOUR AUTHORIZATION
Except as provided in this Notice or Privacy Practices, Psychological and
Counseling Services will not disclose your health information without your
written authorization. If you sign an authorization form you may withdraw
your authorization at any time, as long as your withdrawal is in writing.
YOUR RIGHTS REGRADING YOUR PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION
You have several rights with regard to your health information. Specifically,
you have the right to:
- Obtain a paper copy of this notice. You may request a written copy
of this notice at any time.
- Receive confidential communications. You have the right to request
in writing that the center only communicate to you in a certain format
(e.g., in writing) and/or location (e.g., your work address). We will
accommodate all reasonable requests.
- Inspect and copy protected health information. This right is subject
to certain legal restrictions. For example, this right does not apply
to psychotherapy notes or information compiled for judicial proceedings.
You may be charged a fee for copying or postage.
- Request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures.
You have the right to ask for restrictions on how your health information
is used or to whom your information is disclosed. We are not required to
agree to your requested restriction, but we will consider your request and
the possibility of accommodating it.
- Request to amendment. You have a right to request in writing that
portions of your records be corrected when you feel information is
incorrect or incomplete. We may deny your request if the information
is not created by this Center or if we believe the information is accurate.
- Receive an accounting of disclosures. You have a right to receive
an accounting of disclosures of your health information made by the
PsyACS, except for disclosures such as treatment, Center operations,
and certain other disclosures as provided for by law.
- Complain. If you believe your health information privacy rights have
been violated, you may contact the OCR Regional Manager, Office for
Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS),
Atlanta Federal Center, Suite 3B70, 61 Forsyth St., S.W., Atlanta,
GA 30303-8909, (404) 562-7886. Information is also available on the
DHHS website at http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa/ .
If you file a complaint, we will not take any action against you or
change our treatment of you.
ADDITIONAL PROTECTIONS OF YOUR PRIVACY: In addition to
being HIPAA compliant, the Department of Psychological and Counseling Services
complies with all federal and state legislation pertinent to health and
mental service provision regarding the practice of counseling, psychology,
psychiatry and related services. If you have questions regarding your rights,
please contact the Department of Psychological and Counseling Services.
CONTACT FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Pamela Heard, Ph.D.
HIPAA Coordinator
(973) 353-5805
