The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) is a federal law that is designed to protect the privacy of patient information, provide for the electronic and physical security of health and patient medical information, and simplify billing and other electronic transactions by standardizing codes and procedures.  A piece of this law recently took effect and is known as the HIPAA Privacy Rule.  The HIPAA Privacy Rule creates a minimum federal standard for the use and disclosure of Protected Health Information (PHI) by health care organizations.  One of the requirements of the Privacy Rule is that we give to you a Notice of Privacy Practices (NPP) which describes your rights and protections regarding your health care records (PHI).

Posted below is our Notice of Privacy Practices (NPP), Please review it and/or print it out as you wish. Paper copies of the NPP are also available in our central office at 190 Galbraith Hall.  This Notice was created by a UC-wide committee.  You may find portions of the Notice are not directly applicable to you as a client of PCS.

The Notice explains your rights regarding your private healthcare information, including your right to:

• inspect and copy your medical records;

• request an amendment or addendum to your medical records;

• an accounting of disclosures of your private health information;

• request restrictions to release of your medical information; and

• request restrictions of confidential communications with you.

As always, we remain committed to maintaining your confidentiality and the privacy of psychological and medical records and we will continue to adhere to the psychologist's ethical guidelines and state and federal law. Please review the Counseling and Psychological Services Information and Consent Form for confidentiality regulations specific to mental health professionals.

If you have questions about the NPP or HIPAA regulations please review the frequently asked questions below.  You can also contact our HIPAA compliance officer, Dorinda Howse at (858) 534-3755 or look on the university's website at http://psychservices.ucsd.edu.

 

HIPAA and Notice of Privacy Practices (NPP) - Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is HIPAA?

A: HIPAA is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996.  A new federal law that takes effect this year.

 

Q: What is the Notice of Privacy Practices?

A: Starting April 14, 2003 , HIPAA requires all health care organizations to provide patients with a Notice (Notice of Privacy Practices) that explains your rights regarding your private healthcare information.  You have the right to:      

• inspect and copy your medical records;

• request an amendment or addendum to your medical records;

• an accounting of disclosures of your private health information;

• request restrictions to release of your medical information; and

• request confidential communications with you.

 

Q: Is Counseling and Psychological Services (PCS) treating my counseling record differently under HIPAA?

A: No, we have always protected your private counseling information in accordance with state and federal law and professional ethics.  We remain committed to maintaining the confidentiality of your records and private health information.

 

Q: Will PCS disclose my private counseling record for all of the reasons sited in the Notice of Privacy Practices?

A: The Notice says we "may use and disclose" your health information for various purposes, but that does not mean that we will use and disclose your information for all reasons sited.  Even though the Notice says "we may also give information to someone who helps pay for your care" that does not mean that we will break your confidence and contact a friend or family member.  We will only contact family members regarding your medical information if you give us express authorization to do so, except for life threatening emergencies.

 

Q: If my parent calls PCS and asks about my counseling record, what will happen?

A: We will only discuss your counseling record with your parent if you have given us express authorization to do so by completing an Authorization to Release Confidential Information Form or if we have determined that there is a life threatening emergency.

If you have additional questions about HIPAA, the Notice of Privacy Practices, your counseling record or privacy of your confidential healthcare information, please contact our HIPAA compliance officer, Monique Balestreri at (858) 534-3755.