HIPAA Policy

Purpose: This policy outlines the procedures and guidelines that Cynthia Bink follows to ensure compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations for protecting the privacy and security of Protected Health Information (PHI) of our clients.

Confidentiality:

• Cynthia Bink is committed to maintaining the confidentiality of all PHI obtained during the course of providing psychotherapy services.
• All client records and communications, whether written or electronic, are considered confidential and will only be accessed by authorized individuals for legitimate purposes related to client care or as required by law.

Use and Disclosure of PHI:

• PHI will only be used or disclosed for the purposes of treatment, payment, or healthcare operations, as permitted by HIPAA regulations.
• Prior to any disclosure of PHI for purposes other than treatment, payment, or healthcare operations, client authorization will be obtained, unless otherwise permitted by law.

Safeguarding PHI:

• Physical, technical, and administrative safeguards will be implemented to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of PHI.
• Access to client records and PHI will be restricted to authorized personnel on a need-to-know basis.
• Electronic PHI will be encrypted and password-protected to prevent unauthorized access.

Breach Notification:

• In the event of a breach of unsecured PHI, Cynthia Bink will follow HIPAA breach notification requirements, including notifying affected individuals..

Policy Review and Revision:

• This HIPAA policy will be reviewed and updated as necessary to reflect changes in HIPAA regulations, organizational practices, or emerging security threats.

Contact Information:

• For questions or concerns regarding HIPAA compliance or privacy practices, clients may contact Cynthia Bink at 347-541-0923.