For Your Review

• Initiating contact with me and/or visiting this website does not constitute a treating relationship

• If you are or believe yourself to be in a state of psychiatric crisis, call 911, visit the closest Emergency Room, or call GCAL (Georgia Crisis Access Line) 1-800-715-4225

• License Numbers: 001350 (GA), 1910 (TN), LF61571457 (WA), LMFT10000211 (MA)

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) requires that access to Protected Health Information (PHI) will be managed to guard the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of PHI. According to the law, Laura McMaster must preserve the integrity and the confidentiality of individually identifiable health information (IIHI) pertaining to each patient or client.

Privacy Regulation Implementation Specification Language

§164.520(a)(1)"An individual has a right to adequate notice of the uses and disclosures of protected health information that may be made by the covered entity, and of the individual’s rights and the covered entity's legal duties with respect to protected health information."

§164.520(b)(1) "The covered entity must provide a notice that is written in plain language and that contains the elements required by this paragraph."

Policy Purposes

The purpose of this policy is to comply with the HIPAA Privacy Rule’s requirements pertaining to the individual's right to the notice by Laura McMaster’s privacy practices as it pertains to uses/disclosures of PHI, individual's rights under the Privacy Rule, how to file a complaint, and all other requirements as required under federal and state laws governing notice of privacy practices. The Privacy Rule requires all Covered Entities to distribute a notice of privacy practices to their patient's describing the policies and procedures followed to protect the privacy of patient's PHI as well as describe patient's rights. NOTE: This is not a joint notice.

Right to Notice

Laura McMaster will provide a copy of the Notice to every individual when they first become associated with L McMaster Services, LLC. Copies will be made available with every revision and upon patient request. In addition, an electronic copy of the notice will be maintained on the website as well.

Acknowledgement of Notice

Laura McMaster will make every reasonable effort to obtain acknowledgement of receipt of the Notice for the patient or personal representative of the patient. If unable to obtain acknowledgement due to emergency situations, every reasonable effort will be made to obtain acknowledgement once the patient is able.

If the patient refuses to sign the acknowledgement, Laura McMaster will document the refusal on the acknowledgement form.

Laura McMaster will document compliance with the notice requirements by retaining copies of the notices and written acknowledgements of receipt for six years.