Notice of Privacy Practices

ELECTRONIC RECORDS DISCLOSURE

I keep and store records for each client in a record-keeping system. This system is “cloud-based,” meaning the records are stored on servers which are connected to the Internet. Here are the ways in which the security of these records is maintained:
I have entered into a HIPAA Business Associate Agreement with Acuity Scheduling. Because of this agreement, Acuity Scheduling is obligated by federal law to protect these records from unauthorized use or disclosure.
The computers on which these records are stored are kept in secure data centers, where various physical security measures are used to maintain the protection of the computers from physical access by unauthorized persons.
Acuity Scheduling employs various technical security measures to maintain the protection of these records from unauthorized use or disclosure.

I have my own security measures for protecting the devices that I use to access these records:
On computers, I employ firewalls, antivirus software, passwords, and disk encryption to protect the computer from unauthorized access and thus to protect the records from unauthorized access.
With mobile devices, I use passwords, remote tracking, and remote wipe to maintain the security of the device and prevent unauthorized persons from using it to access my records.

Here are things to keep in mind about my record-keeping system:
While my record-keeping company and I both use security measures to protect these records, their security cannot be guaranteed.
Some workforce members at Acuity Scheduling, such as engineers or administrators, may have the ability to access these records for the purpose of maintaining the system itself. As a HIPAA Business Associate, Acuity Scheduling is obligated by law to train their staff on the proper maintenance of confidential records and to prevent misuse or unauthorized disclosure of these records. This protection cannot be guaranteed, however.
My record-keeping company keeps a log of my transactions with the system for various purposes, including maintaining the integrity of the records and allowing for security audits.

GFE Disclosure

You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your
medical and mental health care will cost. Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the expected charges for medical services, including psychotherapy services. You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency healthcare services, including psychotherapy services. You can ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule a service. If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill. Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith
Estimate. For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate,
visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises.

Melanie Cauble is not contracted with any insurance plans. Some or all of the amounts paid might not count toward your insurance deductible or out-of-pocket limit. Since the length of therapy varies, the estimate would show the per-session costs for one to 52 sessions, as the estimate is valid for 12 months. Advance notice will be given if there are fee adjustments.