This Notice of Privacy Practices describes how your Protected Health Information (PHI) may be used and disclosed, and how you can access this information. Please review it carefully.

Practice: Northeast Texas Psychiatry, PLLC Effective date: March 1, 2025

Your rights

You have the following rights regarding your PHI:

  • Access your records: You may request to see or obtain copies of your medical records. Requests must be made in writing, and fees may apply for copies or summaries.
  • Request corrections: If you believe your records are incorrect or incomplete, you may request amendments.
  • Request confidential communications: You can request that we communicate with you using alternative methods (for example, a different phone number or mailing address).
  • Request restrictions: You may request that we restrict the use or disclosure of your PHI. While we will consider your request, we are not required to agree unless the restriction involves disclosure to a health plan for services paid out-of-pocket.
  • Request an accounting of disclosures: You can request a list of certain disclosures of your PHI made in the past six years, excluding those related to treatment, payment, or healthcare operations.
  • Receive a copy of this notice: You may request a paper or electronic copy of this Notice at any time.
  • File a complaint: If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you can file a complaint with our office or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. There will be no retaliation for filing a complaint.

Our responsibilities

We are required by law to:

  • Maintain the privacy and security of your PHI.
  • Provide you with this Notice of our legal duties and privacy practices.
  • Notify you promptly if a breach occurs that compromises the privacy or security of your information.
  • Follow the terms of this Notice and obtain your written permission for certain uses and disclosures.

How we may use and disclose protected health information

  • For treatment: We may use and disclose your PHI to provide, coordinate, or manage your healthcare, including sharing with other providers involved in your care.
  • For payment: We may use and disclose your PHI to bill and collect payment for services provided to you.
  • For healthcare operations: We may use and disclose your PHI for administrative and operational purposes, such as improving care quality or training staff.
  • Appointment reminders and communications: We may use your PHI to send reminders and other communications via email, text message, or phone call, limited to information reasonably necessary.
  • As required by law: We will disclose your PHI when required by federal, state, or local law.
  • To prevent harm: We may disclose your PHI to prevent a serious threat to your health or safety, or the health and safety of others, including disclosures related to suicidal ideation or threats of harm as required by Texas law.
  • Public health and safety activities: We may disclose your PHI for public health purposes, such as reporting diseases or adverse drug reactions.
  • Mandatory reporting: We may disclose your PHI to appropriate authorities if we suspect abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a child, elderly person, or disabled adult, as required by Texas law.
  • Law enforcement and legal proceedings: We may disclose your PHI in response to a court order, subpoena, or other legal process.
  • Specialized government functions: We may disclose PHI for military or national security purposes, or to correctional institutions as required.
  • Workers’ compensation: We may disclose your PHI as necessary to comply with workers’ compensation laws.
  • Other uses and disclosures with your authorization: For uses and disclosures not described in this Notice, we will obtain your written authorization. You may revoke authorization in writing at any time.

Your choices

In certain situations, you have the right to make choices about how your PHI is used and disclosed:

  • Family and friends: You may permit us to share information about your condition or care with family, close friends, or others involved in your care. You can also object to such disclosures.
  • Marketing and sale of information: Northeast Texas Psychiatry, PLLC does not sell patient health information. We do not use PHI for marketing without any required written authorization.
  • Psychotherapy notes: Psychotherapy notes are kept separate from your medical record and require your authorization for most uses and disclosures.

Additional protections for substance use disorder records

If we maintain records related to substance use disorder treatment that are protected by federal confidentiality law (42 CFR Part 2), those records may have additional restrictions on use and disclosure. When required, we will obtain appropriate written consent or authorization before disclosure, except where law allows or requires disclosure.

Patient-initiated communication disclaimer

Patients may choose to communicate with Northeast Texas Psychiatry, PLLC via text message, email, or other non-secure methods. By initiating communication through these channels, patients acknowledge that these methods may not be secure and assume risks associated with transmitting PHI. Northeast Texas Psychiatry, PLLC is not responsible for maintaining confidentiality of PHI once transmitted to the patient through non-secure methods. Staff will avoid including unnecessary PHI in responses and may redirect patients to secure communication channels when appropriate.

Contact information

If you have questions about this Notice, or if you want to exercise your rights, please contact us:

Northeast Texas Psychiatry, PLLC
10760 FM 2813 #500, Flint, TX 75762
Phone: (903) 509-0999
Email: [email protected]

You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights:

Website: www.hhs.gov/ocr
Phone: 1-800-368-1019
Mail: 200 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20201

This Notice is effective as of March 1, 2025. We reserve the right to change the terms of this Notice and make new provisions effective for all PHI we maintain. If changes are made, the updated Notice will be available in our office and on our website.