Legal notices

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You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical 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 bill for medical items and services.

You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees.

 Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service.

If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.

lMake 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 or call 800-985-3059.

Clients have the right to request access to their health care records.

To request your records:

1. Submit a written request by email or through the secure client portal.
2. Include your full name, date of birth, and the specific records you are requesting.
3. Requests may be subject to identity verification and applicable fees as permitted by law.
4. Records will be provided within the timeframe required by Texas law.

If you have questions about requesting records, please contact the practice directly using the contact information listed on this website.

If you would like to contact the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council (BHEC), which oversees behavioral health licensing boards in Texas, you may do so using the information below:

Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council
Website: https://www.bhec.texas.gov
Contact Page: https://www.bhec.texas.gov/contact-us

The Council can provide information about licensure, regulations, and the complaint process.

If you believe your rights have been violated or you wish to file a consumer complaint, you may contact the Office of the Texas Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division.

You can file a complaint online at:
https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/consumer-protection/file-consumer-complaint

This process is independent of the practice and allows consumers to raise concerns related to services provided in Texas.

These disclosures are provided in accordance with Texas House Bill 4224 and Texas Health & Safety Code §181.105.

Use and Disclosure of Substance Use Disorder Records Subject to 42 CFR Part 2:

If applicable, your substance use disorder (“SUD”) records are protected by federal law under 42 C.F.R. Part 2 (“Part 2”). This law provides extra confidentiality protections and requires a separate patient consent for the use and disclosure of SUD counseling notes. Each disclosure made with patient consent must include a copy of the consent or a clear explanation of the scope of the consent. It must also be accompanied by a written notice containing the language in 42 CFR Part 2.32(a). Disclosure of these records requires your explicit written consent, except in limited circumstances such as: (a) Medical Emergencies: to the extent necessary to treat you, (b) Reporting Crimes on Program Premises, (c) Child Abuse Reporting: In connection with incidents of suspected child abuse or neglect to appropriate state or local authorities, and (d) Fundraising: We will provide you with an opportunity to decline to receive
any fundraising communications prior to making such communications.

You may revoke this consent at any time.

Prohibitions on Use and Disclosure of Part 2 Records:

SUD records received from programs subject to Part 2, or testimony relaying the content of such records, shall not be used or disclosed in civil, criminal, administrative, or legislative proceedings against you unless based on your written consent, or a court order after notice and an opportunity to be heard is provided to you or the holder of the record, as provided in Part 2. A court order authorizing use or disclosure must be accompanied by a subpoena or other legal requirement compelling disclosure before the requested SUD record is used
or disclosed. If SUD records are disclosed to us or our business associates pursuant to your written consent for treatment, payment, and healthcare operations, we or our business associates may further use and disclose such health information without your written consent to the extent that the HIPAA regulations permit such uses and disclosures, consistent with the other provisions in this Notice regarding PHI.

More information about regulations regarding the use and disclosure of medical records can be found at the Center of Excellence for Protected Health Information website.