Privacy
Your information deserves care.
This page explains both the privacy practices for this website and the Notice of Privacy Practices for Protected Health Information held by Therapeutic Pathways.
Website privacy notice
Website privacy
This website is designed to provide general information about the practice. The main site does not include a general contact form or directly collect health, clinical, insurance, or other protected information.
Please do not send health information through general channels.
Email, phone voicemail, and social media are not appropriate for urgent or detailed clinical communication. Please do not include private health information in an email or social media message. After a therapeutic relationship begins, the practice will explain which secure systems are used for clinical communication, appointments, and documents.
Basic technical information
Like most websites, the hosting service may automatically process limited technical information needed to deliver the site, such as browser type, device information, IP address, and pages requested. This website does not use advertising pixels, behavioral advertising, or its own analytics scripts.
Third-party services you choose to use
When you select an external link, you leave this website and the other service’s terms and privacy practices apply. Appointment requests are handled through TherapyPortal. The optional insurance-benefit checker is provided by Thrizer and is not loaded until you choose to open it. If you open and use that tool, you submit information directly to Thrizer, an independently operated third party, and Thrizer processes it under its own policies. Using the checker is optional. Read Thrizer’s Privacy Policy.
Questions about website privacy
For general privacy questions, contact Therapeutic Pathways at Lorrainerichardson@therapeuticpathwaysllc.com or 516-631-4818. Please do not include private health information in an email.
Notice of Privacy Practices
Our responsibility to protect your health information
This Notice describes how medical and mental health information about you may be used and disclosed, and how you can access that information. Please review it carefully.
Therapeutic Pathways is required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information (PHI), to provide you with this Notice of its legal duties and privacy practices, and to notify you if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your PHI. We will follow the duties and privacy practices described in this Notice and provide a copy upon request.
We will not use or share your PHI other than as described here unless you tell us in writing that we may do so. You may change your mind at any time by telling us in writing. A revocation will not affect disclosures already made in reliance on your prior authorization.
How we may use or share your PHI
For treatment
We may use or share your PHI with other professionals involved in your care when needed to provide, coordinate, or manage treatment. We will discuss appropriate coordination with you when applicable.
For payment
We may use or disclose PHI to bill for services, obtain payment, provide a superbill, or help you receive reimbursement from a health plan when you request it. We may need to share limited information with a billing service or insurer for these purposes.
For health care operations
We may use or disclose PHI to run the practice, improve the quality of care, manage records, conduct professional consultation as permitted by law, and meet legal or regulatory obligations.
Other uses and disclosures permitted or required by law
We may use or share PHI in certain situations allowed or required by law, including to help with public health and safety issues, respond to legal proceedings or law-enforcement requests, comply with workers’ compensation laws, report suspected abuse or neglect when required, or prevent a serious and imminent threat to health or safety. We may also disclose information for health oversight activities, government functions, and as otherwise required by law.
Uses that require your written authorization
Most uses and disclosures of psychotherapy notes, uses and disclosures for marketing purposes, and any sale of PHI require your written authorization unless an exception applies. We will obtain your written authorization for other uses or disclosures not described in this Notice when required by law.
Additional protections for certain substance-use-disorder records
If Therapeutic Pathways creates or maintains records that are subject to the federal substance-use-disorder confidentiality rules in 42 CFR Part 2, those records receive the additional protections required by law. Any applicable Part 2 notice will be provided as required.
Your choices
You may tell us in writing how you would like us to share information with family, friends, or others involved in your care or payment for care. In an emergency, we may share information if we believe it is in your best interest and permitted by law.
Your rights regarding your health information
Get a copy of your records
You may ask to inspect or receive an electronic or paper copy of the health information we maintain about you. We will provide it in the time and manner required by law. A reasonable, cost-based fee may apply.
Ask us to correct information
You may ask us to correct health information you believe is incorrect or incomplete. We may deny your request in certain circumstances, but we will provide a written explanation.
Request confidential communications
You may ask us to contact you in a specific way or at a specific location. We will accommodate reasonable requests.
Ask us to limit certain uses or disclosures
You may ask us not to use or share certain information for treatment, payment, or operations. We are not required to agree to every request, except that we will honor a request not to disclose information to a health plan for payment or operations if you pay for the related service in full out of pocket and the law requires us to honor the request.
Get a list of certain disclosures
You may ask for an accounting of certain disclosures made during the period allowed by law. This list will not include disclosures made for treatment, payment, or health care operations, or certain other disclosures that are not required to be included.
Get a copy of this Notice
You may ask for a paper copy of this Notice at any time, even if you agreed to receive it electronically.
Choose someone to act for you
If someone has legal authority to make health care decisions for you, that person may exercise your rights and make choices about your health information after we verify the authority.
Questions, changes, or complaints
We may change the terms of this Notice. Any revised Notice will apply to all PHI we maintain and will be available on this website and upon request.
For questions about this Notice, to exercise a privacy right, or to make a complaint, contact Lorraine Richardson, LCSW, at Lorrainerichardson@therapeuticpathwaysllc.com or 516-631-4818. You will not be retaliated against for filing a complaint.
You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights. Visit hhs.gov/ocr/complaints for current instructions.