Health Information and Portability & Accountability Act (HIPAA)

CLARIFICATION OF HIGHER PRIVACY STANDARDS 

The HIPAA (Health Information and Portability and Accountability Act) federal guidelines refer to the privacy and security regulations concerning the protection of your health information. However, Psychologists and Counselors must also follow professional standards, state licensing boards, and related state and federal laws. As professional psychologists and counselors we will follow our professional regulations when they are more restrictive (provide greater privacy) than the federal HIPAA regulations. For example, under section “IV Examples of Disclosures for Treatment, Payment, and Health Care Operations”, we will not disclose your health information without obtaining your prior authorization (see subsections “1. Treatment, 6. Directory, 7. Communication with Family, 16. Military, or 18. Abuse or Neglect”) unless a person’s life is at risk, when required by law (reported child or elder abuse or neglect, national security risk, or by court order). Counseling professionals in this Center can also consult with each other to insure quality care.

COUNSELING & PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES CENTER'S STATEMENT OF HIGHER PRIVACY STANDARDS WITH REGARD TO WESTERN'S HIPAA NOTIFICATION (PDF)

HIPAA NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES OF WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY
EFFECTIVE DATE: APRIL 14, 2003 (PDF)