Notice of Privacy Practices (HIPAA)
THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.
At NewGen Psychiatry, PLLC, we are committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of your personal and Protected Health Information (PHI). This Notice of Privacy Practices describes how we collect, use, and disclose your health information in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and applicable state laws in Texas, New Mexico, and Washington.
How We May Use and Disclose Your Health Information
We use and disclose your PHI for treatment, payment, and healthcare operations, as well as other circumstances permitted or required by law:
Treatment: To provide, coordinate, and manage your psychiatric care. For example, we may share information with your designated pharmacy to fulfill prescriptions, with your primary care provider for care coordination, or with covering clinicians.
Payment: To bill and collect payment from you, your credit card holder, or your health insurance plan. This includes submitting claims to in-network insurers (such as Aetna, Cigna, Regence, UMR, GEHA, Optum, Oscar, Oxford, UnitedHealthcare, or Evernorth).
Healthcare Operations: For administrative operations, quality improvement, compliance tracking, and practice management.
As Required or Permitted by Law: We may disclose health information without your authorization when legally mandated, including:
Reporting suspected abuse, neglect, or domestic violence.
Responding to court orders, subpoenas, or legal proceedings.
Preventing or averting a serious and imminent threat to your health and safety or the safety of others.
Public health activities, workers’ compensation claims, and health oversight audits.
Special Safeguards for Mental Health & Telehealth Data
Psychotherapy Notes: Notes recorded by a mental health professional documenting private therapy conversations receive heightened protection and generally cannot be disclosed without your specific written authorization.
Substance Use Disorder Records: Any records protected under federal regulations (42 CFR Part 2) will not be released without your explicit, separate written consent.
Telehealth Privacy & Technology: We conduct video appointments using encrypted, HIPAA-compliant platforms. While we implement commercially reasonable administrative and technical safeguards, you are responsible for securing your own device, internet network, and private location during sessions. Sessions are never recorded by NewGen Psychiatry without prior written consent.
Your Rights Regarding Your Health Information
Under federal privacy rules, you hold specific rights regarding your Protected Health Information:
Right to Inspect and Copy: You have the right to inspect and obtain an electronic or paper copy of your medical and billing records, with limited legal exceptions.
Right to Request Amendments: If you feel your health record is inaccurate or incomplete, you may request in writing that we correct or amend the information.
Right to Request Restrictions: You may request restrictions on how we use or disclose your PHI for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations. While we are not always required to agree, we must agree to restrict disclosures to a health plan if you pay for a service entirely out-of-pocket.
Right to Confidential Communications: You can request that we contact you through specific channels (e.g., a specific phone number or email address) or send written communications to a designated address.
Right to an Accounting of Disclosures: You may request a list (accounting) of certain disclosures we have made of your PHI for purposes other than treatment, payment, or routine operations.
Right to a Copy of This Notice: You are entitled to receive a paper or electronic copy of this Notice of Privacy Practices upon request at any time.
Revocation & Other Uses of Information
Most uses and disclosures of your health information not described in this notice will be made only with your written authorization (such as an Authorization to Release Health Information). You may revoke any written authorization at any time in writing, except to the extent that action has already been taken based on that consent.
Duties, Updates & Privacy Complaints
Our Legal Duties: NewGen Psychiatry, PLLC is required by law to maintain the privacy of your health information, provide you with this notice of our legal duties and privacy practices, abide by the terms of the notice currently in effect, and notify you promptly if an unsecured breach of your PHI occurs.
Policy Updates: We reserve the right to revise this notice. Updated policies will apply to all health information we maintain and will be available upon request or on our website.
Filing a Complaint: If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint directly with our practice or with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office for Civil Rights. You will not be penalized or retaliated against for filing a complaint.
Privacy Contact Information
For questions regarding this Notice of Privacy Practices, to exercise your privacy rights, or to file a privacy complaint, please contact our designated Privacy Contact:
Privacy Officer: Reginald Ibe, PMHNP-BC
Practice: NewGen Psychiatry, PLLC
Phone: (832) 992-5479
Service States: Texas · New Mexico · Washington