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 National Nursing, A Professional Corporation, we are committed to protecting your health information. This notice outlines your rights and our legal obligations regarding your Protected Health Information (PHI) under both federal HIPAA laws and the California Confidentiality of Medical Information Act (CMIA).

Your Rights & California-Specific Timelines

As a patient in California, you have specific rights regarding the timing and access to your medical records:

• Access to Records: You have the right to inspect your records within 5 business days and receive copies within 15 business days of a written request.

• Enhanced Privacy Protections: We adhere to the California CMIA, which may provide stronger protections for your data than federal law.

• Breach Notification: In the event of a breach of your unsecured health information, we will notify you within 15 business days of discovery.

Special Protections for Mental Health & Substance Use

Given our specialization in Psychiatric Mental Health, we provide additional layers of confidentiality for sensitive records:

• Psychotherapy Notes: Private notes taken during sessions are kept separate from your medical record. Most uses and disclosures of these notes require your specific, written authorization and are not shared for "treatment, payment, or operations" without your consent.

• Substance Use Disorder Records (42 CFR Part 2): Information regarding SUD treatment is protected by federal law and cannot be used in civil, criminal, or administrative proceedings without your specific consent or a court order.

• California Civil Code 56.104: We will not disclose outpatient psychotherapy records to anyone not involved in your care without your authorization, except in emergencies or as required by law (e.g., duty to warn, or reporting of child/elder abuse).

How We Use Your Information

We use your health information primarily for the following purposes:

• Treatment: Coordinating and providing your clinical care.

• Payment: Billing you or your insurance provider for services rendered.

• Healthcare Operations: Managing the administrative and business functions of our practice.

Note: We will never sell your health information or use it for marketing purposes without your formal written authorization.

Social Media & Professional Boundaries

To maintain a secure therapeutic environment and protect your privacy, we adhere to the following digital boundaries:

• "Friending": We do not accept contact requests from current or former patients on personal social media platforms (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn).

• Secure Communication: Social media messaging is not secure. Please use our secure patient portal or professional email for all practice-related communication.

• Search Engines: We do not "Google" or search for patients online unless there is a crisis or a specific clinical necessity to ensure your safety.

• Public Interaction: To protect your confidentiality, if we encounter each other in public (online or in person), we will not acknowledge our professional relationship unless you approach us first.

Supplemental California Disclosures

• Open Payments Database (AB 1278): The federal Open Payments database tracks payments made by drug and device companies to healthcare providers. You can search this database at https://openpaymentsdata.cms.gov.

• Telehealth Informed Consent (AB 457):

  • Services are provided via interactive audio and video technology.

  • You have the right to access covered services in-person rather than via telehealth.

  • Your consent to telehealth is voluntary and can be withdrawn at any time.

Patient Acknowledgment & Consent

By utilizing our Services and the natnursing.com site, you acknowledge you have read and understood this Notice, including our specialized protections for mental health records, our social media boundaries, and the voluntary nature of telehealth care.

You acknowledge that you are financially responsible for all charges and understand that while we offer secure communication, standard email and text messaging are not 100% secure.

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Contact Information & Complaints

If you have questions about this Notice, wish to exercise your privacy rights, or believe your privacy rights have been violated, please contact our Privacy Officer at:

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National Nursing, A Professional Corporation

Attn: Privacy Officer

45300 Portola Ave #2191

Palm Desert, CA 92261

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Phone: 442-427-3699

Email: support@natnursing.com

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You may also file a complaint with the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) if you believe your privacy rights have been violated. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.