Insurance Information

Insurance Usage and Issues of Confidentiality and Privileged Communications:

Many patients elect to file third party insurance coverage, including Medicare, for services rendered. We will file insurance claims for you, provided you authorize us to do so and provide us with the necessary information for filing such claims. It is our responsibility is to inform you about the compromising of your confidentiality and privacy when complying with the requirements of insurance companies.

The compromising of your confidentiality is standard in today’s marketplace whenever one chooses to use third party insurance coverage for services rendered. Fortunately the newly enacted HIPAA regulations do provide you an increased degree of privacy and confidentiality regarding your protected health information. Payors of care can no longer make full release of your mental health record a condition for payment of your claims. Instead, release of your mental health records is limited only to your designated mental health record set and not psychotherapy notes made during sessions.

What you talk about in your established relationship with your therapist is protected by privileged communication laws of the State of Tennessee and confidentiality principles, with the exception of certain specific actions (i.e., clear and imminent danger to self or others, suspected child abuse, worker’s compensation related cases, if your mental health becomes an issue in a lawsuit, whatever information is shared in utilization review reports for authorization of care, compliance with chart audits by your insurance carrier). With these exceptions, unless you specifically sign a release of information authorizing release of protected health information, all communications are kept private, confidential, and privileged. We strive to maintain the sacredness and privacy of your confidential communications with us.