THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW CLIENTS’ MEDICAL INFORMATION MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.

Speech Language Learning Systems, Inc. (SLLS) is required by law to maintain the privacy of clients’ health information. This information may include notes/documents from clients’ doctors, teachers, and/or other service providers, medical history, test results, treatment notes, and insurance documents. Government rules require that you get a copy of this privacy notice. This rule is called the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act—or HIPAA for short. We will ask you to sign a document saying that you have been given this notice. Read this notice at any time to see how clients’ health information can be used and who can see it.

How Clients’ Health Information May be Used or Shared

The privacy of clients’ health information is important to us at SLLS. We highly value client information and collaboration with families and other professions on behalf of those we serve. We may use or share clients’ health information both with and without your permission, depending on the circumstances. To obtain your permission, you will be asked to sign a separate authorization form that allows us to share clients’ information. You are allowed to take back this authorization (revoking authorization) at any time. Information shared prior to revocation will not be able to be retrieved by SLLS.

SLLS may use or share clients’ health information with permission for anything including, but not limited to, the following:

• Treatment/Intervention. We may share information with doctors, educators, health care providers and other professionals who provide clients’ services. For example, if we are providing your child intervention at your child’s school, we may share informational updates with your child’s teacher. Client information will only be discussed and disclosed by SLLS as it relates to client services, and it will only be discussed with those individual or entities who are listed on the SLLS Permission to Release Information form. We do not distribute written client information directly to third parties (i.e., family members, trusts, insurance companies, schools, or other professionals), unless required by law. Written information will only be given to the client, if of age, or to the client’s parent(s)/guardians(s) for distribution.
• Payment. We are a private-pay private practice, require payment at the time of service(s), and do not bill insurance companies; however, we may on occasion “verbally” use and share information about the treatment you receive with your insurance company as it relates to service provision and/or your personal reimbursement for services. As stated above, we do not distribute written client information directly to third parties (i.e., family members, trusts, insurance companies, schools, or other professionals), unless required by law. Written information will only be given to the client, if of age, or to the client’s parent(s)/guardians(s) for distribution.

SLLS may use or share clients’ health information without permission for the following reasons:

• Health Care Operations. We may use and share clients’ health information to run the clinic and make sure clients receive good care. For example, we may use your health information to monitor service outcomes, see how well our staff is doing, and improve our services.
• Abuse and Neglect. We may share clients’ health information with government agencies when there is evidence of abuse, neglect, or domestic violence.
• Appointment Reminders. We will use clients’ information to remind you of upcoming appointments. Reminders may be sent in the mail, by email, text, or by phone call or voicemail message. If you do not wish to receive reminders, please notify your speech language pathologist and/or front office staff.
• As Required by Law. We will share clients’ information when directed to do so by Federal, State, or Local Law. We will also share information if directed by the police or courts.
• Government Functions. Clients’ information may be shared for national security or military purposes.
• Marketing. We may use clients’ information to let you know of other services that might be of interest to you. By providing your phone number, mailing address, and email(s), you are giving permission to SLLS to contact you via US mail, email, and/or text message, including informational updates about SLLS services and events.
• Public Health Risks. We may report information to public health agencies as required by law. This may be done to help prevent disease, injury, or disability. It may also be done to report medical device safety issues to the Food and Drug Administration and to report diseases and infections.
• Regulatory Oversight. We may use or share clients’ information to report to agencies overseeing health care. This may include sharing information for audits, licensure, and inspections.
• Threats to Health and Safety. Health information may be shared if it is believed that this information will prevent a threat to the health and safety of you or others.
• Workers’ Compensation. We will share your information with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Workers’ Compensation if your case is being considered as a work-related injury or illness.

Your Privacy Rights

You have the right to do all of the following:

• Ask SLLS not to share clients’ information. You can ask SLLS not to use or share clients’ information for treatment, payment, or health care operations. You can also ask SLLS not to share information with people involved in clients’ care, like family members or friends. You must ask for limits in writing. We must share information when required by law.
• Ask SLLS to contact you privately. You can ask us to only contact you in a certain way or at a certain place. For example, you may want us to call you but not email, or you may want us to call you at work and not at home. Requests must be in writing. SLLS will do its best to comply with your request.
• Look at and copy clients’ health information. You have the right to see clients’ health information and get a copy of that information. You have a right to see treatment, medical, and billing information. You may not be able to see or copy information put together for a court case, certain lab results, and copyrighted materials, such as test protocols.
• Request changes to clients’ health information. You have the right to request a change or addition/deletion of information. In order to be considered by SLLS, requests must be in writing with the reason for the change stated. SLLS will make its best effort to honor your request; however, SLLS retains its right to keep original content.
• Receive a report of how and when your information was used or shared. You have the right to request information on what information of yours was shared, when it was shared, and with whom. Requests must be received in writing stating the requested dates and how you would like to receive that information. Information can be provided going back 6 years, but no earlier than April 14, 2003, when the government privacy rules took effect.
• Receive a paper copy of this privacy notice. You may request a paper copy of this notice at any time, even if you have already signed the form saying you have seen this notice.
• File complaints. You may file a complaint with us or with the U.S. government if you think your information was used or shared in a way that is not allowed, you were not allowed to look at or copy your information, and/or any of your rights were denied.

Who Is Covered by This Notice: All SLLS staff/employees and business associates are covered by this notice.

Changes to the Information in This Notice: SLLS may change this notice at any time. Changes apply to both historical and future client information. Copies of the new notice will be available from our staff.

Complaints: You may file a complaint if you think there was improper use of client information. A complaint may be submitted to your regional office of the U.S. Office of Civil Rights. To find out more about filing a complaint, please go to www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints/index.html. All complaints must be in writing. You will not be penalized for filing a complaint.

Contact: If you have any questions about this notice or your privacy rights, please contact Dana E. Gooden-Schroeder, 16100 Chesterfield Parkway W. #270, Chesterfield, MO, 63017, 636-537-1576.

Effective Date: 6/1/2024