Notice of privacy practices

Who follows this notice

This notice covers New Hope Mind & Wellness, the practice of Dr. Nancy Mwania, DNP, PMHNP-BC, and anyone who works with the practice in caring for you. We are required by law to keep your protected health information private, to give you this notice of our legal duties and privacy practices, and to follow the notice currently in effect.

How we may use and share your health information

For treatment. We use your information to provide your care and may share it with others involved in that care, such as your therapist, primary care provider, pediatrician, or pharmacy, so your treatment is coordinated rather than siloed.

For payment. We may use and share your information to bill and collect payment, including with your health plan and our billing partners (such as Headway, for plans billed through them), to verify benefits, and to obtain authorizations.

For health care operations. We may use your information to run the practice: quality improvement, record keeping, compliance, and similar activities that keep care safe and effective.

Appointment reminders and communications. We may contact you to remind you of appointments or share information related to your care. Tell us if you prefer a specific phone number, email, or method, and we will accommodate reasonable requests.

People involved in your care. With your permission, or using professional judgment in your best interest, we may share relevant information with a family member or other person you involve in your care.

Disclosures the law allows or requires

We may use or share your information without your authorization only in limited situations, including: when required by law; for public health activities; to report suspected abuse or neglect (health care providers are mandated reporters); for health oversight activities; in response to courts and legal proceedings; for limited law enforcement purposes; to prevent a serious and imminent threat to health or safety; for workers' compensation; to coroners or medical examiners; and for certain specialized government functions. In each case we share only what the law permits.

Uses that require your written authorization

Psychotherapy notes. Notes kept separately about counseling conversations receive extra protection. With narrow legal exceptions, we will not use or share psychotherapy notes without your written authorization.

Marketing and sale. We will not use your information for marketing, and we will never sell your health information. Any use like this would require your written authorization first.

If you give an authorization, you may revoke it in writing at any time. The revocation applies going forward; it can't undo sharing we did while the authorization was in effect.

California adds protection

California law, including the Confidentiality of Medical Information Act, gives mental health records additional protection beyond federal law. Where state law is stricter, we follow state law.

For patients under 18, California law also gives minors certain rights regarding consent to mental health care and access to records. We follow those rules carefully and will explain how they apply to your family.

Your rights

You have the right to: see and get a copy of your health record, on paper or electronically (a reasonable, cost-based fee may apply); ask us to correct information you believe is wrong or incomplete; request an accounting of certain disclosures we have made; request restrictions on how we use or share your information, including the right to restrict disclosure to your health plan for services you have paid for in full out of pocket, which we must honor; request confidential communications by a specific method or at a specific location; get a paper copy of this notice at any time; be notified of a breach of unsecured health information; and choose someone to act for you, such as a medical power of attorney or legal guardian.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us using the information below. We will never retaliate against you for exercising a privacy right.

Changes to this notice

We may update this notice, and changes will apply to information we already hold as well as new information. The current notice will always be posted on this page and available on paper at your request.

Questions and complaints

If you have questions or believe your privacy rights have been violated, please contact us first; we want to make it right. Privacy contact: Dr. Nancy Mwania, New Hope Mind & Wellness, 27555 Ynez Rd, Suite 407, Temecula, CA 92591, (909) 298-8687.

You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights: 200 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20201, 1-877-696-6775, or online at hhs.gov/ocr. Filing a complaint will never affect your care.