Legal Notices

Good Faith Estimate Notice

Under the No Surprises Act, you have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical and mental health care will cost.

Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the expected charges for medical services, including psychotherapy services.

You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency healthcare services, including psychotherapy services.

You can ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule a service.

If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill. Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate.

For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises.

Requesting Your Health Care Records

You have the right to request a copy of your mental health records.

To request your records, please submit a written request to Murdock Therapy PLLC. Requests may be made by email at info@murdocktherapy.com, or by mail to 5900 Balcones Drive, Suite 100, Austin, Texas 78731. Records will be provided in accordance with Texas law and applicable privacy regulations.

If you have questions about accessing your records, please contact Murdock Therapy PLLC for assistance.

Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council

The Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council (BHEC) regulates licensed mental health professionals in Texas. You may contact BHEC directly. Contact information is available at https://bhec.texas.gov/contact-us/.

Filing a Consumer Complaint

If you wish to file a consumer complaint, you may do so with the Texas Office of the Attorney General. Instructions for filing a consumer complaint are available at https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/consumer-protection.

Notice of Privacy Practices

I. MY PLEDGE REGARDING HEALTH INFORMATION

I understand that health information about you and your health care is personal. I am committed to protecting health information about you. I create a record of the care and services you receive from me. I need this record to provide you with quality care and to comply with certain legal requirements.

This Notice applies to all records of your care generated by this mental health practice. This Notice describes the ways in which I may use and disclose health information about you, your rights regarding the health information I maintain, and my legal obligations regarding the use and disclosure of your health information.

I am required by law to:

  1. Maintain the privacy of your protected health information ("PHI").

  2. Provide you with this Notice of my legal duties and privacy practices.

  3. Follow the terms of the Notice currently in effect.

  4. Notify you following a breach of unsecured PHI as required by applicable law.

  5. Provide you with adequate notice of your rights and my legal duties if I create or maintain records protected by 42 C.F.R. Part 2.

If you have questions about this Notice or wish to exercise any of your privacy rights, please contact me using the contact information provided at the end of this Notice.

I reserve the right to change the terms of this Notice. Any changes will apply to all information that I maintain. The current version of this Notice will be available upon request, in my office, and on my website.

Texas Law Notice: This practice is governed by Texas Health & Safety Code Chapter 611. Where Texas law provides greater confidentiality protections than HIPAA, the stricter Texas standard applies.

II. HOW I MAY USE AND DISCLOSE HEALTH INFORMATION ABOUT YOU

For Treatment, Payment, and Health Care Operations

I may use and disclose your PHI without your written authorization for treatment, payment, and health care operations as permitted by HIPAA. Examples include consultation with other health care providers, coordination of care, billing, and administrative functions necessary to operate this practice.

Disclosures for treatment purposes are not subject to the HIPAA minimum necessary standard because health care providers often require complete information to provide appropriate care.

Lawsuits and Disputes

If you are involved in a legal proceeding, I may disclose information in response to a court order or other lawful process as permitted by applicable law. When appropriate, I will seek to obtain your authorization before disclosing information.

If records are protected by 42 C.F.R. Part 2, additional restrictions may apply.

III. CERTAIN USES AND DISCLOSURES REQUIRE YOUR AUTHORIZATION

1. Psychotherapy Notes

I maintain psychotherapy notes as defined by HIPAA. Any use or disclosure of psychotherapy notes requires your written authorization except in circumstances specifically permitted by law, including treatment, training, defense of legal actions brought by you, health oversight activities, certain law enforcement purposes, and preventing serious threats to health or safety.

2. Substance Use Disorder Counseling Notes

If applicable, any use or disclosure of SUD counseling notes requires separate written authorization consistent with applicable federal law.

3. Revocation of Authorization

You may revoke any authorization in writing at any time except to the extent I have already relied upon it.

4. Marketing

I will not use or disclose your PHI for marketing purposes without your authorization.

5. Sale of PHI

I will not sell your PHI.

IV. CERTAIN USES AND DISCLOSURES DO NOT REQUIRE YOUR AUTHORIZATION

Subject to applicable legal limitations, I may use or disclose your PHI without authorization:

  1. As required by federal or Texas law.

  2. For public health and safety activities.

  3. To report suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation when required by law.

  4. To prevent a serious threat to health or safety.

  5. For health oversight activities.

  6. For judicial and administrative proceedings.

  7. For law enforcement purposes.

  8. To coroners or medical examiners.

  9. For approved research activities when permitted by law.

  10. For specialized government functions.

  11. For workers' compensation purposes.

  12. For appointment reminders and information about treatment alternatives or services.

  13. Electronic Communications

At your request, I may communicate with you by email, text message, telehealth platform, patient portal, or other electronic means. While reasonable safeguards are used, electronic communications carry some risk of unauthorized access. By choosing to communicate electronically, you acknowledge and accept these risks.

V. CERTAIN USES AND DISCLOSURES REQUIRE YOU TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO OBJECT

1. Family Members and Others Involved in Care

I may disclose relevant PHI to family members, friends, or others involved in your care or payment for care unless you object.

2. Fundraising

If applicable, you will be provided an opportunity to opt out before any fundraising communications that involve your PHI.

VI. YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING YOUR PHI

Personal Representatives

If an individual has legal authority to act on your behalf regarding health care decisions, I will generally treat that individual as your personal representative and afford that person the same rights regarding your PHI unless prohibited by law or unless I reasonably believe doing so could endanger you.

You have the following rights:

1. Right to Request Restrictions

You may request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures of your PHI. I am not required to agree to every request.

2. Right to Restrict Certain Disclosures to Health Plans

If you pay for a service entirely out of pocket, you may request that information about that service not be disclosed to your health plan for payment or health care operations purposes.

3. Right to Confidential Communications

You may request that I communicate with you in a particular way or at a particular location. I will accommodate reasonable requests.

4. Right to Access and Obtain Copies

With limited exceptions, you may inspect and obtain copies of your PHI.

5. Texas Right to Access Mental Health Records

You have rights under Texas Health & Safety Code §611.0045 regarding access to mental health records, subject to legally permitted limitations.

6. Right to an Accounting of Disclosures

You may request a list of certain disclosures made by this practice.

7. Right to Request Amendment

You may request correction or amendment of PHI that you believe is inaccurate or incomplete.

8. Right to Receive a Copy of this Notice

You may obtain a paper or electronic copy of this Notice at any time.

9. Right to Breach Notification

You have the right to be notified following a breach of unsecured PHI if the breach compromises the privacy or security of your information.

VII. CONFIDENTIALITY OF MINOR CLIENTS

If I provide services to a minor, the following principles generally apply:

1. General Rule

A parent or guardian generally has rights of access to a minor client's records as permitted by Texas law.

2. Limits on Disclosure

Texas law contains circumstances in which minors may consent to certain services and confidentiality rights may be modified or limited. Questions regarding access to a minor's records will be handled in accordance with applicable federal and Texas law and the circumstances presented.

3. Clinical Considerations

When permitted by law, I will use professional judgment in determining the appropriate scope of disclosures involving minor clients while seeking to promote effective treatment and client safety.

VIII. LEGAL REMEDIES

You may have legal remedies under Texas law for improper disclosure of confidential mental health information or wrongful denial of access to records.

IX. QUESTIONS, COMPLAINTS, AND CONTACT INFORMATION

If you have questions about this Notice, wish to exercise your privacy rights, or believe your privacy rights have been violated, please contact Murdock Therapy PLLC at (512) 788-5217 or info@murdocktherapy.com.

You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights.

Information regarding OCR complaints is available at: https://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints/.

You will not be retaliated against for filing a complaint.