HIPAA NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES
Aurora Mental Health Nursing, PC, doing business as Aurora Mental Health Services (“Aurora” or “the Practice”)
Effective Date: September 14th, 2026
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.
Aurora Mental Health Services is committed to protecting the privacy and security of your protected health information (“PHI”). This Notice describes how we may use and disclose your health information, your rights regarding that information, and our responsibilities under applicable federal and state privacy laws.
YOUR RIGHTS
You have certain rights regarding your health information.
You may request to inspect or obtain an electronic or paper copy of your medical record and other health information we maintain about you, subject to certain legal exceptions. We will provide access within the time required by applicable law and may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee when permitted by law.
If you believe information in your medical record is incorrect or incomplete, you may request that we amend or correct it. We may deny certain requests when permitted by law. If a request is denied, we will provide information regarding the denial and any applicable rights you may have.
You may ask us to communicate with you in a particular manner or at a particular location, such as contacting you only at a specific telephone number, email address, or mailing address. We will accommodate reasonable requests as required by law.
You may ask us not to use or disclose certain health information for treatment, payment, or health care operations. We generally are not required to agree to all requested restrictions. However, when you pay for a health care service completely out of pocket and request that we not disclose information concerning that service to your health plan for payment or health care operations, we will honor the request when required by law.
You may request an accounting of certain disclosures of your health information made during the period permitted by applicable law. The accounting generally does not include certain disclosures, such as those made for treatment, payment, or health care operations, except where otherwise required by law.
You may request a paper or electronic copy of this Notice at any time, even if you previously agreed to receive it electronically.
If you have given someone medical power of attorney, or if someone is otherwise legally authorized to act on your behalf, that person may exercise your rights and make choices regarding your health information to the extent permitted by law. We may verify that the individual has appropriate authority before taking action.
You may file a complaint with Aurora Mental Health Services if you believe your privacy rights have been violated. You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights. Aurora Mental Health Services will not retaliate against you or deny treatment because you filed a privacy complaint.
YOUR CHOICES
For certain health information, you may tell us your preferences regarding what we share.
Where permitted by law, you may tell us your preferences regarding sharing information with family members, friends, or others involved in your care; sharing information in a disaster relief situation; and certain communications regarding your care.
If you are unable to communicate your preference, such as during an emergency, we may disclose information when we reasonably believe doing so is in your best interest and applicable law permits the disclosure.
Certain categories of information, including some mental health and substance use disorder information, may be subject to additional federal or California confidentiality protections.
HOW WE MAY USE AND DISCLOSE YOUR INFORMATION
Treatment
We may use and disclose your health information to provide, coordinate, or manage your health care. For example, we may share relevant health information with another health care professional involved in your treatment when permitted by law.
Payment
We may use and disclose health information to bill and obtain payment for services provided to you. For example, we may provide necessary information to your health insurance plan so that it can determine coverage or pay a claim.
Health Care Operations
We may use and disclose health information for activities necessary to operate our practice and improve the quality of care. These activities may include quality assessment, credentialing, compliance activities, auditing, administrative activities, and business management.
Business Associates
We may disclose PHI to companies or individuals that perform services for Aurora Mental Health Services when those services require access to PHI. Where required, these business associates must appropriately safeguard the information.
Appointment Reminders and Health Care Communications
We may use your information to contact you regarding appointments and other matters related to your health care.
Public Health and Safety
We may disclose health information when permitted or required by law for certain public health and safety activities. These may include reporting certain diseases or conditions, preventing or reducing a serious threat to health or safety, and reporting suspected abuse or neglect when required by law.
Legal and Regulatory Requirements
We may disclose health information when required or permitted by applicable law, including in connection with health oversight activities, judicial or administrative proceedings, certain law enforcement requests, workers’ compensation programs, coroners and medical examiners, government functions, and other disclosures required by law.
When California or another applicable law provides greater privacy protection than HIPAA, we will comply with the applicable requirements.
MENTAL HEALTH INFORMATION
Because Aurora Mental Health Services provides psychiatric and mental health services, your records may contain particularly sensitive information. Mental health information may be subject to protections under HIPAA and applicable California law. We will obtain authorization before using or disclosing such information when authorization is required.
PSYCHOTHERAPY NOTES
HIPAA provides special protections for psychotherapy notes, as that term is specifically defined under federal law. When psychotherapy notes are maintained separately from the rest of the medical record, we generally must obtain your written authorization before using or disclosing them except in circumstances permitted or required by law.
Psychotherapy notes are not the same as ordinary psychiatric progress notes, medication management notes, diagnoses, treatment plans, medication information, or other information maintained as part of your regular medical record.
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER RECORDS
Certain substance use disorder records may receive additional confidentiality protection under federal law, including 42 CFR Part 2.
When these protections apply, Aurora Mental Health Services will use and disclose such records only as permitted by applicable federal and state law. Where authorization or consent is required for a use or disclosure, we will obtain it before making the disclosure unless an exception permits or requires disclosure without consent.
USES AND DISCLOSURES REQUIRING YOUR AUTHORIZATION
For uses and disclosures that are not otherwise permitted or required by law, we will obtain your written authorization.
Where applicable, this includes certain uses and disclosures of psychotherapy notes, certain marketing activities, the sale of PHI, and other uses or disclosures requiring authorization under applicable law.
If you provide authorization, you generally may revoke it in writing, except to the extent that we have already acted in reliance upon it or as otherwise provided by law.
OUR RESPONSIBILITIES
Aurora Mental Health Services is required to maintain the privacy and security of your PHI, provide you with this Notice describing our legal duties and privacy practices, follow the terms of the Notice currently in effect, notify you following a breach of unsecured PHI when notification is required by law, and comply with applicable federal and state privacy requirements.
CHANGES TO THIS NOTICE
We may change the terms of this Notice and our privacy practices. Changes may apply to health information we already maintain as well as information we receive in the future, as permitted by law.
When this Notice is materially revised, the current version will be made available as required by law. You may request a current copy at any time.
QUESTIONS OR PRIVACY COMPLAINTS
For questions about this Notice, requests concerning your privacy rights, or complaints regarding the privacy of your health information, contact:
Aurora Mental Health Services
Privacy Officer: Aimy Jakini
Phone: (714) 696-8965
Email: info@AuroraMentalHealthServices.com
Website: www.AuroraMentalHealthServices.com
You may also submit a complaint to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights.
Aurora Mental Health Services will not retaliate against you for exercising your privacy rights or filing a complaint.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Office for Civil Rights
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201
1-877-696-6775
https://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints/