⚠️ Template content. This document is a substantively complete template prepared for review. It must be reviewed and finalized by Pasadena Clinical Group's California-licensed healthcare attorney and compliance officer before publication.

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1. Introduction

This Notice of Privacy Practices describes how protected health information ("PHI") about you may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information. Please review it carefully. This Notice applies to all PHI maintained by Pasadena Clinical Group, including paper and electronic records, that is created or maintained by our clinicians and workforce.

2. Uses and disclosures of PHI

We may use and disclose your PHI for the following purposes without your written authorization, except where additional protections apply under California law:

  • Treatment — to provide, coordinate, and manage your care, including consultation with other providers and referrals.
  • Payment — to bill and obtain payment for services from you, your insurance, or another responsible party.
  • Health care operations — to operate our practice, including quality improvement, training of clinicians, business management, and compliance.
  • Required by law — when required by federal, state, or local law.
  • Public health and safety — to public health authorities for activities such as preventing or controlling disease.
  • Mandatory reporting — including suspected child abuse (CANRA, Penal Code §11164 et seq.), suspected elder or dependent adult abuse (Welf. & Inst. Code §15630), and threats of imminent serious harm (Tarasoff duty, Civil Code §43.92).
  • Judicial and administrative proceedings — in response to court orders or, in some cases, properly authorized subpoenas.

Other uses and disclosures require your written authorization. This includes most uses or disclosures of psychotherapy notes, marketing communications, and any sale of PHI.

3. Additional California protections (CMIA)

The California Confidentiality of Medical Information Act (Civil Code §56 et seq.) provides additional protections for medical information beyond HIPAA. Where state and federal law differ, we follow the more protective standard. Mental health records are subject to additional protections under Welfare & Institutions Code §5328 in some circumstances.

4. Your rights regarding PHI

  • Right to inspect and copy — you may request to inspect and copy your records under California Health & Safety Code §123100 et seq. and the HIPAA Privacy Rule.
  • Right to amend — you may request that we amend PHI you believe is inaccurate or incomplete.
  • Right to an accounting of disclosures — you may request a list of certain disclosures we have made.
  • Right to request restrictions — you may request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures, including restrictions on disclosures to a health plan when you have paid out of pocket in full.
  • Right to confidential communications — you may request that we communicate with you in a particular way or at a particular location.
  • Right to a paper copy — you may obtain a paper copy of this Notice on request, even if you have agreed to receive it electronically.
  • Right to be notified of breach — we will notify you of any breach of unsecured PHI as required by federal and California law.

5. Psychotherapy notes

Psychotherapy notes — process notes the clinician keeps separate from the medical record — receive special protection under HIPAA. We will not release psychotherapy notes without your specific written authorization, except where law requires.

6. Our duties

  • We are required by law to maintain the privacy of your PHI and to provide you with this Notice.
  • We will abide by the terms of the Notice currently in effect.
  • We may change the Notice; the revised Notice will apply to all PHI we maintain.

7. Complaints

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with us using the contact information below or with the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

8. Effective date

This Notice is effective April 29, 2026.

Questions or requests

For questions about this document or to exercise any of the rights described, contact us: