Privacy Policy

---

POLICY AND PROCEDURES

Office Hours and Emergencies

Our office operates Monday through Friday, from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM PST, and is closed on major holidays. We do not offer emergency, crisis, or after-hours services. For life-threatening emergencies, please go to the nearest emergency room or dial 911 without delay.

Appointments

• Late Arrival Policy  Patients      arriving more than 15 minutes late may need to be rescheduled, but      exceptions may be made at staff discretion, or an abbreviated visit may be      arranged. Please notify us as soon as possible if you are running late and      aim to arrive approximately 10 minutes early for administrative needs.

· Cancellation Notice If you cannot attend a scheduled appointment, you are expected to notify the Clinic at least 24 hours before your appointment time. Cancellations may be made by phone, email, or through the clinic’s online scheduling system (if applicable).

· No-Show Fee If you fail to show up for a scheduled appointment without providing at least 24 hours’ notice, the Clinic may charge a no-show fee of $50 (or the amount specified by the clinic). This fee is not covered by insurance and is your responsibility.

· Repeated No Shows If you fail to cancel or attend three or more appointments without adequate notice within a 12-month period, the Clinic reserves the right to discontinue services or place you on a waitlist for future appointments.

· Late Arrivals If you arrive more than 15 minutes late for your scheduled appointment, the Clinic may consider the appointment canceled and may charge the no-show fee. Late arrivals may also result in a shortened session if the schedule allows.

· Exceptions The Clinic recognizes that emergencies or unforeseen circumstances may occur. You are encouraged to contact the Clinic as soon as possible if an emergency or extenuating circumstance prevents you from attending your scheduled appointment. These situations will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

• Follow-Up      Appointment Responsibility While staff may confirm      appointments, it is the patient’s responsibility to attend follow-up      appointments for continuity of care.
• Telephone Consultation Policy  Patients      should contact the office to contact their mental health provider for      issues that can be managed in a 5-10 minute phone call. Longer      consultations may incur charges as per the Fee Schedule for Telephone      Consultations.
• Telehealth      Consultations Policy: Telehealth uses electronic      communication—such as video or phone consultations, electronic      transmission of medical records, and remote monitoring—to provide      healthcare services when in-person visits are not feasible. However,      telehealth carries risks, including potential confidentiality breaches,      technical disruptions, and possible miscommunication due to limited visual      or auditory cues. 
• Contact      Information Update Policy Patients must      inform the clinic of any changes to their contact information annually.

Medication prescription and refill policy

· Refills and Appointments: Your provider will give you enough medication to last until your next appointment. For safety reasons, no more than a 90-day supply will be prescribed without a visit, and controlled medications are limited to a 30-day supply. You are responsible for requesting refills by phone or email, and should contact the office at least five business days before your medication runs out. Check with your pharmacy first to determine whether refills remain, and ensure the pharmacy has correct contact information and is aware that our office uses electronic prescribing.

· Appointment Compliance: Failing to attend scheduled appointments can disrupt your treatment and increase the likelihood of relapse.

· Medication Prescriptions: Healthcare providers may prescribe medications for various conditions, including pain, anxiety, depression, hypertension, diabetes, and other chronic conditions. Providers will make every effort to explain the purpose, potential benefits, and risks of each prescribed medication.

· Review of Medications: A thorough review of all medications currently being taken—including prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, and supplements—will be conducted. You are expected to inform your provider of any changes in your medication regimen and any side effects or adverse reactions.

· Monitoring of Medications: Medication management may include follow-up appointments, lab work, and other assessments to ensure medications are effective and safe. You are expected to attend these appointments and provide accurate information about side effects, symptom changes, or concerns.

· Risks and Benefits: All medications carry potential side effects. Providers will make every effort to minimize risks while considering the benefits of each medication. You should promptly report any unexpected or serious reactions.

· Non-Compliance and Discontinuation: Failure to follow the prescribed medication plan may result in suboptimal treatment and potential health risks. If you choose to stop or change your medications, you should consult your provider to determine safe and appropriate adjustments to your treatment plan.

· Communication: Communication between your provider, you, and the medical team may occur regarding your medication regimen, including refill needs, prescription adjustments, and updates related to your health status.

· Confidentiality and Privacy: All medical information, including information related to medication management, is protected under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Providers will maintain confidentiality and will disclose information only as required by law or with appropriate written consent.

· Alternative Treatment Options: Alternative treatment options, including non-medication approaches, may be available. You are encouraged to discuss any concerns about medications or interest in alternatives with your provider.

· Emergency Situations: In the event of a medication-related emergency, you should seek immediate medical attention. You may contact your provider for additional guidance when appropriate.

·Bottom of Form

Labs

In certain situations, labs may need to be ordered. Please be aware that the cost of labs is separate from your visit charges. It is your responsibility to inquire about the fees from the lab of your choosing.

Confidentiality

• Contact      Information: The clinic understands the need to      keep your matters confidential, and we will act in good faith to maintain      your matters private. Please use caution in leaving us home or work      numbers to call you back, as leaving an email, voice message or conversing      may jeopardize your confidentiality if other people share your voicemail      or email. Please keep your contact information current.
• Release      of Information Authorization: Staff or providers      may require a release in order to speak to family members or other      providers, unless the clinic believes in good faith there is an emergency      and it serves your best interests (principle of beneficence). Please ask      the office staff for releases for anyone you would like to have access to      your information ahead of time or download the Release of Information form      at
• Access      to Protected Health Information: Certain 3rd party      payers, labs, courts and other entities may need access to some of your      protected health information (PHI). Please see the HIPAA statement. While      patient confidentiality is protected and highly valued, exceptions to      provider-patient confidentiality do exist pursuant to state and federal      law.

Financial Policies and Fees

• Insurance      Responsibilities: Patients assume responsibility      for all medical expenses accrued. While we conduct insurance benefit      verification as a courtesy, this does not constitute a guarantee of      coverage or payment. Patients are expected to familiarize themselves with      the specifics of their insurance plan and settle any charges not covered.

· Patient’s Responsibilities: The Patient is responsible for understanding the details of their health insurance coverage, including co-pays, deductibles, and any exclusions in their insurance plan. The Clinic is not responsible for determining the scope of insurance benefits or coverage

• Credit      Card Authorization: Patients gran Abide Health      Medical APC permission to retain a credit card on file. This card may be      used to cover costs not reimbursed by insurance, including fees for missed      appointments, late cancellations, and requested paperwork.
• Missed      Appointments and Cancellations: To avoid charges      for missed appointments or late cancellations, timely notification is      essential. Missed or canceled appointments without a 24-hour notice, will      be charged $50 to the patient. Please provide notice within the specified      time frame before your appointment to prevent this charge. We appreciate      your cooperation. If the Patient repeatedly misses appointments or fails      to provide adequate notice of cancellation, the Clinic reserves the right      to discontinue services.
• Payment      Plans: If the Patient is unable to pay in full at      the time of service, the Clinic may offer a payment plan option. The      Patient must request a payment plan prior to receiving services, and the      payment plan must be agreed upon by the Clinic and signed by the Patient.
  • Payment       plans may include:
    • Monthly        installments,

· Payment arrangements based on income or financial hardship, 

·  Any other arrangement acceptable to both parties.

Failure to make payments in accordance with the terms of the payment plan may result in suspension of services.

• Late      Payments: If      the Patient fails to make timely payments, the Clinic may charge a late      fee or interest charges on any outstanding balances, as permitted by law.      The interest rate on overdue balances will be 1.5% per month (or as      determined by state law). The Clinic may refer any unpaid balances to a      collection agency if the Patient fails to make payment arrangements or if      payment is not received within 90 days of the due date. The      Patient will be responsible for any costs incurred by the Clinic in the collection of unpaid debts.

Medical records

To obtain a copy of your medical records, you are required to sign a Release of Information (ROI) form to our office. Please note that the processing time for releasing records may be up to five business days.

Behavior

• While      we aim to deliver excellent outpatient care to our patients, any behavior      that threatens our staff or clinicians—including direct or indirect      threats, lewd behavior, verbal abuse, yelling, or property damage—may lead      to immediate termination of our professional relationship. Please conduct      yourself in a respectful manner at all times.
• Intentionally      misleading our staff or clinicians may result in termination of our      professional relationship, depending on the situation.

After-Hour Resources

• Services      will be provided to the patient within normal business hours. We do not      check emails or phone messages after business hours or on weekends. If you      call during our operating hours, we will respond to your call or email      within 24 hours.
• In      case of an emergency, the patient should not call the Abide Health Medical      clinic; instead, call 911 for medical emergencies or 988 Suicide &      Crisis Hotline. Also, you may go to a local Emergency Room, urgent care      clinic or psychiatric hospital.

Compliance

• It      is our hope and expectation that patients are motivated to work towards      improving their mental health
• It      is the responsibility of the patients to comply with mutually agreed-upon      treatment plans and recommendations from the clinician
• Repeated      instances of non-compliance (failure to get labs, failure to follow-up      with visits, self-medicating, and others) will be considered potentially      hazardous and a violation of office policy. This may result in termination      of the patient-provider relationship
• Treatment      is based on the informed consent of the patient. If you have any questions      or concerns regarding medications or other aspects of treatment, please      query your provider. Do not consent to any medication or other      intervention before considering yourself adequately informed.

Adolescents

• Treatment      is based on the informed consent of the patient and parent. Parents are      expected to be available during the initial appointment. All follow-up      appointments can be scheduled for the adolescent patient, but the parent      will be contacted for any medication changes or the start of any new      medication.