Notice of Privacy Practices (HIPAA)

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.

This Notice applies to the health information created and kept by Julia Zukin, Psy.D. I am required by law to protect the privacy of your protected health information, to give you this Notice of my legal duties and privacy practices, and to follow the terms of the Notice currently in effect.

Protected health information, or PHI, is information that identifies you and relates to your past, present, or future health, care, or payment for care. In this Notice, "you" refers to the client, and where the client is a minor, it also refers to the parent or guardian acting on the child's behalf, except where state or federal law provides otherwise.

How I May Use and Disclose Your Health Information

The following describes the ways I may use and share your health information, with examples. Not every use is listed, but every use I make falls within one of these categories.

For treatment. I may use your health information to provide and coordinate your care. For example, I may share information with another provider you are seeing, such as your primary care physician, your child's pediatrician, or a treating therapist, when you have authorized me to do so or when the law permits.

For payment. I may use and share your health information to bill and receive payment for services. For example, if you use insurance, I may share information with your health plan so that it will pay for services.

For health care operations. I may use your health information for the operation of the practice. For example, I may use it for quality review, for scheduling, or when consulting with an attorney, accountant, or other professional who supports the practice, subject to confidentiality safeguards.

Appointment reminders and related communication. I may contact you to remind you of appointments or to share information about your care, using the contact methods you provide.

Uses and Disclosures That May Be Made Without Your Authorization

The law permits or requires me to use or share your health information without your authorization in certain situations, including:

When required by law. I will share information when a federal, state, or local law requires it.

To report abuse or neglect. As a psychologist, I am a mandated reporter. I am required by California law to report known or reasonably suspected child abuse or neglect, elder or dependent adult abuse, and similar circumstances to the appropriate authorities.

To prevent a serious threat to health or safety. Consistent with California law, if you communicate a serious threat of physical violence against a reasonably identifiable person, or if there is a serious and imminent threat to your own health or safety or that of another, I may disclose information necessary to protect against or lessen the threat, including to the potential victim and law enforcement.

For public health activities. I may share information for public health purposes, such as preventing or controlling disease, as permitted by law.

For health oversight activities. I may share information with oversight agencies for activities authorized by law, such as licensing and audits.

For judicial and administrative proceedings. I may share information in response to a court order, or in response to a subpoena or other lawful process, consistent with the protections required by California law for mental health records.

For law enforcement. I may share limited information for law enforcement purposes as permitted or required by law.

To coroners, medical examiners, and funeral directors, as authorized by law.

For specialized government functions, such as military and veterans activities or national security, as authorized by law.

For workers' compensation, as authorized by and to the extent necessary to comply with workers' compensation laws.

Uses and Disclosures That Require Your Written Authorization

Some uses and disclosures will be made only with your written authorization:

Most uses and disclosures of psychotherapy notes, where they are maintained.
Uses and disclosures for marketing.
Disclosures that are a sale of protected health information.
Most other uses and disclosures not described in this Notice.

If you give me written authorization, you may revoke it in writing at any time. The revocation will apply going forward and will not affect actions I already took in reliance on your authorization.

Special Protections

Psychotherapy notes. Where they exist, psychotherapy notes receive greater protection under the law and are generally not shared without your specific written authorization.

California law. California law, including the Confidentiality of Medical Information Act, often provides greater privacy protection than federal law. Where California law is stricter, I follow the stricter standard.

Information About Minors and Parents or Guardians

When I evaluate or treat a minor, a parent or legal guardian usually acts as the child's personal representative and may exercise the rights described in this Notice on the child's behalf.

California law provides some exceptions. In certain situations, a minor may lawfully consent to their own care, and in those situations the minor may control who has access to the related records, including whether a parent or guardian may see them. Where the law limits a parent's or guardian's access, I follow the law. I am also not required to treat a parent or guardian as the personal representative if I reasonably believe doing so could endanger the child or is not in the child's best interest, to the extent the law permits.

In custody situations, I follow California law regarding which parent or guardian holds the right to access a child's records.

Your Rights Regarding Your Health Information

Right to request restrictions. You may ask me to limit how I use or share your information. I am not required to agree, except that I must agree to a request to restrict disclosure to a health plan for a service you paid for in full out of pocket, when the disclosure is for payment or health care operations and is not otherwise required by law.

Right to confidential communications. You may ask me to contact you in a specific way or at a specific location, for example by a particular phone number. I will accommodate reasonable requests.

Right to access. You have the right to inspect and receive a copy of your health information that I maintain, with limited exceptions. Certain evaluation materials, such as raw test data and copyrighted test protocols, may be subject to special handling under professional and legal standards. I will explain any limitation and, where appropriate, provide the information in a form that protects test security.

Right to request an amendment. If you believe information I have is incorrect or incomplete, you may ask me to amend it. I may deny the request in certain cases and will explain the reason in writing.

Right to an accounting of disclosures. You have the right to request a list of certain disclosures I made of your information, subject to the limits set by law.

Right to a paper copy. You have the right to a paper copy of this Notice on request, even if you agreed to receive it electronically.

Right to be notified of a breach. You have the right to be notified if there is a breach of your unsecured health information.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact me using the information below. Some requests must be made in writing.

My Duties

I am required by law to maintain the privacy of your health information, to provide you with this Notice, and to follow the terms of the Notice currently in effect. I reserve the right to change this Notice and to make the revised Notice effective for information I already have as well as information I receive in the future. If I make a material change, I will post the updated Notice on my website and make copies available in my office.

How to File a Complaint

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with me using the contact information below. You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights. I will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

Contact

If you have questions about this Notice or wish to exercise any of your rights, please contact:

Julia Zukin, PsyD

drjuliazukin@gmail.com

(213) 533-9887

Last Updated: July, 2026