Notice of Privacy Practices
Vertivea Health LLC
Your Information. Your Rights. Our Responsibilities.
Effective Date: October 31, 2026
THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN ACCESS THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.
Vertivea Health LLC is committed to protecting the privacy, confidentiality, and security of your health information. This notice explains your rights regarding protected health information (PHI), how we may use and disclose that information, and our responsibilities under applicable federal and Massachusetts privacy laws.
This notice applies to health information maintained in connection with the healthcare services provided by Vertivea Health LLC, including psychiatric evaluations, medication management, behavioral healthcare, addiction and recovery services, and other clinical services.
1. Your Rights Regarding Your Health Information
You have the following rights concerning your protected health information.
Access Your Medical Records
You may request an electronic or paper copy of your medical records and other health information maintained by Vertivea Health.
We will generally provide a copy or summary within 30 days, subject to applicable legal requirements. A reasonable, cost-based fee may apply.
Request Corrections
You may request a correction to information you believe is inaccurate or incomplete.
If we deny your request, we will explain the reason in writing, generally within 60 days, subject to legally permitted extensions.
Request Confidential Communications
You may ask us to communicate with you in a specific manner, such as through a designated telephone number or mailing address.
We will accommodate reasonable requests.
Request Restrictions
You may ask us to limit certain uses or disclosures of your information for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations.
We are not generally required to agree to every restriction. However, if you pay in full out of pocket for a healthcare service, we will honor a request not to disclose information about that service to your health plan for payment or healthcare operations, unless disclosure is required by law.
Request an Accounting of Disclosures
You may request an accounting of certain disclosures of your protected health information made during the preceding six years.
One accounting within a 12-month period is generally provided without charge. Additional requests may be subject to a reasonable, cost-based fee.
Receive a Copy of This Notice
You may request a paper or electronic copy of this Notice of Privacy Practices at any time.
Designate a Personal Representative
A legally authorized personal representative may exercise applicable privacy rights on your behalf. We may require documentation verifying that person’s authority.
File a Complaint
You may file a complaint if you believe your privacy rights have been violated. Vertivea Health will not retaliate against you for exercising your privacy rights.
2. How We Use and Disclose Health Information
We may use or disclose your protected health information for purposes permitted or required by applicable law.
Treatment
We may use and share health information to evaluate your condition, develop treatment plans, prescribe and manage medications, coordinate services, and communicate with healthcare professionals involved in your care.
Payment
We may use and disclose appropriate health information to verify benefits, submit claims, receive reimbursement, and administer billing activities.
Healthcare Operations
We may use and disclose information to manage our practice, evaluate quality and safety, conduct compliance activities, train authorized personnel, and improve healthcare services.
Public Health and Safety
We may disclose information when permitted or required for public health reporting, certain safety concerns, or other legally recognized purposes.
Required by Law
We may disclose information when federal or state law requires us to do so.
Health Oversight Activities
We may disclose information to authorized agencies for licensing, investigations, audits, and regulatory oversight.
Workers’ Compensation
We may disclose information as authorized or required by applicable workers’ compensation laws.
Legal Proceedings and Law Enforcement
We may disclose information in response to legally valid orders, subpoenas, or other authorized requests, subject to applicable confidentiality protections.
Medical Examiners and Other Authorized Purposes
When legally permitted, information may be disclosed to medical examiners, coroners, funeral directors, and authorized organ or tissue donation organizations.
Research
Health information may be used or disclosed for research only when the applicable authorization, review, or other legal requirements are satisfied.
3. Mental Health Information and Psychotherapy Notes
Vertivea Health recognizes the sensitive nature of psychiatric and behavioral health information.
Certain mental health records are subject to additional confidentiality protections under Massachusetts and federal laws.
Psychotherapy notes, as specifically defined under HIPAA, generally require separate written authorization before use or disclosure, except in limited circumstances permitted by law.
Psychotherapy notes are distinct from routine progress notes, diagnoses, medication records, treatment plans, and other information maintained in the medical record.
We apply applicable legal protections when responding to requests involving psychiatric and behavioral health records.
4. Substance Use Disorder Records and 42 CFR Part 2
Certain substance use disorder records may be protected under 42 CFR Part 2, in addition to HIPAA.
When Part 2 applies, we comply with its additional restrictions on the use and disclosure of substance use disorder information.
Part 2 generally requires patient consent for disclosures unless a specific legal exception applies.
Where permitted, patients may provide a single consent covering future treatment, payment, and healthcare operations disclosures. Patients may revoke consent in writing, subject to applicable legal limitations.
Under current federal rules, certain HIPAA-covered recipients may redisclose Part 2 information received pursuant to a valid treatment, payment, and health care operations consent, as permitted by HIPAA.
Protections in Legal Proceedings
Part 2-protected records generally may not be used or disclosed in civil, criminal, administrative, or legislative proceedings against a patient without the patient’s specific written consent or the court order and legal process required by Part 2.
Additional restrictions may apply to substance use disorder counseling notes and other specially protected information.
5. Your Choices About Sharing Information
You may express preferences concerning the disclosure of information to family members, friends, caregivers, or others involved in your care.
We will follow your instructions where required by law and apply appropriate professional judgment in circumstances where limited disclosure is legally permitted.
If you cannot communicate your preferences, we may make certain disclosures when permitted by law and consistent with your best interests.
Additional legal protections may apply to psychiatric information, substance use disorder records, psychotherapy notes, and information involving minors.
6. Uses and Disclosures Requiring Written Authorization
We generally obtain written authorization before using or disclosing protected health information for purposes that are not otherwise permitted by law.
Written authorization is generally required for:
Most uses and disclosures of psychotherapy notes.
Certain marketing activities.
Sales of protected health information.
Other purposes requiring authorization under federal or Massachusetts law.
You may revoke an authorization in writing, except where action has already been taken in reliance on it or where another legal limitation applies.
Vertivea Health does not sell patients’ protected health information.
7. Fundraising Communications
If Vertivea Health conducts fundraising activities involving protected health information, those activities will comply with applicable federal and state requirements.
Individuals will be provided any legally required notice and opportunity to opt out.
Any fundraising involving Part 2-protected records will follow the additional requirements governing those records.
Declining fundraising communications will not affect your treatment.
8. Our Responsibilities
Vertivea Health is committed to fulfilling its applicable healthcare privacy obligations.
These responsibilities include:
Maintaining the privacy and security of protected health information.
In accordance with applicable federal and Massachusetts confidentiality requirements.
Providing patients with notice of applicable privacy practices.
Respecting legally protected patient rights.
Obtaining authorization when required.
Notifying affected individuals of breaches of unsecured protected health information when legally required.
Following the terms of the Notice of Privacy Practices currently in effect.
Where required, service providers assisting with healthcare operations must maintain appropriate confidentiality and security protections.
9. Electronic Communication and Telehealth
Vertivea Health may provide clinical services through telehealth and other authorized communication methods.
Patients should communicate clinical information through approved patient-care channels.
The general website Contact form is intended for initial administrative inquiries and should not be used to submit medical records, detailed symptoms, medication information, or other sensitive clinical information.
Submitting an appointment inquiry does not establish a provider-patient relationship or confirm an appointment.
10. Minors and Personal Representatives
Privacy rights involving minors, parents, guardians, and legally authorized personal representatives are determined under applicable federal and Massachusetts laws.
Certain services and records may be subject to special rules concerning consent, confidentiality, and access by parents or guardians.
We evaluate requests involving minors and personal representatives in accordance with applicable law.
11. Additional Massachusetts Privacy Protections
Where Massachusetts law provides greater confidentiality protections than HIPAA, we follow the more protective applicable requirements.
Additional protections may apply to certain mental health records, substance use disorder information, psychotherapy notes, HIV-related information, and other specially protected medical records.
We do not disclose information protected by these laws unless the appropriate consent, authorization, or legal exception applies.
12. Changes to This Notice
Vertivea Health may revise this Notice of Privacy Practices as its operations or applicable legal requirements change.
To the extent permitted by law, revised practices may apply to health information already maintained by the practice.
The current notice will be available upon request and posted on our website.
13. Privacy Questions, Requests, and Complaints
For questions about your privacy rights, requests concerning medical records, or privacy-related complaints, contact:
Vertivea Health LLC
Privacy Officer: Shappa Lorquet, Owner & Privacy Officer
Massachusetts, United States
Phone: (617) 279-5427
Email: info@vertiveahealth.com
Website: www.vertiveahealth.com
Please do not include sensitive medical information in ordinary email unless you have been instructed to use an approved secure communication method.
You may also file a complaint with:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Office for Civil Rights
200 Independence Avenue, SW
https://www.google.com/maps/search/200+Independence+Avenue,+SW+%0D%0A+Washington,+DC+20201?entry=gmail&source=g
Washington, DC 20201
Phone: 1-877-696-6775
Website: https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/filing-a-complaint/
Vertivea Health will not retaliate against anyone for filing a privacy complaint.
14. Emergency Situations
Our website and general administrative communication channels are not intended for emergencies.
If you or someone else is in immediate danger or experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
For mental health crisis support in the United States, call or text 988.
Vertivea Health LLC
Care Beyond Boundaries.