WEBSITE AND PRACTICE PRIVACY POLICIES 

FOR THE CLINICAL PRACTICE OF GEORGE KRAUS, PH.D., ABPP

 

Website Privacy Policy

 

     Welcome to the website for George Kraus, Ph.D., ABPP., an online source for information about Dr. Kraus’s clinical practice, his Website Privacy Policy (shown here), and his Notice of Privacy Policies and Practices (appearing below).  Dr. Kraus is committed to the privacy of anyone visiting this site, and he wishes to take the utmost care in protecting your private healthcare information.

 

Dr. Kraus collects no information about you on this website

     This site collects no information of any kind about you.  If you become a client of the practice any information about you that is collected from you will not come from this website nor will it ever appear on this site.  Should you become a client of the Dr. Kraus’s practice, any private healthcare information that you provide Dr. Kraus will not be collected from this site; it will be kept completely private and confidential; and Dr. Kraus will strictly adhere to all federal, Florida, and California state laws and ethics guidelines for the practice of psychology developed by the American Psychological Association governing the use of private healthcare information.  For more information on the privacy policy of healthcare information collected verbally in the course of your work with Dr. Kraus, please see his Notice of Privacy Policies and Practices, shown below.

 

    You will not be asked to make contributions or postings of any kind to this website.  Also, no information about you is collected automatically—no usage details, no IP addresses, no information collected through cookies, no information about your devices, equipment, browsing actions, and location, nor will any analytic or other tracking technologies be used on this website.

 

Email communications and related services

     Should you wish to communicate with Dr. Kraus through email, no information from an email will be shared with anyone.  Every effort will be made to respond to your email in a timely way, and your email will be stored in a manner consistent with federal and state regulations governing the storage of private healthcare information.  For more information about the security of email exchanges, see the Notice of Privacy Policies and Practices, shown below.

 

     Dr. Kraus does not offer a newsletter, nor will he solicit you to subscribe to a newsletter or any related services.  The phone number, email address, and fax number listed on his site do not contain links enabling you to call, write, or fax Dr. Kraus directly.  Should you wish to contact him, please transcribe his phone number, email address, or fax number manually.

 

Surveys

     No surveys of any kind will be offered from Dr. Kraus’s website.

 

Texting

     Dr. Kraus does not offer texting services.

 

Data retention and disclosure of your information

     Because Dr. Kraus collects no data from you on this website, no data from this site is retained.  All personal data that is collected from you in the course of your work with Dr. Kraus is considered private, protected, and confidential and will comply with all the safeguards noted in his Notice of Privacy Policies and Practices.  Any payments paid to or personal data that assists Dr. Kraus in billing for his services will be made in strict compliance to all federal and state laws governing the protection of private healthcare information.

 

Security

When you contact Dr. Kraus all electronic communication is handled with strict compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and other federal and state laws governing the protection of private healthcare information—that includes HIPAA compliant voicemail, fax, and any electronic transmissions via the internet.  You will not be able to contact Dr. Kraus directly via this website.

 

Links to other websites

     Contained on several areas of this website are links to other sites.  Please review the privacy policy on any site you visit.

 

Your rights regarding your information and accessing it

If you are a client of Dr. Kraus’s practice client-related information is handled under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and other federal and state laws governing the protection of private healthcare information.  For more details, see Dr. Kraus’s Notice of Privacy Policies and Practices, shown below.

 

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Notice of Privacy Policies and Practices for Dr. Kraus’s Clinical Practice

 

Welcome to the Clinical Practice of George Kraus, Ph.D., ABPP!

     The information that follows describes how private healthcare information about you is handled once you consent to treatment with Dr. Kraus and the policies regarding how Dr. Kraus conducts his clinical practice—notices about his commitment to your privacy, how your private healthcare information is kept confidential and under what circumstances it may be disclosed, his telehealth practices, your rights and responsibilities as a client, and other related policies all described here so that you will feel comfortable and fully informed about Dr. Kraus’s clinical practice.  

 

Dr. Kraus’s Commitment to Your Privacy—Once treatment begins, Dr. Kraus is committed to maintaining the privacy of your private healthcare information.  Because every privacy contingency cannot be anticipated, ask Dr. Kraus about any questions or concerns you may have, as they may arise.  The information you provide Dr. Kraus will be used to provide effective testing or psychotherapy services, to arrange for payment for his services, and to manage business activities related to your account.  Here are a few more details about that.

 

     There are three fundamental safeguards governing anything that you and Dr. Kraus discuss:  a) his commitment to psychology's code of ethics, b) his pledge to follow Florida and California’s laws protecting your privacy and the manner in which Dr. Kraus comports himself as a licensed psychologist, and c) his adherence to the federal statues of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)—national standards designed to protect your medical records and personal healthcare information.

 

     Will my insurance carrier or my employer see any of my records?  Dr. Kraus will share certain information about your diagnosis and treatment with your insurance carrier or government program (like Medicare) that is paying for your treatment so that the company or program can determine what care is covered.  Insurance carriers are also strictly bound by HIPAA laws to keep your information confidential.  However, if you choose to pay out of pocket for Dr. Kraus’s services and you choose to not ask your insurance provider for reimbursement, Dr. Kraus will not be providing your insurance carrier any information about you or your treatment.  In addition, unless you give Dr. Kraus your written consent to share any information with your employer—or anyone else—Dr. Kraus pledges that your private healthcare information will be kept secure and confidential.  

 

     If you choose to tell your friends or family that you're seeing a psychologist, you are free to do so.  How much information you decide to share with others is up to you.  Unless stated in this Notice of Private Policies and Practices, release of your information to anyone will require your written consent.

 

Specific Exceptions to Confidentiality—Dr. Kraus makes his commitment to keep private anything shared with him, but federal and state laws highlight certain exceptions in the following specific circumstances:

1. If there were a serious threat to your health or safety or the health and safety of someone    else, Dr. Kraus will share limited information to prevent or reduce harm.

2. In ordered by a court or when the law requires him to do so.

3. For Worker’s Compensation or similar benefits program

4. In the case of a court-ordered evaluation

5. When there is a reasonable suspicion of child or elder abuse or neglect

6. When a non-custodial parent has the right to information about their minor child.

 

     If you have any questions or concerns about your confidentiality and the privacy of your healthcare information, please discuss them with Dr. Kraus.

 

Telehealth with Dr. Kraus—For his online psychotherapy sessions, Dr. Kraus uses HIPAA-compliant videoconferencing platforms that adhere to the highest standards of encryption and privacy, but please know that any electronic communication can be compromised.  For example, when communicating through telehealth it is important that you take the precautions needed to ensure the privacy at your own location.  Dr. Kraus does not use texting but uses HIPAA-compliant voicemail and email for scheduling and other administrative purposes.  Please be sure to contact your insurance company to determine whether your particular plan is covered by telehealth sessions. 

 

     In advance of any crisis, Dr. Kraus will develop a telehealth emergency response plan with you.  While there is ample research showing that telehealth is as effective as in-person psychotherapy, the research continues.  In the rare event that Dr. Kraus believes that telehealth is no longer an appropriate or sufficient form of treatment for you, he will discuss it well in advance and design a suitable plan with you to address the issue.  In the event of a bona fide emergency do not email—please call Dr. Kraus, and in the case where he cannot be reached call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.  

 

HIPAA Authorization to Receive Email Messages.  It is vitally important that private healthcare information is kept confidential.  Dr. Kraus uses the highest level of electronic security at his end to send and receive emails, however the information that is sent/received from your email application may not be as secure at your end and may run the risk of being read by a third party.

 

     With this in mind, please let Dr. Kraus know if you wish to exchange information with him via email.  This method of exchanging information will be used only for essential information and not as an extended means of treatment or psychotherapy.  

 

Contact With Your Physician—To meet acceptable professional standards of care, Dr. Kraus may need to consult with your primary care physician and/or your psychiatrist (if applicable).  By signing a consent form for treatment, you are authorizing Dr. Kraus to meet his obligation to coordinate care with these providers as needed.  If you do not want this please let Dr. Kraus know.

 

Consultation and Supervision—If the need arises, Dr. Kraus is permitted by Florida and California state law and ethics protocols of the American Psychological Association to receive consultation from colleagues, as long as he maintains your anonymity.  In special circumstances, Dr. Kraus may ask you to sign a release to obtain this consultation.

 

Your Rights Regarding Your Healthcare Information

1. At any time, you can ask Dr. Kraus to communicate with you about health-related services by limiting where he contacts you—e.g., at home but not at work.

2. You have the right to limit what is shared with family members or with others with whom you are close.  To the extent that the law allows, Dr. Kraus agrees to keep his commitment to you to do so.

3. With few exceptions, you have the right to look at or request a copy of the healthcare information Dr. Kraus has collected about you, including medical and billing records.  

4. If you believe that the information Dr. Kraus has about you is incorrect or incomplete, you can tell him the reasons you are asking for the change and request in writing that Dr. Kraus amend the record.  

5. You have a right to a copy of this notice.  If there are changes to this Notice of Privacy Policies and Practices Dr. Kraus will notify you.

6. You have the right to file a complaint if you believe your privacy rights have been violated, and the address and phone number on how to do so are shown below.

 

Other Rights of Yours

1. You have the right to be treated with dignity and respect.

2. You have the right to fair treatment regardless of your race, religion, gender, ethnicity, age, disability, or source of payment.

3. You have the right to have your treatment and other information kept private.

4. Only in an emergency or if required by law can your records be released without your permission

5. You have the right to information from Dr. Kraus in a language you can understand.

6. You have a right to an easy-to-understand explanation or your condition and treatment.

7. You have a right to know all about your treatment choices, regardless of the fee or insurance coverage.

8. You have the right to receive information about your insurance company’s services and role in your treatment.

9. You have the right to information about your providers.

10. You have the right to know the clinical guidelines used in your care.

11. You have the right to provide input to Dr. Kraus’s policies and services.

12. You have the right to know about the complaint, grievance, and appeal process.

13. You have the right to know about California, Florida, and federal laws that relate to your rights and responsibilities.

14. You have the right to know of your rights and responsibilities in the treatment process.

15. You have the right to share in the formation of your plan of care.

 

Responsibilities of Yours

1. So that he can provide you with the best possible service, you have the responsibility to give Dr. Kraus the information he needs.

2. You have the responsibility to let Dr. Kraus know when the treatment plan no longer is working for you.

3. You have a responsibility to let Dr. Kraus know if you are not following your medication plan or have medication changes.

4. You have the responsibility to abstain from taking action that could harm the lives of employees, providers, family, or others.

 

     If you have any questions regarding this notice, please let Dr. Kraus (also the official Privacy Officer) know by contacting him by email at joy@georgekrausphd.com or at (925) 238-6466.  Also make note: In California, the Department of Consumer Affairs receives questions and complaints regarding the practice of psychology.  If you have any questions or complaints, you may contact this department by calling 866-503-3221 or (916) 263-2699, by emailing bopmail@dca.ca.gov, or by writing to this address:  California Board of Psychology, 2005 Evergreen Street, Suite 1400, Sacramento, CA 95815-3894.  In Florida, you can reach the Florida Department of Health by calling 850-414-1976, by emailing MQA.ConsumerServices@flhealth.gov, or by writing to this address:  Florida Department of Health, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin C75, Tallahassee, FL 32399-3275

 

Updated April 30, 2024

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