"Shh, It’s Confidential”: Confidentiality of Mental Health Information Under California and HIPAA Laws
Presented by Dave Jensen, J.D.
If confidentiality is the cornerstone of the therapist-patient relationship, it behooves therapists to have an accurate understanding of the laws that affect the confidentiality of patient information. What information must be kept confidential? What information could be shared without an authorization? How can we limit third-party access to outpatient information? What “things” does a practitioner have to do to secure patient information to keep it confidential? In this presentation, David Jensen, J.D., will review California and HIPAA laws regarding the confidentiality of patient information.
Learning Objectives
At the end of this presentation you will be able to:
- Compare the “building blocks” of patient information and confidentiality under California law and HIPAA.
- Describe the structure of California Civil Code § 56.10 and the importance of written authorizations.
- Explain the relationship between California Civil Code §§ 56.10 and 56.104 and why this relationship is so important for outpatient psychotherapists.
- Apply the categories of “T-P-O” to patient information under HIPAA.
- Assess how HIPAA handles the technical aspects of confidentiality differently than California law does.
The event includes a hot breakfast buffet, a buffet luncheon, afternoon snacks, drinks, and 6 CEUs. Our venue, Michael’s at Shoreline offers a spacious meeting room and outdoor patio for breaks and meals. Please join us and enjoy being a part of the SCV-CAMFT community.
Workshop Handouts: An email with a link to the handouts will be sent to workshop registrants the week of the workshop. We will not provide paper handouts. If you want them at the workshop, you will need to print them and bring them.
Registration Information
8:30 am check-in, registration, and breakfast with the presentation starting at 9:00 am. Walk-in attendees, please arrive early to complete your registration and payment.
About the Presenter
Dave Jensen has been a staff attorney with CAMFT since April 2002. As an attorney with CAMFT, he consults with its members regarding their legal and ethical dilemmas, and he is a regular contributor to The Therapist magazine. Dave gives numerous law and ethics presentations to chapters, schools, and agencies, which have helped therapists to better understand their legal and ethical obligations.
Registration: Register and pay online with a credit card, PayPal, or check. Please allow 10 days to process check payments. Mail checks to: SCV-CAMFT, P.O. Box 60814, Palo Alto, CA 94306. Walk In Registration: If space is available you can register as a walk-in. This can be done online Sept. 12-13, or at the event. The registration price increases by $30 for this option. Continuing Education: SCV-CAMFT is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LPCCs, LEPs, and/or LCSWs (CAMFT CE Provider #052466). SCV-CAMFT maintains responsibility for this program/course and its content. This course meets the qualifications for 6 hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LPCCs, LEPs, and/or LCSWs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Science. This presentation is suitable for all clinical levels. Certificates: To obtain your certificate, you must sign-in and sign-out at the event and complete a program evaluation. These are CAMFT requirements. You will be emailed a link to the evaluation within a week after the event. Upon completion of the evaluation, you will have access to the certificate. You must add your name and license number to make it official. This link will be active for 2 weeks after the email is sent.Cancellations: Refunds will be issued, minus a $30 administrative fee, if a request for cancellation is received by the Monday before the event. No refunds will be issued if a request for cancellation is received after the Monday before the event. To cancel, please send an email to mail@scv-camft.org or call the chapter voicemail at 408-235-0210. Refunds will be issued within ten (10) business days. Accommodations for Disability: The Santa Clara Valley chapter of CAMFT is committed to providing a presentation that is accessible to all who wish to attend. If you have a special need and plan to attend, please notify us at mail@scv-camft.org or 408-235-0210. Requests must be made one week in advance. Grievance Policy: Any concern or grievance can be put in writing and emailed to the chapter coordinator at mail@scv-camft.org.
