mental health | The Health Law Firm Blog

Legally Speaking: Psychologists, Mental Health Counselors, Social Workers and Therapists

Today begins a multi-part series focusing on the legal matters and needs concerning healthcare professionals, starting with those who practice in the field of psychology, including psychologists, Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHCs), Clinical Social Workers (CSWs) and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs).

Supervised by the Board of Psychology and the Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling, psychologists, Licensed Mental Health Counselors, Clinical Social Workers and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists are responsible for an important component of patient care: mental health. Insuring the mental health of a patient does not come without risks.

For this reason, every mental health professional should carry professional liability insurance that […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:26-04:00June 1, 2018|Health Care Industry, In the Know, Mental Health, The Health Law Firm Blog|

Do You Need A HIPAA Risk Assessment?

By Danielle M. Murray, J.D.

As a health care provider or owner of a health facility, you know about the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996. You know that you must safeguard and protect confidential patient medical information to avoid civil and criminal penalties against you and your practice. Did you know that you may need a HIPAA Risk Assessment?

If You Are A Health Care Provider You Face an Audit Risk.

The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is stepping up enforcement around the country of “covered entities” and business associates. OCR auditors will send a letter informing you that within 30 days, they will […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:38-04:00June 1, 2018|HIPAA, In the Know, The Health Law Firm Blog|

Mental Health Professionals Need to Know How To Handle Difficult Patients – Part 1

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

Psychologists, mental health counselors, social workers, and other psychotherapists, because of the nature of their professions, will often encounter difficult, abusive, or obsessive clients/patients. It comes with the territory. The clients or patients to whom they are expected to provide treatment and therapy to, often suffer from mental disorders, personality disorders, or illnesses.

Although it is traditional for many mental health professionals to refer to “clients” instead of “patients,” we will use the term “client/patient” in this blog.

First, Protect Your Own Privacy.

You should safeguard your own privacy and the […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:09-04:00May 15, 2018|Clinical Social Worker, Marital and Family Therapist, Mental Health Centers, Mental Health Counselor, Mental Health Counselor Law, Occupational Therapist, Psychology, Resident|

Department of Health and Human Services Announces Mental Health Parity Final Rule

By Lance O. Leider, J.D., The Health Law Firm

On November 8, 2013, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the promulgation of the agency’s final rule related to parity of coverage of mental health and substance use treatment. According to Sebelius: “For way too long, the healthcare system has openly discriminated against Americans with behavioral health problems.”

The purpose of the regulations is to close the gaps in coverage that permit insurance carriers to treat mental and substance-abuse related treatment different from traditional medical and surgical benefits.

Among the key provisions of the regulations are the elimination of separate mental health deductibles, co-insurance, etc.; elimination of limits on […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:51-04:00May 15, 2018|Mental Health Counselor, Mental Health Counselor Law, Psychology|