Confidentiality

Northwestern Medicine Behavioral Health Services Confidentiality Statement

At Northwestern Medicine Behavioral Health Services, all information shared, including conversations with your provider and all treatment records pertaining to you and your family, are protected by the Illinois Mental Health Act.

This law requires strict adherence to procedures related to confidentiality. Your information is not released to anyone, including insurance companies, without your expressed written consent.

Additionally, at the initial appointment, you will be given a copy of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), a federal law that provides privacy protections and patient rights with regard to the use and disclosure of your protected health information (PHI) used for the purpose of treatment, payment, and health care operations.

There are certain exceptions to this Confidentiality Statement. Illinois law stipulates that therapists are required to disclose information that prevents injury to the client or a third party, as well as report all instances of suspected abuse or neglect of children. For more information about the Illinois Mental Health Act, please visit Illinois General Assembly.