Mendham Clinic May Have Exposed Patients' Mental Health Records: Report

By Eric Kiefer

MENDHAM, N.J. – A New Jersey-based clinical psychology provider may have exposed its patients’ medical information in public documents as part of its collection efforts, a report says.

According to the New York Times, Short Hills Associates – which has locations in Springfield and Mendham - has filed dozens of collections-related lawsuits against its patients and included their names, diagnoses and listings of their treatments in public documents.

The practice also reportedly attempted collection efforts against the parents of children who visited the clinic, listing their names and treatments as well, the Times reported.

Over a four-year period, Short Hills Associates filed such 24 collections cases, including efforts against attorneys, members of the local business community and a manager at a nonprofit, according to the report.

A sample of an alleged bill can be seen online here.

The Times explained the legal issue at stake:

“The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, the federal patient privacy law known as Hipaa, allows health providers to sue patients over unpaid debts, but requires that they disclose only the minimum information necessary to pursue them… Still, the law has many loopholes. One is that Hipaa covers only providers who submit data electronically — and apparently Short Hills Associates does not.”

Short Hills Associates states its privacy policy regarding patient information on its website.

“You have the right to privacy and confidentiality with your clinician. We abide by legal and ethical standards to maintain your confidentiality. Exceptions to this standard of privacy occur in the case of imminent risk or danger to oneself or others, child abuse or in the case of court order.”