Forged Under Fire Privacy Practices

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In accordance with H.B. No. 4224, Section 1. Subchapter C. Chapter 181, Health and Safety Code, is amended as follows:

AN ACT relating to information regrading consumer access to health care records

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1: Subchapter C. Chapter 181, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Section 181.105 to read as follows:

Sec. 181/105. REQUIRED INFORMATION REGARDING CONSUMER ACCESS TO HEALTH RECORDS 

AND COMPLAINTS. (A) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a covered entity shall prominently post

On entity’s Internet website and at any entity facility detailed instructions for a consumer to :

1. (1) Request the consumer’s health care records from the entity;
2. (2)  Contact the disciplinary or licensing authority for the covered entity; and
3. (3)  File a consumer complaint as described by Section 181.103.

(b) This section does no apply to a covered entity that conducts claims processing

Data processing, data analysis, utilization review, or billing on behalf of another

covered entity that provides health care services directly to consumers.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025  

1. REQUEST FOR RECORDS PROCESS: 

To request copies of your records held by Forged Under Fire, please inquire with your provider. Your provider can download your records. The Intake packet that you originally completed before starting counselling services also explained this at the time you competed this form, along with the cost of records. 

There is a charge of $5.00 per record as it does take time to prepare the records, the process is not one that can be done instantly. If the records are to be sent to another identity, then a Release of Information (ROI) must be completed as well, any time a record leaves our office, it must be authorized by you; the only exception would be if records were subpoenaed by a legal request from a court to be used in a specific court case.  

If you are wanting your records to submit to the VA for filling for disability, or an increase, we strongly suggest that you get with the VA and they will prepare the ROI and request the records be sent to them. There have been clients that have paid for their records and sent them to the VA and they never were put into the clients VA record jacket. By your counselor sending them in direct response to a request, the records have not been lost when they have been sent in this manner.

2. To contact the disciplinary or licensing authority to file a complaint or concern

Webpage is: https://bhec.texas.gov/contact-us/

When you open this webpage go down the menu list on the left side and select Discipline and Complaints, this will take you to the page that explains what takes place and at the bottom you can click on the large blue box that is titled “How to File a Complaint”. This takes you to the next page that has the form you can download to fill out. It also lists stipulation for completing the form accurately. 

3. To file a consumer complaint as described by The Texas Health and Safety Code 181, Section 181.103 (filed with the Texas State Attorney’s Office)

Webpage is: https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/consumer-protection/file-consumer-complaint

This is the website that you can use to make a complaint online with the Texas Attorney. All the information that you will need can be found on this website. You can complete a complaint form on line and file it from the same page. There are step-by-step instructions that will work you through the process.

If you prefer to write out your complaint and send it by mail, below is the address for this, and a phone number to this office:

Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council 

333 Guadalupe St., Ste. 3-900 

Austin, Texas 78701 

Tel. (512) 305-7700 1-800-821-3205 24-hour, toll-free complaint system 

If you have any questions, please feel free to enquire with Randall W Cribbs CEO of Forged Under Fire Counseling & Consulting LLC, thank you.

Randall W. Cribbs

CEO Forged Under Fire