Notice of Privacy Practices

Our duties

We are required by law to:

• Maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information
• Provide you with this Notice of our legal duties and privacy practices
• Follow the terms of the Notice currently in effect
• Notify you if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your information

How we may use and disclose your health information

The following describe the ways we may use and disclose your PHI. Not every use is listed, but every use we make falls into one of these categories.

For treatment

We may use your health information to provide and coordinate your care — for example, your clinician documenting your sessions, consulting with a supervisor, or coordinating with another provider involved in your care (with your authorization where required).

For payment

We may use and disclose your information to obtain payment for services — for example, preparing a statement or a superbill you may submit to your insurer for out-of-network reimbursement. We are currently a private-pay practice; if we begin billing insurance, we may disclose information to your health plan as needed to obtain payment, consistent with this Notice and the law.

For health care operations

We may use your information for the operations of our practice — for example, quality improvement, supervision and training of interns and clinicians, and general administrative functions necessary to run the practice.

Appointment reminders and related communications

We may contact you to remind you of appointments or to share information about your care, using the contact methods and preferences you provide.

Where required or permitted by law

We may use or disclose your information without your authorization when the law requires or permits it, including:

• When required by federal, state, or local law
• To avert a serious and imminent threat to your health or safety or that of another person
• To report suspected abuse, neglect, or domestic violence as required by Florida law (including mandatory reporting involving children, the elderly, or vulnerable adults)
• For certain public health activities, health oversight activities, or judicial and administrative proceedings (such as a valid court order)
• To coroners, medical examiners, or as otherwise required for specific government functions

Uses and disclosures that require your written authorization

Most uses and disclosures of psychotherapy notes, any use for marketing, and any sale of your information require your written authorization. Other uses not described in this Notice will be made only with your written authorization. You may revoke an authorization in writing at any time, except to the extent we have already acted in reliance on it.

Special protections for mental health information

Mental health information, and psychotherapy notes in particular, receive heightened protection under HIPAA and Florida law. Psychotherapy notes are kept separate from the rest of your record, and we will not disclose them without your written authorization except in the limited circumstances permitted by law.

Your rights regarding your health information

You have the right to:

• Inspect and copy your health information, subject to certain legal exceptions (psychotherapy notes may be excluded)
• Request an amendment to your health information if you believe it is incorrect or incomplete
• Request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures of your information (we will try to honor reasonable requests but are not always required to agree)
• Request confidential communications — for example, asking us to contact you only at a certain phone number or address
• Receive an accounting of certain disclosures we have made of your information
• Receive a paper copy of this Notice upon request, even if you agreed to receive it electronically
• Be notified following a breach of your unsecured protected health information

To exercise any of these rights, please make your request in writing to the contact below.

Our electronic health record and service providers

We use SimplePractice as our practice-management and electronic health record system, and we use other service providers (“business associates”) who may handle your information on our behalf. We require these providers, by written agreement, to protect your information consistent with HIPAA.

Changes to this Notice

We reserve the right to change this Notice and to make the revised Notice effective for information we already have as well as information we receive in the future. We will post the current Notice and provide a copy upon request. The effective date is shown at the top.

Complaints

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with us using the contact information below, or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights. You will not be penalized or retaliated against for filing a complaint.

Contact

Elo Healing LLC — Privacy Contact

Email: laura@elohealing.com
Florida, USA