Notice of Privacy Practices

Our responsibilities

• We are required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information (PHI).
• We will let you know promptly if a breach occurs that may have compromised your information.
• We must follow the duties and privacy practices described in this Notice and give you a copy of it.
• We will not use or share your information other than as described here unless you tell us we can in writing.

Practice: Synergetic Counseling & Wellness
Address: 7546 US-30, Irwin, PA 15642
Phone: 724-989-6980
Email: jltaylorlpc@scwellness.info

This Notice is a general statement of typical HIPAA privacy practices for a counseling practice. If you have questions about your specific situation, please contact us.

Your rights

You have the right to:

• Get a copy of your health record (paper or electronic, with limited exceptions).
• Ask us to correct your health record if you believe it is wrong or incomplete.
• Request confidential communications (for example, contact you at a different number or address).
• Ask us to limit what we use or share (we may not be required to agree in all cases).
• Get a list of certain disclosures of your information.
• Get a copy of this Notice at any time.
• Choose someone to act for you (medical power of attorney, legal guardian).
• File a complaint if you feel your rights are violated.

To exercise these rights, contact Jessica Taylor at 724-989-6980 or jltaylorlpc@scwellness.info.

How we may use and disclose your information

We may use and share your information for the following purposes:

• Treatment: to provide, coordinate, or manage your care.
• Payment: to bill and receive payment from health plans or other entities.
• Health care operations: to run our practice, improve quality, and support business operations.
• Appointment reminders and care-related communications: to contact you about appointments or care.
• As required by law: when required by federal, state, or local law.
• To help with public health and safety: in limited situations allowed by law.
• To avert a serious threat to health or safety: when necessary to prevent a serious and imminent threat.

We may also share information in certain situations such as for health oversight activities, to respond to lawful requests from courts or law enforcement, or for workers’ compensation, as permitted or required by law.

Business associates

We may share your information with service providers who perform services for our practice (for example, billing, secure software, or administrative support) and who are required to protect your information.

Psychotherapy notes

Psychotherapy notes (as defined by HIPAA) receive special protections. Generally, we will not use or disclose psychotherapy notes without your written authorization, except as permitted by law.

Uses and disclosures that require your written authorization

In most situations, we will obtain your written authorization before:

• Using or sharing your information for marketing purposes (outside of limited permitted activities).
• Selling your information.
• Using or disclosing psychotherapy notes (with limited exceptions).

You may revoke an authorization at any time in writing, except to the extent we already acted on it.

Complaints

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with us using the contact information above. You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights.

We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

Changes to this Notice

We reserve the right to change this Notice and make the new Notice effective for all health information we maintain. We will post the updated Notice on our website and make it available upon request.