We may use and disclose your health information to provide, coordinate, or manage your mental health treatment and related services. This may include determining appropriate treatment, coordinating your care, documenting services, and evaluating your response to treatment. For example: Your SLC treating provider(s) may share information with and receive information from your other healthcare providers, such as your primary care physician. psychiatrist, etc.

We may use and disclose your health information to operate our practice and improve care. This may include quality improvement, clinician review, training and supervision, credentialing, licensing, auditing, compliance, business planning, and administrative activities.

We may use or disclose your health information when required to do so by federal, state, or local law.

We may disclose health information to law enforcement officials when permitted or required by law, including in response to certain lawful processes or other circumstances authorized by HIPAA and applicable state law.

We may disclose health information for certain public health and safety activities as permitted or required by law, including:

• preventing or controlling disease, injury, or disability;
• reporting suspected abuse or neglect;
• reporting certain reactions to medications or problems with products;
• assisting with product recalls; or
• preventing or reducing a serious and imminent threat to the health or safety of a person or the public.

We may disclose your health information to health oversight agencies for authorized activities such as audits, investigations, inspections, licensing, disciplinary proceedings, and oversight of the health care system.

We may use or disclose your health information as authorized by and to the extent necessary to comply with workers’ compensation laws or similar programs established by law.

We may disclose health information to organizations involved in organ, eye, or tissue donation or transplantation when permitted by law.

We may use and disclose your health information as necessary to obtain payment for services you receive. Information sent to an insurance company, health plan, or other payer may include identifying information, diagnoses, dates or types of services, and other information necessary for billing and payment.

We may use your contact information for appointment reminders and information about treatment alternatives or other health-related services. You may ask us to communicate with you in a specific way or at a specific location.

We may disclose your health information in response to a court or administrative order, subpoena, discovery request, or other lawful process when applicable legal requirements are met.

We may disclose health information to an appropriate government authority when authorized or required by law to report suspected abuse, neglect, or domestic violence.

We may use or disclose health information for research when permitted by HIPAA and other applicable laws. Research involving identifiable protected health information may require your written authorization or approval of an Institutional Review Board or Privacy Board unless another HIPAA provision permits the use or disclosure.

Information properly de-identified in accordance with HIPAA is no longer considered protected health information under HIPAA.

We may use or disclose your health information when necessary, consistent with applicable law and ethical standards, to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to your health or safety or the health or safety of another person or the public.

We may disclose your health information for permitted government functions, including military and veterans’ activities, national security and intelligence activities, and protective services for certain officials.

We may disclose health information to a coroner, medical examiner, or funeral director as permitted or required by law so they may carry out their lawful duties.

Uses and disclosures of your health information that are not described in this Notice or otherwise permitted or required by law will be made only with your written authorization.

We will obtain your written authorization before using or disclosing protected health information for marketing when authorization is required by HIPAA.

Silver Linings Counseling does not currently use your protected health information for fundraising purposes.

Most uses and disclosures of psychotherapy notes require your written authorization, except for certain uses and disclosures specifically permitted by law.

We will obtain your written authorization before making a disclosure that constitutes a sale of protected health information under HIPAA.

You may revoke an authorization in writing at any time, except to the extent that we have already taken action in reliance on the authorization.

You may obtain a paper copy of this Notice at any time, even if you previously agreed to receive it electronically.

If you believe health information we maintain about you is incorrect or incomplete, you may request an amendment. If we deny your request, we will provide a written explanation and information about your rights regarding that denial.

You may ask us not to use or disclose certain information for treatment, payment, or health care operations or not to share information with certain people involved in your care. We are generally not required to agree.

You may request a list of certain disclosures of your protected health information made during the six years before your request. Certain disclosures, including many for treatment, payment, and health care operations, are not included.

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

You may inspect and obtain an electronic or paper copy of health information maintained about you in a designated record set, subject to certain legal exceptions. We may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee as permitted by law.

You may ask us to contact you in a specific way or at a specific location, such as only at a particular phone number or mailing address. We will accommodate reasonable requests as required by law.

If you pay in full out of pocket for a health care item or service, you may ask us not to disclose information about that item or service to your health plan for payment or health care operations. We will honor the request unless disclosure is otherwise required by law.

A person legally authorized to act on your behalf may generally exercise your HIPAA rights and make choices about your health information, subject to applicable law and certain exceptions.

You may complain to Silver Linings Counseling or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights if you believe your privacy rights have been violated.