Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy / Notice of Privacy Practices

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW HEALTH INFORMATION MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN ACCESS THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.

OUR PLEDGE REGARDING HEALTH INFORMATION

We understand that health information about you and your care is personal. We are committed to protecting your information. We create a record of the care and services you receive from us because it is necessary to provide you with quality care and to comply with legal requirements.

This notice applies to all records of your care generated by this mental health practice. It explains the ways we may use and disclose your health information, describes your rights regarding the information we maintain about you, and outlines our legal responsibilities. We are required by law to:

Ensure that protected health information (“PHI”) that identifies you is kept private.
Give you this notice of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to your health information.
Follow the terms of the notice currently in effect.

We may change the terms of this notice, and such changes will apply to all information we have about you. The updated notice will be available upon request, in our office, and on our website.

II. HOW WE MAY USE AND DISCLOSE HEALTH INFORMATION ABOUT YOU

For Treatment, Payment, or Health Care Operations

Federal privacy rules allow health care providers with a treatment relationship to use or disclose PHI without your written authorization for treatment, payment, or health care operations.

We may also disclose your PHI for the treatment activities of another health care provider. For example, if one clinician consults with another provider regarding your condition, necessary information may be disclosed to support diagnosis and treatment.

Disclosures for treatment purposes are not limited to the minimum necessary standard, as complete information may be needed to ensure quality care.

Lawsuits and Disputes

If you are involved in a lawsuit, we may disclose health information in response to a court or administrative order. We may also disclose information in response to a subpoena, discovery request, or other lawful process, but only after reasonable efforts to notify you or obtain a protective order.

CERTAIN USES AND DISCLOSURES REQUIRE YOUR AUTHORIZATION

Psychotherapy Notes

We maintain “psychotherapy notes” as defined in 45 CFR § 164.501. These notes require your written authorization for use or disclosure except in limited circumstances, such as:

For our use in treating you.
For training or supervising mental health professionals.
For defense in proceedings initiated by you.
When required by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
When required by law.
For certain health oversight activities.
For duties carried out by a coroner or medical examiner.
To avert a serious and imminent threat to health or safety.
Marketing Purposes

We will not use or disclose your PHI for marketing purposes.

Sale of PHI

We will not sell your PHI in the regular course of business.

CERTAIN USES AND DISCLOSURES DO NOT REQUIRE YOUR AUTHORIZATION

We may use or disclose your PHI without authorization under certain circumstances, including:

When required by state or federal law.
For public health activities, such as reporting suspected child, elder, or dependent adult abuse, or preventing a serious threat to health or safety.
For health oversight activities including audits and investigations.
For judicial or administrative proceedings.
For law enforcement purposes, including reporting crimes on our premises.
To coroners or medical examiners.
For research purposes.
For specialized government functions (e.g., military missions, national security, correctional safety).
For workers’ compensation purposes.
For appointment reminders or information about health-related services we offer.

CERTAIN USES AND DISCLOSURES REQUIRE YOU TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO OBJECT

Disclosures to Family, Friends, or Others

We may disclose your PHI to a family member, friend, or another person involved in your care or payment for your care unless you object. In emergencies, you may be given the opportunity to object after the fact.

YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING YOUR PHI

1. Right to Request Restrictions

You may request limits on how your PHI is used or disclosed for treatment, payment, or health care operations. We are not required to agree if it would affect your care.

2. Right to Restrict Disclosures to Health Plans

If you pay in full out-of-pocket for a service, you may request that we not disclose that information to your health plan.

3. Right to Request Confidential Communications

You may request that we contact you in specific ways (e.g., by mail at a different address). We will accommodate reasonable requests.

4. Right to Inspect and Obtain Copies

You may request an electronic or paper copy of your medical record and other PHI (excluding psychotherapy notes). We will provide it within 30 days of receiving your written request. Reasonable fees may apply.

5. Right to an Accounting of Disclosures

You may request a list of disclosures we made that were not for treatment, payment, health care operations, or authorized by you. One report per year is free; additional requests may incur a fee.

6. Right to Amend Your PHI

If you believe information in your record is incorrect or incomplete, you may request an amendment. If we deny the request, we will provide a written explanation within 60 days.

7. Right to a Copy of This Notice

You may request a paper or electronic copy of this Notice at any time.

III. SMS TEXT MESSAGING TERMS OF SERVICE

Life’s Path – SMS Text Messaging Terms of Service

These SMS Text Messaging Terms of Service ("SMS Terms") are incorporated into all agreements between you and Life’s Path (“our organization,” “us,” “we”), including any preexisting agreements and any agreements enacted at the same time as these SMS Terms.

Life’s Path may use SMS text messaging to communicate with you for purposes such as:

administrative information (e.g., scheduling, billing),
health-related reminders (e.g., appointment reminders, care reminders),
other service-related information.

By providing your mobile number, you consent (“opt in”) to receive SMS text messages from Life’s Path related to services we provide.
Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency varies.

You may:

Text STOP at any time to opt out of SMS messages.
Text HELP at any time to receive help or additional information.

SMS text messages from Life’s Path may originate from our organizational phone numbers, including:

(407) 794-9341

(386) 327-1519

Other agreements between you and Life’s Path such as our general Privacy Policy and Notice of Privacy Practices also apply to our use of SMS messaging, including all privacy and data-handling practices. You acknowledge that you have reviewed all such agreements.