Notice of Privacy Practices

Your rights

When it comes to your health information, you have certain rights. This section explains those rights and how to exercise them.

Get an electronic or paper copy of your health record

• You may ask to see or receive an electronic or paper copy of your health record and other health information Greenwood Counseling has about you, as permitted by law.
• We will provide a copy or summary within the time required by law. A reasonable, cost-based fee may apply when permitted.

Ask us to correct your health record

• You may ask us to correct health information that you believe is incorrect or incomplete.
• We may deny the request in some circumstances, but we will explain the reason in writing within the time required by law.

Request confidential communications

• You may ask us to contact you in a particular way, such as at a specific phone number or address.
• We will accommodate reasonable requests.

Ask us to limit what we use or share

• You may ask us not to use or share certain health information for treatment, payment, or health-care operations. We are not required to agree to every request.
• If you pay for a service out of pocket in full and ask us not to disclose information about that service to a health plan for payment or health-care operations, we will honor the request unless the law requires disclosure.

Get a list of certain disclosures

• You may request an accounting of certain disclosures of your health information made during the six years before your request, subject to exceptions under HIPAA.

Get a copy of this privacy notice

• You may request a paper copy of this notice at any time, even if you agreed to receive it electronically.

Choose someone to act for you

• If you have given someone medical power of attorney, or if someone is your legal guardian or otherwise authorized by law, that person may exercise your rights and make choices about your health information as permitted by law.

File a complaint if you believe your rights were violated

• You may complain to Greenwood Counseling using the contact information below.
• You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights.
• We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

Your choices

For certain health information, you may tell us your preferences about what we share. If you have a clear preference, tell us what you want us to do and we will follow your instructions when the law allows.

Family, friends, and others involved in your care

You may tell us whether and how we may share relevant information with family members, close friends, or others involved in your care or payment for your care. If you are unable to tell us your preference, we may share information when we determine that doing so is in your best interest and is permitted by law.

Marketing and sale of information

We will obtain your written authorization before using or disclosing your protected health information for marketing when HIPAA requires authorization, and before selling your protected health information.

Psychotherapy notes

Psychotherapy notes receive special protection under HIPAA. We generally will not use or disclose psychotherapy notes without your written authorization except as specifically permitted or required by law.

How we may use and disclose your information

HIPAA permits or requires us to use and disclose health information in several circumstances without obtaining a separate authorization from you.

Treat you

We may use your health information and share it with other professionals who are treating you for purposes such as coordination of care, consultation, or referrals when permitted by law.

Run our practice

We may use and share health information to operate Greenwood Counseling, improve services, conduct quality and compliance activities, and manage the practice.

Bill for services

We may use and share health information with health plans and other responsible parties to bill for services and obtain payment.

Help with public health and safety issues

We may share health information for certain situations permitted or required by law, including preventing or reducing a serious threat to health or safety, reporting suspected abuse or neglect when legally required, and certain public-health activities.

Comply with the law

We will disclose health information when federal or state law requires it, including to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services when it is reviewing our compliance with HIPAA.

Respond to legal and governmental requests

We may disclose health information in response to lawful court or administrative orders, subpoenas or other legal process when the requirements of applicable law are met, and for certain law-enforcement, workers' compensation, health-oversight, medical examiner, or other governmental purposes permitted by law.

Research and other permitted activities

We may use or disclose health information for research or other activities only when the requirements and protections of applicable law have been satisfied.

Our responsibilities

• We are required by law to maintain the privacy and security of protected health information.
• We will notify you promptly if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your information when notification is required by law.
• We must follow the duties and privacy practices described in the notice currently in effect.
• We will not use or disclose your information for purposes not described in this notice unless you give us written authorization, except as otherwise permitted or required by law.
• If you give us written authorization, you may revoke it in writing at any time, except to the extent we have already acted in reliance on it.

Changes to this notice

We may change the terms of this notice, and the changes may apply to health information we already have about you as well as information we receive in the future. The current notice will be available at our office and on this website and will show its effective date.