Privacy Policy 

PATIENT PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION

 

USES AND DISCLOSURE OF HEALTH INFORMATION TREATMENT, PAYMENT, AND HEALTH CARE OPERATIONS

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Sonshine Counseling Services uses and discloses your protected health information for treatment, payment, and health care operations. Some examples of when our office may use or disclose your health care information for these purposes include:

• Sharing test results with other health care providers for confirmation of a diagnosis

• Providing your diagnosis or other information about your health to your insurance provider or our billing service to obtain payment for the health care services we provide

• Reviewing information as part of our quality improvement program

OTHER USES AND DISCLOSURES 

Sonshine Counseling Services  may also use or disclose your protected health information, in compliance with guidelines outlined by law, for the following purposes:

• Providing you with information related to your health

• Contacting you regarding appointments, information about Sonshine Counseling Services, or other health-related services

• Incidental uses or disclosures (e.g., listing your name on a sign-in sheet, etc.)

• Compliance with all laws (including reports of suspected abuse, neglect or violence)

• Providing certain specified information to law enforcement or correctional institutions

• Information disclosed in the course of a visit by a licensing/regulatory/accrediting body

• Responding to court or administrative tribunal orders, subpoenas, discovery requests, or other lawful processes

• Research activities

• When necessary to avert a serious threat to health or safety

• Military affairs, veterans affairs, national security, intelligence, Department of State, or presidential protective service activities

• Providing information regarding your location, general condition, or death, to public or private disaster relief agencies

• To assist in your health care (e.g. pick-up prescriptions or other documents, note follow-up care instructions, etc.)

AUTHORIZATION FOR OTHER USES 

Sonshine Counseling Services will make other uses and disclosure of your protected health information only after obtaining your written authorization. If you authorize a use not contained in this notice, you may revoke your authorization at any time by notifying us that you wish to revoke your authorization.

DUTIES REGARDING PRIVACY OF HEALTH INFORMATION 

Subject to limitations outlined by law, Sonshine Counseling Services has certain duties related to your protected health information, including:

• Sonshine Counseling Services is required by law to maintain the privacy of protected health information and to provide individuals with notice of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to protected health information.

• Sonshine Counseling Services is required to abide by the terms of the privacy notice that is currently in effect.

• Sonshine Counseling Services reserves the right to change a privacy practice described in this notice and to make such change effective for all protected health information. Revised notices will be posted in our offices, on our website, and available upon request.

• Sonshine Counseling Services is required by law to let you know promptly if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your information.

• Sonshine Counseling Services will not use your information other than as described in this patient privacy policy unless you tell us we can in writing. If you tell us we can, you may change your mind at any time. Let us know in writing if you change your mind.

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SONSHINE COUNSELING SERVICES' DUTIES REGARDING THE PRIVACY OF YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION 

Subject to limitations outlined by law, Sonshine Counseling Services has certain duties related to your protected health information, including:

• Sonshine Counseling Services is required by law to maintain the privacy of protected health information and to provide individuals with notice of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to protected health information.

• Sonshine Counseling Services is required to abide by the terms of the privacy notice that is currently in effect.

• Sonshine Counseling Services reserves the right to change a privacy practice described in this notice and to make such change effective for all protected health information. Revised notices will be posted in our offices, on our website, and available upon request.

• Sonshine Counseling Services is required by law to let you know promptly if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your information.

• Sonshine Counseling Services will not use your information other than as described in this patient privacy policy unless you tell us we can in writing. If you tell us we can, you may change your mind at any time. Let us know in writing if you change your mind.

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 HIPPA Information can be found at: https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/index.html

 

This Privacy Policy applies only to the Sonshine Counseling Services and Website. This Privacy Policy does not apply to any websites managed, maintained, and/or hosted by third parties not directly affiliated with Sonshine Counseling Services that you may visit, e.g., via a link provided through the Website or Services or on a website maintained by any third party.  Sonshine Counseling Services does not control the privacy policies of other websites to which we may provide hyperlinks. We encourage you to learn more about the online privacy and data security policies of third party websites directly from such third parties, as their policies may differ from ours.

By submitting your information to us and by using the Website or Services, Sonshine Counseling Services  will assume that you have read, understood, and consent to this Privacy Policy, our Terms and Conditions, all amendments, addenda, and licenses to the Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions, and all applicable Sonshine Counseling Services rules and policies (collectively, the “Agreement”). We also assume that you consent to our use of your information and data as described in the Agreement. If you do not consent, you should not access or use the Website or Services.