THE HEARD COUNSELING
Effective Date: June 2026
THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN ACCESS THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.
OUR COMMITMENT TO YOUR PRIVACY
The Heard Counseling is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of your Protected Health Information ("PHI"). PHI includes information about your mental health, medical history, treatment, diagnosis, payment information, and other information that may identify you and relate to your healthcare.
This Notice describes how we may use and disclose your PHI, your rights regarding your PHI, and our legal duties under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).
HOW WE MAY USE AND DISCLOSE YOUR INFORMATION
Treatment
We may use and disclose your PHI to provide, coordinate, or manage your treatment and related services. This may include communication with other healthcare providers involved in your care when authorized or permitted by law.
Payment
We may use and disclose your PHI to obtain payment for services provided to you. This may include billing, payment processing, insurance verification, and collection activities.
Healthcare Operations
We may use your PHI for activities necessary to operate our practice, including quality assessment, licensing compliance, business planning, staff training, accreditation activities, and administrative functions.
USES AND DISCLOSURES REQUIRED OR PERMITTED BY LAW
We may disclose your PHI without your authorization when required or permitted by law, including:
• To comply with court orders, subpoenas, or legal proceedings
• To report suspected child abuse, elder abuse, or abuse of vulnerable adults
• To prevent or lessen a serious threat to health or safety
• For certain public health activities
• For health oversight activities
• For law enforcement purposes when permitted by law
• For workers' compensation claims as permitted by law
• As otherwise required by federal or Florida law
USES REQUIRING YOUR WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION
Except as described above, we will obtain your written authorization before using or disclosing your PHI.
You may revoke an authorization at any time in writing, except to the extent that action has already been taken in reliance on that authorization.
YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION
You have the right to:
• Request access to your PHI
• Request a copy of your records, subject to applicable legal limitations
• Request corrections to your PHI
• Request restrictions on certain uses or disclosures
• Request confidential communications through alternative means or locations
• Request an accounting of certain disclosures
• Obtain a paper or electronic copy of this Notice
• File a complaint if you believe your privacy rights have been violated
Please note that certain records may be withheld or limited when permitted by applicable federal or state law.
ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS
While we take reasonable steps to protect the confidentiality of electronic communications, email, text messaging, telehealth platforms, and other electronic methods of communication may involve some level of risk. By choosing to communicate electronically, you acknowledge and accept these risks.
OUR RESPONSIBILITIES
The Heard Counseling is required by law to:
• Maintain the privacy of your PHI
• Provide you with this Notice of Privacy Practices
• Abide by the terms of this Notice
• Notify you following a breach of unsecured PHI when required by law
CHANGES TO THIS NOTICE
We reserve the right to change this Notice and make revised provisions effective for all PHI maintained by the practice. Updated versions will be available upon request and on our website.
COMPLAINTS
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with:
The Heard Counseling
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (305) 998-2665
You may also file a complaint with:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Office for Civil Rights
Filing a complaint will not affect your treatment or services in any way.
CONTACT INFORMATION
The Heard Counseling
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (305) 998-2665
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF RECEIPT
Clients will be asked to acknowledge receipt of this Notice of Privacy Practices as part of the intake process.