HIPAA Notice of
Privacy Practices

1. Our Commitment to Your Privacy

Strong Hold Psychiatry is committed to protecting the privacy of your Protected Health Information (PHI) in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act. This Notice of Privacy Practices describes how we may use and disclose your PHI and your rights regarding that information.

2. What Is Protected Health Information (PHI)?

PHI is individually identifiable health information that relates to your past, present, or future physical or mental health condition, the provision of health care to you, or payment for that care. PHI includes information maintained in any form — verbal, written, or electronic.

3. How We May Use and Disclose Your PHI

A. Treatment

We may use your PHI to provide, coordinate, or manage your psychiatric care. This includes sharing information with other health care providers involved in your treatment, with your consent.

B. Payment

We may use and disclose your PHI to obtain payment for services provided, including billing to your insurance company and verifying your eligibility for coverage.

C. Health Care Operations

We may use your PHI for our internal operations, such as quality assessment, staff training, licensing, and accreditation activities.

D. As Required by Law

We will disclose your PHI when required to do so by federal, state, or local law.

E. Public Health and Safety

We may disclose your PHI when necessary to prevent a serious threat to your health or safety, or the health or safety of the public or another person.

F. Abuse or Neglect

We may disclose your PHI to a government authority if we reasonably believe you are a victim of abuse, neglect, or domestic violence.

G. Judicial and Administrative Proceedings

We may disclose your PHI in response to a court order, subpoena, or other lawful process.

4. Psychotherapy Notes

We maintain psychotherapy notes separately from your medical record. We will not use or disclose psychotherapy notes without your written authorization, except in limited situations permitted by law (e.g., to defend against a legal action brought by you, for required government oversight, or to prevent a serious and imminent threat to health or safety).

5. Uses and Disclosures Requiring Your Authorization

For uses and disclosures not described in this notice, we will request your written authorization before using or disclosing your PHI. You may revoke your authorization at any time in writing, except to the extent we have already acted in reliance on it.

6. Your Rights Regarding Your PHI

• Right to Access: You may request copies of your PHI maintained by our practice.
• Right to Amend: You may request corrections to your PHI if you believe it is inaccurate or incomplete.
• Right to an Accounting of Disclosures: You may request a list of certain disclosures we have made of your PHI.
• Right to Request Restrictions: You may request restrictions on how we use or disclose your PHI for treatment, payment, or operations.
• Right to Confidential Communications: You may request that we communicate with you by alternative means or at alternative locations (e.g., calling only your cell phone).
• Right to a Paper Copy: You may obtain a paper copy of this Notice at any time upon request.
• Right to File a Complaint: You may file a complaint with us or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services if you believe your privacy rights have been violated.

7. Our Responsibilities

• We are required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your PHI.
• We will notify you promptly if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your PHI.
• We will not use or disclose your PHI for marketing purposes or sell your PHI without your written authorization.
• We will follow the terms of the Notice currently in effect.

8. Telehealth Services

For patients receiving care through telehealth, the same privacy protections apply to all communications and PHI transmitted electronically. We use secure, HIPAA-compliant platforms for all virtual sessions.

9. Minors

The PHI of minor patients is handled in accordance with applicable state laws regarding parental access and minor consent. Parents or legal guardians generally have the right to access a minor's PHI, subject to certain legal exceptions.

10. Changes to This Notice

We reserve the right to change this Notice at any time. Any revised Notice will apply to PHI we already maintain as well as any new PHI we create or receive. The current version of this Notice will always be available on our website and upon request at our office.

11. Contact Information

For questions about this Notice, to exercise your rights, or to file a complaint, please contact:

You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights, at www.hhs.gov/hipaa or by calling 1-877-696-6775. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.