NOTICE OF
PRIVACY POLICY

Your privacy is essential to our services. Any personal information you provide, including contact details and communications, will be handled with care and used only to support your counseling needs. This notice explains how your health information may be used, disclosed, and accessed. If you have questions about how your information is handled, please contact us at sav@drybone.co.

We use reasonable safeguards, including secure storage and encryption, to protect your information. However, no electronic system is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee the absolute safety of data transmitted or stored online. By using our website and services, you acknowledge this limitation.

SECTION I. OUR COMMITMENT TO YOUR PRIVACY

Health information about you and your care is personal. Dry Bone Co LLC is committed to protecting your Protected Health Information (“PHI”) in compliance with:

  • Federal law - Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy Rule,

  • State requirements - including Alabama and Illinois confidentiality laws governing mental health records and reporting, and

  • Professional ethical standards - including rules set by the Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling (ABEC) and the Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation (IDFPR).

Dry Bone Co is required by law to:

  • Maintain the privacy of your PHI.

  • Provide you with this Notice of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to your PHI.

  • Follow the terms of this Notice currently in effect.

We may change the terms of this Notice, and such changes will apply to all PHI maintained. A revised Notice will be available upon request and on this page.

SECTION II. HOW WE MAY USE OR DISCLOSE HEALTH INFORMATION ABOUT YOU

Federal law (HIPAA) permits or requires use/disclosure of PHI without your written authorization for certain purposes. The following describes categories of uses and disclosures:

TREATMENT, PAYMENT, AND HEALTH CARE OPERATIONS: Dry Bone Co may use or disclose PHI for treatment, payment and health care operations (e.g., submission of PHI to insurance plans or other payers for reimbursement). These uses/disclosures are permitted under HIPAA without your specific authorization.

LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE DISCLOSURES: Dry Bone Co may disclose PHI in compliance with laws and court orders or if required by law. This may include disclosures in response to a subpoena or administrative order, consistent with applicable confidentiality laws in Alabama and Illinois.

Subject to applicable law, Dry Bone Co may also disclose PHI without your Authorization for:

  • Appointment reminders and information about treatment alternatives or benefits.

  • Public health activities (e.g., reporting abuse, communicable disease reporting, etc.).

  • Health oversight activities (e.g., audits, investigations, etc.).

  • Judicial/administrative proceedings.

  • Law enforcement purposes.

  • Coroner/medical examiner purposes.

  • Research, in compliance with HIPAA and state confidentiality laws.

  • Workers’ compensation claims. 

SECTION III. USES AND DISCLOSURES THAT REQUIRE YOUR AUTHORIZATION

PSYCHOTHERAPY NOTES: Dry Bone Co maintains “psychotherapy notes” as defined in HIPAA. Any use or disclosure of such notes requires your written authorization except for limited uses, including:

  • Dry Bone Co use in treating you.

  • Dry Bone Co use for training or supervision.

  • Defense in legal proceedings you initiate.

  • Disclosure to a coroner or to avert a serious threat to health or safety.

MARKETING AND SALE OF PHI: Dry Bone Co will not use or disclose your PHI for marketing purposes or sell your PHI in the normal course of business.

SECTION V. RIGHTS REGARDING PHI

RIGHT TO REQUEST RESTRICTIONS: You may ask for limits on how PHI is used or disclosed. Dry Bone Co is not required to agree, but if we do, we will abide by the request.

RIGHT TO CONFIDENTIAL COMMUNICATIONS: You may request how Dry Bone Co contacts you (e.g., at work versus home, email versus call/sms).

RIGHT TO ACCESS AND COPIES: Except for limited exceptions (e.g., psychotherapy notes), you may request access to inspect or receive a copy of your PHI within the timeframes required under HIPAA and state law.

RIGHT TO AN ACCOUNTING OF DISCLOSURES: You may request a list of certain disclosures made by Dry Bone Co for purposes other than treatment, payment, or health care operations.

RIGHT TO AMENDMENT: You may request corrections to your PHI. Dry Bone Co may deny the request if we determine the information is accurate and complete.

RIGHT TO RECEIVE THIS NOTICE: You may request a paper or electronic copy of this Notice at any time.

RIGHT TO FILE A COMPLAINT: If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with my office, with the federal Department of Health and Human Services (OCR), or with state authorities in Alabama or Illinois. Your care will not be conditioned on filing a complaint.