Effective Date: January 1, 2025
Introduction
Welcome to Epp Counseling, LLC! This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, protect, and retain your personal information when you engage with our mental health counseling services in Florida. We are dedicated to safeguarding your privacy and confidentiality in line with federal and state laws, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the Florida Information Protection Act (FIPA).
1. Information We Collect
We may collect various types of information, including:
- Personal Information: This includes details like your name, date of birth, address, phone number, and email address, which help us identify you.
- Health Information: Information about your mental health, such as your mental health history, treatment plans, diagnoses, progress notes, and other details necessary for your care.
- Payment Information: Details needed to process payments, such as credit card information.
- Website Usage Information: Data from Google Analytics about how you interact with our website, including your IP address, browser type, pages visited, and time spent on our site.
2. How We Use Your Information
We use your information to provide and manage mental health services, including:
- Creating and implementing your treatment plan.
- Communicating about appointments, treatment, and billing.
- Coordinating with other healthcare providers, with your consent.
- Processing payments for services.
- Meeting legal and regulatory requirements.
- Managing risks related to your or others’ safety.
- Enhancing website functionality and content based on Google Analytics data.
3. Disclosure of Your Information
We will not share your personal or health information with third parties without your consent, except in the following situations:
- Treatment Purposes: Sharing with other healthcare providers involved in your care.
- Payment Purposes: Using third-party processors to handle payment transactions.
- Healthcare Operations: For internal purposes like quality assurance.
- Legal Requirements: Disclosing information as required by law, including reporting abuse or responding to court orders.
- Public Health and Safety: Sharing information if necessary to prevent a serious threat to health or safety.
4. Google Analytics
We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors use our website and to improve user experience. Google Analytics collects data like your IP address, browser type, pages visited, and time spent on our site. This data is aggregated and anonymized, so it doesn’t identify you personally. If you prefer not to have your data collected by Google Analytics, you can opt out via the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.
5. Data Security
We take appropriate measures to protect your personal and health information from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. This includes physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards that comply with HIPAA and FIPA. We use encryption, secure storage, and access controls to keep your information safe.
6. Retention of Records
Client records will be kept for a minimum of seven years following your last session, as required by state and federal laws. If something happens to me, the records will be handed over to a designated custodian. Once the retention period ends, we will ensure the records are securely and responsibly destroyed, following all legal and ethical guidelines.
7. Your Rights
You have several rights concerning your personal and health information:
- Right to Access: You can request copies of your health records.
- Right to Amend: You can request corrections to your health records if you find inaccuracies.
- Right to Restrict Disclosures: You can request limitations on certain uses or disclosures of your information.
- Right to Confidential Communications: You can request that we communicate with you through specific means or at particular locations.
- Right to an Accounting of Disclosures: You can request a list of disclosures made of your information, excluding those for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations.
8. Client Consent and Acknowledgment
By using our services, you consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of your personal and health information as described in this Privacy Policy. You also acknowledge that you have received, understood, and agreed to this Privacy Policy.
9. Complaints
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you can file a complaint with us or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.
Contact Information
For any questions or concerns, please contact us at:Epp Counseling, LLC5237 Summerlin Commons Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33907Phone: 239-933-7400Email: rachele@eppcounseling.com
