Privacy Policy

We collect different types of personal data necessary to deliver and manage our services, including but not limited to:

• Personal Information: This includes your full name, date of birth, contact details such as phone number, email address, mailing address, and emergency contact details.
• Health Information: This encompasses your medical and psychological history, session notes from therapy sessions, treatment plans, diagnoses, medication information, and any assessments or evaluations conducted.
• Insurance and Billing Information: Information required for processing payments, insurance coverage, and billing purposes, including policy numbers, insurance provider details, and payment methods.
• Technical Information: Information collected automatically when you visit our website, such as IP addresses, browser types, device details, operating systems, and cookies and similar tracking technologies usage data.

We use your personal information for purposes essential to delivering high-quality mental health services, such as:

• Providing counseling and therapeutic treatment.
• Scheduling and managing appointments and communications.
• Processing payments, handling insurance claims, and administrative transactions.
• Improving our services through internal assessments and evaluations.
• Ensuring compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements.
• Communicating important updates, notices, and responses to inquiries.

We do not sell your personal information. However, we may share your information under the following conditions:

• With Your Consent: When you explicitly authorize us to share information.
• Treatment and Coordination: Sharing information with healthcare professionals involved in your care.
• Billing and Insurance: Providing necessary information to insurance companies, billing services, and other financial entities.
• Business Associates: We may engage third-party service providers (Business Associates) to perform certain functions on our behalf, such as billing or data analysis. These associates are contractually obligated to protect your Protected Health Information (PHI) in accordance with HIPAA regulations.
• Legal Obligations: When required to comply with laws, court orders, or legal processes.
• Safety Concerns: If we believe it is necessary to prevent harm to you or others, including situations involving threats, abuse, neglect, or domestic violence.
• Research and Fundraising: We may use your PHI for research purposes or to contact you for fundraising efforts, but only with your prior written authorization unless otherwise permitted by law.

We employ rigorous security protocols, including encrypted communication channels, secure data storage, regular security reviews, and restricted access to personal and health data to authorized personnel only, to protect your privacy and ensure the confidentiality of your information.

We retain your information in accordance with applicable legal and ethical requirements. Personal and health records are securely maintained and disposed of after legally mandated retention periods expire.

You have several rights regarding your personal information, including:

• Right to Access: You may request access to your personal health records and related information.
• Right to Amend: You can request corrections or updates if your information is inaccurate or incomplete.
• Right to Restrict: You may request restrictions on the use or disclosure of your information.
• Confidential Communications: You may specify alternative methods or locations for receiving communications.
• Accounting of Disclosures: You can request an account of certain disclosures we have made of your information.
• File a Complaint: You have the right to file a complaint about our privacy practices with our office or with relevant government authorities.

For patients under 18 years of age, we comply with state and federal laws regarding parental access to minors’ PHI. In certain circumstances, minors may consent to treatment and control access to their records.

Our website may use analytics tools and third-party services to collect information about your usage patterns. This information helps us improve our website and services.

Our website might include links to external websites. These external websites operate independently and have their own privacy policies. We are not responsible for their content or privacy practices and recommend reviewing their policies directly.

Our website utilizes cookies and other tracking technologies to enhance user experience, analyze website performance, and improve service offerings. You can adjust your browser settings to reject or manage cookies; however, doing so might affect your experience on our site.

In the event of a breach of your unsecured PHI, we will notify you without unreasonable delay, as required by applicable law, and provide information on the steps you should take to protect yourself.

We reserve the right to update this Privacy Policy at any time. Changes will be posted on this page with the updated effective date. We encourage you to review this policy regularly to stay informed.

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your PHI, please contact our Privacy Officer at:

Dr. John G. Kuna & Associates

Phone: (570) 961-3361

Fax: (570) 961-3364

Email: schedulers@drjohngkuna.com