Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy (HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices)
Effective Date: [01/01/2025]
Last Updated: [07/23/2025]
Your Information. Your Rights. Our Responsibilities.
This Privacy Policy describes how we may use and disclose your Protected Health Information (PHI), and explains your rights and our legal duties with respect to that information. Please review this notice carefully.

How We Use and Protect Your Information
We are a covered entity under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). We treat all medical records and PHI in strict compliance with HIPAA and applicable state laws. Your information is maintained in secure systems and used only for permitted purposes, such as:

• Treatment: Sharing your PHI with doctors, nurses, and other providers involved in your care.
• Payment: Using PHI to bill and collect payment from health plans or you.
• Healthcare Operations: Using PHI to manage our practice, improve quality, and contact you when necessary.
  

We may also share PHI when required by law, such as for public health reporting, law enforcement, or research under strict conditions. We will not use your PHI for marketing, sell your PHI, or share psychotherapy notes without your written authorization.

Your Rights Regarding Your PHI
You have the right to:

• Access Your Records: Request to see or obtain a copy of your medical record, in paper or electronic format. We will provide this within 30 days (fees may apply as allowed by law).
• Request Corrections: Ask us to correct information you believe is incorrect or incomplete.
• Request Confidential Communications: Ask us to contact you at a different address or phone number.
• Request Restrictions: Ask us not to use or share certain PHI for treatment, payment, or operations (we may not be able to agree in all cases).
• Accounting of Disclosures: Request a list of certain disclosures of your PHI.
• Paper Copy of This Policy: Request a paper copy at any time, even if you agreed to receive it electronically.
• File a Complaint: If you believe your rights have been violated, you may contact us (see below) or file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services at www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints/. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.
  

Our Legal Duties

• We are required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your PHI.
• We will inform you promptly if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your information.
• We must follow the terms of this notice and give you a copy upon request.
• We will not use or disclose your information for reasons not described here without your written authorization. You may revoke your authorization in writing at any time.
  

Changes to This Notice
We reserve the right to change the terms of this notice. Any changes will apply to all PHI we maintain. The updated notice will be available in our office and on our website.

Contact Information
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or your rights, please contact our 

Privacy Official:
Privacy Official: [Wallace Lawson]
Phone: [210-551-9770]
Email: [admin@serene-mentalhealth.com]
Address: [20333 State Highway 249 suite 200, Houston, TX, USA]