Privacy Policy & Notice of Privacy Practices

Effective Date: June 01, 2025

This notice describes how your health information may be used and disclosed, and how you can access this information. Please review it carefully.

1. Our Commitment to Your Privacy

At Creative heART Counseling and Studio, LLC, we understand that your health information is deeply personal. We are committed to protecting your privacy and maintaining the confidentiality of your Protected Health Information (PHI). This notice explains how we may use and disclose your PHI, your rights regarding that information, and our legal obligations.

We are required by law to:

Keep your PHI private.
Provide you with this notice of our privacy practices.
Follow the terms of this current notice.

We reserve the right to update this notice at any time. Updated versions will be posted on our website and available upon request.

2. How We May Use and Disclose Your Health Information

We may use and share your PHI in the following ways without your written authorization:

For Treatment, Payment, and Health Care Operations

We may use your PHI to provide, coordinate, or manage your care and services. This includes consultations between providers, billing, and administrative activities necessary to operate our practice.

Example: If your therapist consults with another provider regarding your care, we may share necessary information to support your treatment.

Legal Matters and Disputes

If you are involved in a legal proceeding, we may disclose PHI in response to a court or administrative order, or under certain legal processes (e.g., subpoena), with appropriate notice to you when required.

3. Uses and Disclosures That Require Your Authorization

We will not use or disclose your PHI without your written authorization in the following cases:

Psychotherapy Notes: Except in very limited situations (e.g., treatment, legal defense, HHS investigation).
Marketing Purposes
Sale of PHI

If you authorize us to use or disclose PHI for another purpose, you may revoke that authorization at any time in writing.

4. Other Permitted Uses and Disclosures

We may disclose your PHI without authorization for:

Public Health and Safety: Reporting suspected abuse, neglect, or domestic violence; preventing serious threats to health/safety.
Health Oversight Activities: Audits, inspections, or investigations.
Judicial/Administrative Proceedings: When required by a valid legal process.
Law Enforcement Purposes: Including reporting crimes on our premises.
Medical Examiners/Coroners: As required for investigations or identification.
Research Purposes: When approved and PHI is adequately protected.
Workers’ Compensation: As required by law.
Government Functions: For military, national security, or correctional purposes.
Appointment Reminders and Health-Related Services: To notify you of appointments or services that may benefit you.

5. Your Rights Regarding Your PHI

You have the right to:

Request Limits: Ask us not to use or share certain PHI. While we are not required to agree, we will consider all requests.
Restrict Disclosures to Health Plans: If you pay out-of-pocket in full, you may request we do not disclose that information to your health plan.
Confidential Communications: Request we contact you at specific locations or by specific methods (e.g., cell phone, email, mailing address).
Access Your PHI: Request a paper or electronic copy of your records (excluding psychotherapy notes). A reasonable fee may apply.
Amend Your Records: Request corrections or updates if you believe the information is incorrect or incomplete.
Request an Accounting: Ask for a list of when your PHI was shared (not including disclosures for treatment, payment, or operations).
Receive a Copy of This Notice: You may request this notice in paper or digital form at any time.

6. Disclosures to Family or Others Involved in Your Care

With your consent (or if you do not object), we may share relevant PHI with a family member, friend, or other person involved in your care or payment. In emergencies, we may do so when necessary and inform you afterward.

7. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this notice or would like to exercise any of your rights, please contact:

Creative heART Counseling and Studio, LLC
Attn: Privacy Officer
Phone: (843) 978-2799
Email: azellers@chsc.hush.com

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you can file a complaint with our office or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. You will not be penalized for filing a complaint.

Right to Receive a Good Faith Estimate of Expected Charges

Under Section 2799B-6 of the Public Health Service Act, health care providers and health care facilities are required to inform individuals who are not enrolled in a plan or coverage or a Federal health care program, or not seeking to file a claim with their plan or coverage both orally and in writing of their ability, upon request or at the time of scheduling health care items and services, to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” of expected charges.

You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost.

Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.

You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees.
Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service.
If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.

If you receive a GFE from us please make sure to save a copy or take a picture of it. For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises

​Privacy Policy & Notice of Privacy Practices