Notice of Privacy Practices

Notice of Privacy Practices

Effective Date: May 19, 2026

This Notice of Privacy Practices describes how protected health information about you may be used and disclosed, and how you can get access to this information.

Please review it carefully.

This notice applies to McGarril Mental Health Counseling, P.C. and to the clinicians, staff, and service providers who support the practice as permitted or required by law.

Our Responsibilities

McGarril Mental Health Counseling, P.C. is required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information.

We are required to provide this notice explaining our legal duties and privacy practices. We are also required to follow the terms of this notice while it is in effect.

We will notify you if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your protected health information, as required by law.

We may update this notice from time to time. If we make material changes to our privacy practices, the updated notice will be made available on our website.

How We May Use and Disclose Your Information

We may use and disclose your protected health information for treatment, payment, and health care operations.

Treatment

We may use or share your health information to provide, coordinate, or manage your care.

For example, your clinician may use information from your intake forms, sessions, treatment history, or communications to provide therapy services or coordinate care with another provider when appropriate and permitted.

Payment

We may use or share your health information to bill for services and receive payment.

For example, we may use information to process payments, create superbills, respond to billing questions, or document services provided.

Health Care Operations

We may use or share your health information to operate the practice and improve the quality of care.

For example, we may use information for scheduling, recordkeeping, supervision, consultation, training, compliance, quality review, or other administrative functions necessary to run the practice.

Other Uses and Disclosures Permitted or Required by Law

We may also use or disclose your protected health information when permitted or required by law, including for:

• public health and safety purposes

• reporting abuse, neglect, or domestic violence when required by law

• health oversight activities

• legal proceedings, court orders, subpoenas, or other lawful process

• law enforcement purposes when required or permitted by law

• workers’ compensation claims

• preventing or reducing a serious and imminent threat to health or safety

• other uses or disclosures required by federal, state, or local law

When state or federal law provides greater privacy protection than HIPAA, we will follow the more protective law.

Psychotherapy Notes

Psychotherapy notes receive special protection under HIPAA.

In most cases, we will not use or disclose psychotherapy notes without your written authorization, except in limited circumstances permitted by law. These limited circumstances may include use by your clinician for treatment, use in training programs, use for legal defense, use for certain oversight activities, or use when required by law.

Uses and Disclosures That Require Written Authorization

We will not use or disclose your protected health information for the following purposes without your written authorization unless otherwise permitted or required by law:

• most uses and disclosures of psychotherapy notes

• marketing communications

• sale of your protected health information

• other uses and disclosures not described in this notice

You may revoke a written authorization at any time by contacting the practice in writing, except to the extent that we have already relied on the authorization.

Your Rights

You have certain rights regarding your protected health information.

You Can Ask to See or Get a Copy of Your Health Record

You may request to inspect or receive a copy of certain health information we maintain about you.

We will respond to your request as required by law. We may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee where permitted by law.

You Can Ask Us to Correct Your Health Record

You may ask us to correct health information you believe is incorrect or incomplete.

We may deny the request in some circumstances, but we will explain our decision in writing.

You Can Ask for Confidential Communications

You may ask us to contact you in a specific way, such as at a particular phone number, email address, or mailing address.

We will accommodate reasonable requests when possible.

You Can Ask Us to Limit What We Use or Share

You may ask us not to use or disclose certain health information for treatment, payment, or health care operations.

We are not always required to agree to your request, but we will consider it.

If you pay for a service out of pocket in full and ask us not to share information about that service with your health plan for payment or health care operations, we will honor that request unless disclosure is required by law.

You Can Ask for a List of Certain Disclosures

You may request a list of certain disclosures of your protected health information.

This is sometimes called an accounting of disclosures.

You Can Get a Copy of This Notice

You may request a paper or electronic copy of this notice at any time.

You Can Choose Someone to Act for You

If you have given someone medical power of attorney, or if someone is your legal guardian, that person may be able to exercise your rights and make choices about your health information.

You Can File a Complaint

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may contact McGarril Mental Health Counseling, P.C. using the contact information listed below.

You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights.

We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

Your Choices

In some situations, you may tell us your preferences about what we share.

For example, you may tell us whether we may share information with a family member, partner, close friend, or other person involved in your care.

If you are not able to tell us your preference, such as in an emergency, we may share information if we believe it is in your best interest and permitted by law.

Reproductive Health Information

When required by law, we will obtain a signed attestation before using or disclosing protected health information for certain purposes if the request may involve reproductive health care information and the disclosure is subject to special federal privacy protections.

Website Contact Forms and Email

This notice applies to protected health information maintained by McGarril Mental Health Counseling, P.C.

The website also has a separate Privacy Policy that explains how information submitted through the website may be collected and used.

Please do not use the website contact form or email for emergencies.

If you are experiencing a medical or mental health emergency, call 911, go to your nearest emergency room, or contact a crisis hotline.

Please avoid including detailed clinical information in the website contact form. The contact form is intended for general inquiries and scheduling-related communication.

Changes to This Notice

We may change the terms of this notice at any time.

The new notice will apply to information we already have about you, as well as information we receive in the future.

The current version of this notice will be available on our website and upon request.

Contact

For questions about this Notice of Privacy Practices, to request a copy, or to exercise your privacy rights, please contact:

McGarril Mental Health Counseling, P.C.
Email: lmcgarrillmhc@gmail.com
Phone: 917-310-5940