The Technical Stuff

This page features the following sections:

• Terms of Use

• Website Privacy Policy

• Notice of Privacy Practices (for clients, related to HIPAA)

• No Surprises Act/Good Faith Estimate information

Terms of Use

The content provided in this website and all of the pages contained in this website are for informational purposes only and are subject to change without notice at any time. The information contained in this website is not intended nor should be taken as advice; therapeutic, legal, medical, and/or otherwise. This site does not provide medical advice; any medical questions should be directed to your personal doctor. The use of this website or the communication through this website does not constitute as a therapeutic relationship between the website user and the counselor and is not intending to be a substitute or a replacement for counseling services. The counselor and A Pathway to You, LLC assume no liability for the information contained within the website, the website contents, or the links within the website. By using this website you establish consent to all the above statements of this disclaimer.

Website Privacy Policy

This policy explains the collection and use of your Personal Identifiable Information (PII) with regard to the use of this website. By using this website, you indicate agreement to the following.

 What personal information is collected from site visitors? When? How is it used? Should you choose to fill out the email contact form, your personal information, such as name, contact information, and message, will be collected in order to convey your correspondence and to allow response. Email, including this site’s contact form, is not confidential nor secure. My email service is set up in HIPAA-compliant ways, however the process of getting an email to my inbox is not secure or confidential, and any response to your inbox would be subject to your email provider’s policies. You can choose to use other means of contact if you prefer to avoid this, such as a phone call.

 Are ‘cookies’ used? This website was built with Squarespace. For information about how Squarespace uses cookies, please visit this page: https://support.squarespace.com/hc/en-us/articles/360001264507. On this site, cookies are used to compile aggregate data about site traffic and site interactions to help improve the site in the future. You can choose to have your computer warn you each time a cookie is being sent, or you can choose to turn off all cookies. You do this through your browser settings. Turning off cookies may change how the site functions.

Google Analytics collects and processes user data on this site, including the association of such data with user actions on this site. Your use of this site indicates your permission for this process. More info here: https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/11593727?hl=en#:~:text=Google%20Analytics%20collects%20the%20following,Approximate%20geolocation

Client service platforms: Simple Practice is used for my online booking in the secure client portal, as well as electronic health records and an option for our telehealth platform. For information about Simple Practice’s security practices and standards, please visit https://www.simplepractice.com/features/security/ Google Meet is another possible telehealth platform we may use, and standards are addressed here.

Third-party disclosure: Your personally identifiable information as received from this site will not be sold, traded, or otherwise transferred to outside parties. Such information may be released when it is appropriate to comply with the law or to enforce site policies. Non-personally identifiable visitor information may be provided to other parties for marketing, advertising, or other uses.

 Third-party links: Any linked third-party sites have separate and independent privacy policies. A Pathway to You and the counselor therefore have no responsibility or liability for the content and activities of these linked sites.

 COPPA (Children Online Privacy Protection Act): This site is not intended for and does not market to children under 13.

 Contact:  If there are any questions regarding this website privacy policy, you can reach out for assistance at ​A Pathway to You, LLC, 352-234-3150, counseling@apathwaytoyou.com.

Notice of Privacy Practices

(for clients, related to HIPAA)

•  Effective date: 6/26/2022
• Contact: Jahn, PhD, 352-234-3150, counseling@apathwaytoyou.com

This information is for clients receiving counseling with the Dr. Stephani Jahn at A Pathway to You, LLC. It is provided upon intake for all new clients and is available on https://apathwaytoyou.com for additional access. This notice describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information. Please review it carefully and sign only after you are comfortable with your understanding. Ask any questions you need, at any time.

Summary

You have the right to:

• Get a copy of your paper or electronic medical record
• Correct your paper or electronic medical record
• Request confidential communication
• Ask me to limit the information I share
• Get a list of those with whom I’ve shared your information
• Get a copy of this privacy notice
• Choose someone to act for you
• File a complaint if you believe your privacy rights have been violated

You have some choices in the way that we use and share information when I might:

• Tell family and friends about your condition
• Provide disaster relief
• Include you in a hospital directory
• Provide mental health care
• Market our services and sell your information
• Raise funds

I may use and share your information as I:

• Treat you
• Run my organization
• Bill for your services
• Help with public health and safety issues
• Do research
• Comply with the law
• Respond to organ and tissue donation requests
• Work with a medical examiner or funeral director
• Address workers’ compensation, law enforcement, and other government requests
• Respond to lawsuits and legal actions

Your Rights

When it comes to your health information, you have certain rights. This section explains your rights and some of my responsibilities to help you.

Get an electronic or paper copy of your medical record: You can ask to see or get an electronic or paper copy of your medical record and other health information I have about you. Ask me how to do this. I will provide a copy or a summary of your health information, usually within 30 days of your request. I may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee.

Ask me to correct your medical record: You can ask me to correct health information about you that you think is incorrect or incomplete. Ask me how to do this. I may say “no” to your request, but I’ll tell you why in writing within 60 days.

Request confidential communications: You can ask me to contact you in a specific way (for example, home or office phone) or to send mail to a different address. I will say “yes” to all reasonable requests.

Ask me to limit what I use or share: You can ask me not to use or share certain health information for treatment, payment, or business operations. I am not required to agree to your request, and I may say “no” if it would affect your care. If you pay for a service or health care item out-of-pocket in full, you can ask me not to share that information for the purpose of payment or our operations with your health insurer. We will say “yes” unless a law requires us to share that information. (As sessions are out-of-pocket by default, this may only apply if you seek a superbill, which may need to have certain information about your treatment in order to support reimbursement. You can request a superbill with reduced information (such as diagnoses removed), however it may not meet your insurer’s requirements. Superbills will be delivered to you, and you may choose whether or not to share them with your insurance provider.)

Get a list of those with whom I’ve shared information: You can ask for a list (accounting) of the times I’ve shared your health information for six years prior to the date you ask, who I shared it with, and why. I will include all the disclosures except for those about treatment, payment, and health care operations, and certain other disclosures (such as any you asked me to make). I’ll provide one accounting a year for free but will charge a reasonable, cost-based fee if you ask for another one within 12 months.

Get a copy of this privacy notice: You can ask for a paper copy of this notice at any time, even if you have agreed to receive the notice electronically. I will provide you with a paper copy promptly. It may come via US Mail.

Choose someone to act for you: If you have given someone medical power of attorney or if someone is your legal guardian, that person can exercise your rights and make choices about your health information. I will make sure the person has this authority and can act for you before I take any action.

File a complaint if you feel your rights are violated: You can complain if you feel I have violated your rights by contacting me using the information provided at the beginning of this notice. You can file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights by sending a letter to 200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20201, calling 1-877-696-6775, or visiting www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints/. I will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

 For certain health information, you can tell me your choices about what I share. If you have a clear preference for how I share your information in the situations described below, talk to me. Tell me what you want me to do, and I will follow your instructions.

In these cases, you have both the right and choice to tell me to:

•  Share information with your family, close friends, or others involved in your care
• Share information in a disaster relief situation
• Include your information in a hospital directory

If you are not able to tell me your preference, for example if you are unconscious, I may go ahead and share your information if I believe it is in your best interest. I may also share your information when needed to lessen a serious and imminent threat to health or safety.

In these cases, I never share your information unless you give me written permission:

• Marketing purposes
• Sale of your information
• Most sharing of psychotherapy notes

In the case of fundraising, the law permits contact for fundraising efforts, but you can request that to stop.

My Uses and Disclosures

How do I typically use or share your health information?

I typically use or share your health information in the following ways.

Treat you: I can use your health information and share it with other professionals who are treating you. Example: A doctor treating you for an injury asks another doctor about your overall health condition.

 Run my business: We can use and share your health information to run our practice, improve your care, and contact you when necessary. Example: We use health information about you to manage your treatment and services.

 Bill for your services: We can use and share your health information to bill and get payment from health plans or other entities.  Example: We are permitted to give information about you to your health insurance plan so it will pay for your services.

 How else can I use or share your health information?

I am allowed or required to share your information in other ways – usually in ways that contribute to the public good, such as public health and research. I have to meet many conditions in the law before I can share your information for these purposes. For more information see: www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/consumers/index.html.

Help with public health and safety issues: I can share health information about you for certain situations such as:

• Reporting suspected abuse, neglect, or domestic violence
• Preventing or reducing a serious threat to anyone’s health or safety
• Preventing disease
• Helping with product recalls
• Reporting adverse reactions to medications

Do research: I can use or share your information for health research.

Comply with the law: I will share information about you if state or federal laws require it, including with the Department of Health and Human Services if it wants to see that we’re complying with federal privacy law.

Respond to organ and tissue donation requests: I can share health information about you with organ procurement organizations.

Work with a medical examiner or funeral director: I can share health information with a coroner, medical examiner, or funeral director when an individual dies.

Address workers’ compensation, law enforcement, and other government requests: I can use or share health information about you:

• For workers’ compensation claims
• For law enforcement purposes or with a law enforcement official
• With health oversight agencies for activities authorized by law
• For special government functions such as military, national security, and presidential protective services

Respond to lawsuits and legal actions: I can share health information about you in response to a court or administrative order, or in response to a subpoena.

My Responsibilities

• I am required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information.
• I will let you know promptly if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your information.
• I must follow the duties and privacy practices described in this notice and give you a copy of it.
• I will not use or share your information other than as described here unless you tell me I can in writing. If you tell me I can, you may change your mind at any time. Let me know in writing if you change your mind.

For more information see: www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/consumers/noticepp.html.

Further information about state limits to confidentiality

Per state law, any communication between me and my clients is confidential; however, the following are the situations where confidential information may or must be disclosed:

Confidentiality may be waived in these cases:
• When you agree to a waiver (“Release of Information” form), in writing, I may disclose information according to that waiver.
• If you file a complaint about me, I may disclose confidential information related to any civil, criminal, or disciplinary action that may arise.

Confidentiality must be waived in these cases:
• I am a mandated reporter for suspected cases of harm to vulnerable populations, specifically, children, elders, and people with disabilities. If you disclose information to me about a situation that may involve neglect or abuse of someone in these categories, including past cases where there is any potential for future similar harm, even in places outside of your state, I am required to report the information I have to the appropriate state agency. They will receive the information and may take actions as they see fit. I will do my best to make this process transparent and to involve you as much or little as you prefer.
• In cases of “imminent risk of harm” to yourself or to someone else, I must take make disclosures to support safety. Here is how Florida law describes this: If you communicate to me a specific threat to cause serious bodily injury or death to an identified or readily available person, and if I have made a clinical judgment that you have the apparent intent and ability to imminently or immediately carry out such threat, I will disclose to the extent necessary to communicate the threat to a law enforcement agency. In this case, the law enforcement agency must take appropriate action to prevent the risk of harm, including, but not limited to, notifying the intended victim of such threat or initiating a risk protection order. My preference is to process any such threats therapeutically in order to identify ways to provide for safety without involving other parties. However, if this is not possible, I will take legal action as needed to ensure safety. Florida protects this kind of disclosure from legal action or criminal or civil liability.
• If I receive a subpoena or court order for information related to your confidential information, I must disclose what is requested.

Changes to the Terms of this Notice

I can change the terms of this notice, and the changes will apply to all information we have about you. The new notice will be available upon request and on the A Pathway to You website, https://apathwaytoyou.com

No Surprises Act

For information about Good Faith Estimates that are provided for out-of-pocket clients, see cms.gov/nosurprises