Effective Date: October 16, 2026

Your Information. Your Rights. Our Responsibilities.

This Notice describes how medical and behavioral health information about you may be used and disclosed, and how you can access that information. Please review it carefully.

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1. About This Notice

Honoring Your Journey Counseling, LLC (“HYJC,” “the Practice,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is committed to protecting the privacy and security of your Protected Health Information (PHI).

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This Notice describes privacy practices relating to services provided through HYJC, including services furnished by Satya R. Montgomery, LICSW, to the extent covered by this Notice.

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Certain services may be provided by clinicians who maintain individual insurance contracts while clinical documentation, scheduling, billing administration, and related activities are managed through HYJC.

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This Notice applies to the providers and healthcare operations identified as covered by the Practice's applicable privacy arrangements. It does not automatically cover independent healthcare activities conducted outside those arrangements.

We are required by law to protect your PHI, provide this Notice, and follow the privacy practices described in the Notice currently in effect.

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2. Your Rights Regarding Your Health Information

You have the following rights, subject to applicable law.

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A. Access and Obtain Copies of Your Records

You may request to inspect or receive an electronic or paper copy of your medical and behavioral health records and other PHI maintained in a designated record set.

We will generally respond within 30 days, subject to permitted extensions and any shorter period required by applicable state law.

We may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee when permitted by law. Certain records, such as separately maintained psychotherapy notes, may be subject to different access requirements.

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B. Request Corrections

If you believe your health information is incorrect or incomplete, you may request an amendment.

We will review your request and generally respond within 60 days, subject to permitted extensions and applicable state law. If we deny your request, we will explain the reason in writing and describe your additional rights.

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C. Request Confidential Communications

You may ask us to communicate with you in a particular way or at a particular location, such as through a designated telephone number or mailing address.

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We will accommodate reasonable requests.

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D. Request Restrictions on Uses and Disclosures

You may request limits on how your PHI is used or disclosed for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations.

We are not generally required to agree to every requested restriction.

However, if you pay for a healthcare service entirely out of pocket and in full, you may request that information about that service not be disclosed to your health plan for payment or healthcare operations. We must honor that restriction unless disclosure is required by law.

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E. Receive an Accounting of Disclosures

You have the right to request an accounting of certain disclosures of your Protected Health Information (PHI) made during the six years preceding your request.

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The accounting generally excludes disclosures made for treatment, payment, healthcare operations, or pursuant to your written authorization, as well as other disclosures excluded by applicable law.

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We will provide your first accounting within any 12-month period at no charge. For additional requests within the same period, we may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee. We will inform you of any applicable fee in advance and give you an opportunity to withdraw or modify your request.

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We will generally respond within 60 days, subject to extensions permitted by law.

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F. Obtain a Copy of This Notice

You may request a paper copy of this Notice at any time, even if you previously agreed to receive it electronically.

The current Notice will also be available through our website.

 

G. Designate a Personal Representative

An individual legally authorized to act on your behalf, such as a legal guardian or person holding an applicable healthcare power of attorney, may exercise your privacy rights as permitted by law.

We will verify the representative's authority before providing access or acting on a request.

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H. File a Privacy Complaint

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with HYJC or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights.

HYJC Privacy Contact
Privacy Officer: Satya R. Montgomery
Telephone: (508) 835-8640
Email: admin@honoringyourjourney.com

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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Office for Civil Rights
200 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20201
Telephone: 1-877-696-6775
Website: https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/filing-a-complaint/

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We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

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3. How We Use and Disclose Your Information

We may use or disclose PHI without your written authorization when permitted or required by applicable law.

 

A. Treatment

We may use and disclose PHI to provide, coordinate, or manage your healthcare, including communication among authorized healthcare professionals involved in your treatment.

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Additional consent or authorization may be required for certain mental health, substance use disorder, or other specially protected records under applicable federal or state law.

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B. Payment and Insurance Billing

We may use and disclose PHI to obtain payment for services, verify insurance eligibility and benefits, submit claims, process payments, and respond to payer inquiries.

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Depending on the applicable payer contract, services may be billed through HYJC or under a clinician's individual insurance arrangements.

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Such activities remain subject to applicable privacy and confidentiality requirements.

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C. Healthcare Operations

We may use or disclose PHI for lawful practice operations, including:

• Quality assurance and improvement

• Administrative and clinical management

• Appointment coordination and reminders

• Credentialing and compliance activities

• Claims administration and payment review

• Other permitted healthcare operations

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We may share information with vendors or service providers acting on our behalf, subject to applicable confidentiality safeguards and Business Associate Agreements where required.

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4. Other Uses and Disclosures Permitted or Required by Law

When the applicable legal requirements are satisfied, we may disclose PHI for purposes such as:

 

Public Health and Safety

• Public health reporting

• Reporting suspected abuse or neglect when required or permitted

• Preventing or reducing a serious threat to health or safety

• Other legally authorized public health activities

 

Health Oversight

• Government audits

• Authorized investigations

• Licensing and regulatory compliance

 

Legal and Judicial Proceedings

• Valid court or administrative orders

• Subpoenas or other lawful process when applicable conditions are met

• Other disclosures required or permitted by law

 

Law Enforcement and Government Activities

• Certain lawful requests from law enforcement

• Workers' compensation matters

• Military, national security, or other special government functions authorized by law

 

Other Permitted Purposes

• Approved research under applicable legal safeguards

• Coroners, medical examiners, and funeral directors

• Organ and tissue donation activities

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The Practice will follow additional restrictions imposed by applicable federal or state confidentiality laws.

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5. Your Choices About Sharing Information

You may express preferences regarding certain disclosures, including sharing relevant information with family members, close friends, or other individuals involved in your care or payment for your care.

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When appropriate, we may ask whether you agree or object to these disclosures.

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If you cannot communicate your preference, such as during an emergency, we may share relevant information when permitted by law and consistent with your best interests.

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Additional confidentiality requirements may apply to behavioral health and substance use disorder information.

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6. Disclosures Requiring Written Authorization

Except where permitted or required by law, we will obtain your written authorization before:

• Using or disclosing PHI for marketing purposes requiring authorization under HIPAA

• Selling PHI

• Using or disclosing separately maintained psychotherapy notes in circumstances requiring authorization

• Making other disclosures for which federal or state law requires authorization

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Authorization for disclosures to other providers: Ordinary treatment-related disclosures may be permitted without a HIPAA authorization. However, we will obtain consent or authorization when required by a stricter law or an applicable confidentiality restriction.

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You may revoke an authorization in writing at any time. Revocation will not affect actions already taken in reliance on a valid authorization.

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7. Special Protections for Psychotherapy Notes

Psychotherapy notes have special protection under HIPAA when they meet the applicable legal definition and are maintained separately from the rest of the medical record.

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Most uses and disclosures of such notes require specific written authorization, subject to limited exceptions permitted by law.

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Ordinary clinical progress notes, treatment plans, diagnoses, medication information, and other information maintained as part of the medical record are not necessarily psychotherapy notes under HIPAA.

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We will comply with applicable federal and state requirements protecting behavioral health records.

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8. Substance Use Disorder Records and 42 CFR Part 2

Certain substance use disorder (SUD) treatment records are subject to additional federal confidentiality protections under 42 CFR Part 2.

Where HYJC creates, maintains, receives, or uses records protected by Part 2, we will apply the legal requirements governing those records.

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These protections may include:

A. Patient Consent

Part 2 records generally require patient consent for uses and disclosures except where a specific legal exception applies.

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A qualifying consent may permit certain future uses and disclosures for treatment, payment, and healthcare operations. Recipients may be allowed to redisclose records in accordance with applicable HIPAA and Part 2 requirements.

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B. Protection in Investigations and Legal Proceedings

Records protected by Part 2 generally cannot be used or disclosed in civil, criminal, administrative, or legislative investigations or proceedings against a patient without the patient's specific written consent or an appropriate court order and subpoena, subject to applicable law.

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C. SUD Counseling Notes

Separately maintained SUD counseling notes protected under Part 2 generally require specific consent for uses and disclosures, subject to applicable exceptions.

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A general treatment, payment, and healthcare operations consent does not automatically authorize disclosures of these specially protected notes.

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D. Patient Rights

Individuals whose records are protected by Part 2 have additional confidentiality rights, including rights concerning certain disclosures, restrictions, and complaints, as applicable under current regulations.

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E. Fundraising

If the Practice conducts fundraising activities using Part 2-protected information, it will provide the required advance notice and opportunity to opt out.

 

F. Other Legal Protections

Where state law provides greater confidentiality protections for SUD records, the more protective requirements will apply.

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9. Marketing, Fundraising, and Sale of Information

We will not sell your PHI without a valid authorization where required by law.

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We will obtain authorization before using or disclosing PHI for marketing activities that require authorization under HIPAA.

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If we conduct fundraising activities involving PHI, we will provide any notices and opportunities to opt out required by law.

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We will comply with any additional requirements applicable to Part 2 records.

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10. Our Legal Responsibilities

HYJC is committed to maintaining the privacy and security of PHI entrusted to the Practice.

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We are required to:

• Maintain the privacy and security of PHI as required by law.

• Follow the terms of the Notice currently in effect.

• Protect PHI through appropriate administrative, technical, and physical safeguards.

• Notify affected individuals following breaches of unsecured PHI when notification is required by applicable law.

• Comply with federal and state confidentiality requirements that apply to our services.

• Provide a copy of this Notice when required or requested.

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We will not use or disclose PHI other than as described in this Notice unless permitted or required by law or authorized by you.

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11. Changes to This Notice

We reserve the right to revise this Notice of Privacy Practices as permitted by law.

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Revisions may apply to PHI already maintained by the Practice as well as PHI received after the revised Notice takes effect.

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When material changes are made, we will make the revised Notice available as required by law, including through the Practice's website and patient intake procedures.

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You may request a current copy at any time.

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12. Contact Information

For questions about this Notice, requests involving your health information, or concerns about privacy practices, please contact:

Honoring Your Journey Counseling, LLC
Privacy Officer: Chief Executive
Telephone: (508) 835-8640
Email: admin@honoringyourjourney.com
Website: https://www.honoringyourjourney.com/

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Requests involving protected health information should be submitted through an approved secure communication method.

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Effective Date: October 16, 2026

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This Notice applies subject to applicable federal and state laws governing protected health information, behavioral health records, and substance use disorder treatment information.