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NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES
Bernard Counseling, LLC
Katherine Bernard, LCSW
Florida Licensed Clinical Social Worker #SW15454
Effective Date: September 7, 2026
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.
Bernard Counseling, LLC is required by law to protect the privacy of your protected health information (PHI) and to explain how your information may be used and disclosed.
How Your Information May Be Used or Disclosed
Treatment
Your information may be used or disclosed as permitted by law to provide, coordinate, or manage your treatment. For example, with appropriate permission or when otherwise legally permitted, information may be shared with another health care provider involved in your care.
Payment
If you use health insurance, information may be used or disclosed as necessary to obtain payment for services, such as submitting claims to your health plan.
Health Care Operations
Information may be used for activities necessary to operate the practice, such as maintaining records, quality improvement, professional consultation, legal or administrative services, and other activities permitted by law.
Other Uses and Disclosures
Information may also be disclosed when permitted or required by law, including for certain:
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mandatory reports of abuse, neglect, or exploitation;
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serious threats to health or safety;
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health oversight activities;
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legal or administrative proceedings;
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law-enforcement purposes; and
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other disclosures specifically authorized or required by law.
Florida law provides additional confidentiality protections for communications between licensed clinical social workers and their clients. When Florida law provides greater privacy protection than HIPAA, Bernard Counseling will follow the more protective law.
Most other uses or disclosures of your information require your written authorization. In particular, written authorization is generally required for most uses or disclosures of psychotherapy notes, for marketing when HIPAA requires authorization, and for the sale of PHI.
Bernard Counseling does not sell your protected health information.
Your Rights
You have the right to:
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Inspect or obtain a copy of your record.
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Ask that incorrect or incomplete information be corrected.
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Request confidential communications, such as asking to be contacted at a particular phone number or address.
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Ask us to limit certain uses or disclosures. If you pay in full out of pocket for a service, you may ask us not to disclose information about that service to your health plan for payment or health care operations, and we will honor that request unless disclosure is required by law.
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Request an accounting of certain disclosures of your health information made during the previous six years.
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Receive a paper or electronic copy of this notice.
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Choose an authorized person to act on your behalf.
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File a complaint if you believe your privacy rights have been violated.
You will not be retaliated against for filing a privacy complaint.
Substance Use Disorder Records
Certain substance use disorder records are subject to additional federal confidentiality protections under 42 CFR Part 2. To the extent Bernard Counseling creates or maintains records subject to Part 2, those records will be used and disclosed only as permitted by applicable federal law and generally may not be used against you in legal proceedings except as specifically permitted by law.
Our Responsibilities
Bernard Counseling is required to:
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maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information;
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notify you as required by law if a breach occurs that may have compromised your information;
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follow the privacy practices described in the notice currently in effect; and
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provide you with a copy of this notice upon request.
We will not use or disclose your information other than as described in this notice unless you authorize us in writing or the law otherwise permits or requires it. You may revoke a written authorization at any time, although the revocation will not affect actions already taken in reliance on it.
Changes to This Notice
Bernard Counseling may change this notice and may make the revised notice effective for information already maintained as well as information received in the future. The current notice will be available on our website and upon request.
Questions or Complaints
For questions about this notice or to exercise your privacy rights, contact:
Katherine Bernard, LCSW — Privacy Officer
Bernard Counseling, LLC
Phone: 941-216-5464
Email: Katie@BernardCounseling.com
You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights at: