Privacy Policy

Huntsville Professional Counseling’s code of ethics takes your privacy and personal information with the strictest confidence. Laws are also in place to protect your privacy, for example the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA), is a federal law that sets national standards for the protection of individuals medical records and personal health information, including information about mental health services.

In specific situations information can be shared without your permission. Common exceptions to confidentiality are:

• To protect you or the public from serious harm. For example, if you threaten to attempt suicide or seriously harm another person, the psychologist may alert people who can reasonably prevent the threat, including, for example, law enforcement or the other person.
• To report abuse or neglect of children, the elderly or people with disabilities. Psychologists are typically required under state law to report this type of abuse or neglect. The specific circumstances that trigger the duty to report vary from state to state. Some states, for example, require psychologists to report abuse that an adult patient suffered as a child, while other states do not. If you are an adult who suffered abuse as a child, you should ask your psychologist about reporting requirements so that you can talk about your experience without triggering the mandatory reporting.
• To respond to an order from a court. This might happen if you’re involved in a legal proceeding and your mental health comes into play.

Good Faith Estimate Disclaimer

A "Good Faith Estimate" is if you don’t have health insurance or you plan to pay for health care bills yourself, generally, health care providers and facilities must give you an estimate of expected charges when you schedule an appointment for a health care item or service, or if you ask for an estimate.

A Good Faith Estimate isn’t a bill

The Good Faith Estimate shows the list of expected charges for items or services from your provider or facility. Because the Good Faith Estimate is based on information known at the time your provider or facility creates the estimate, it won’t include any unknown or unexpected costs that may be added during your treatment. Generally, the good faith estimate must include expected charges for:

• The primary item or service
• Any other items or services you’re reasonably expected to get as part of the primary item or service for that period of care. The estimate might not include every item or service you get from another provider or facility, even if some items or services may seem connected to the same service.

This Good Faith Estimate shows the costs of items and services that are reasonably expected for your healthcare needs for an item or service. The estimate is based on information known at the time the estimate was created.

The Good Faith Estimate does not include any unknown or unexpected costs that may arise during treatment. You could be charged more if complications or special circumstances occur. If this happens, federal law allows you to dispute (appeal) the bill.

If you are billed for more than this Good Faith Estimate, you have the right to dispute the bill.

You may contact the healthcare provider or facility listed to let them know the billed charges are higher than the Good Faith Estimate. You can ask them to updated the bill to match the Good Faith Estimate, ask to negotiate the bill, or ask if there is financial assistance available.

You may also start a dispute resolution process with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). If you choose to use the dispute resolution process, you must start the dispute process within 120 calendar days (about 4 months) of the date on the original bill.

There is a $25 fee to use the dispute process. If the agency reviewing your dispute agrees with you, you will have to pay the price on this Good Faith Estimate. If the agency disagrees with you and agrees with the healthcare provider or facility, you will have to pay the higher amount.

To learn more and get a form to start this process, go to www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call 1-800-985-3059.

For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate or the dispute process, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call 1-800-985-3059.