Notice of Privacy Practices
Effective Date: September 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.
Your Rights
When it comes to your health information, you have certain rights. Ironwood Counseling has responsibilities to help you exercise those rights.
You have the right to:
Get a copy of your health records. You can ask to see or get an electronic or paper copy of your health records and other health information we have about you. We will generally provide a copy or summary within 30 days of your request. We may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee.
Ask us to correct your health records. You can ask us to correct health information that you believe is incorrect or incomplete. We may deny your request in certain circumstances, but we will explain the reason in writing, generally within 60 days.
Request confidential communications. You can ask us to contact you in a specific way, such as at a particular phone number or email address. We will accommodate reasonable requests.
Ask us to limit what we use or share. You can ask us not to use or share certain health information for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations. We are generally not required to agree to your request. If you pay for a service in full out of pocket and ask us not to share information about that service with your health plan for payment or healthcare operations, we will honor that request unless disclosure is required by law.
Get a list of certain disclosures. You can ask for an accounting of certain disclosures of your health information made during the six years prior to your request. The first accounting in a 12-month period is free; we may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee for additional requests.
Get a copy of this Notice. You may request a paper copy of this Notice at any time, even if you agreed to receive it electronically.
Choose someone to act for you. If you have given someone medical power of attorney or someone is your legal guardian, that person may exercise your rights and make choices about your health information as permitted by law.
File a complaint. You may file a complaint if you believe your privacy rights have been violated. Ironwood Counseling will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.
Your Choices
For certain health information, you can tell Ironwood Counseling your preferences about what is shared. If you have a clear preference, let us know and we will follow your instructions when required by law.
You have the right and choice to tell us to:
• Share information with family, close friends, or others involved in your care or payment for your care
• Share information in a disaster-relief situationIf you are unable to communicate your preference, we may share information if we believe it is in your best interest or when necessary to lessen a serious and imminent threat to health or safety.
Ironwood Counseling will not use or disclose your information for marketing purposes, sell your health information, or disclose most psychotherapy notes without your written authorization.
Our Uses and Disclosures
How do we typically use or share your health information?
Ironwood Counseling may use or share your health information in the following ways:
To treat you
We may use your health information and share it with other professionals who are involved in your treatment.To run our practice
We may use and share your health information to operate the practice, improve your care, and contact you when necessary.To bill for your services
We may use and share your health information to bill and receive payment from health plans or other entities.How else may we use or share your health information?
We may also use or disclose health information when permitted or required by law, including for:
• Public health and safety activities
• Reporting suspected abuse, neglect, or domestic violence when required or permitted by law
• Preventing or reducing a serious threat to health or safety
• Health oversight activities
• Workers' compensation claims
• Certain law-enforcement or government requests
• Medical examiners, coroners, or funeral directors when applicable
• Research when permitted by law
• Responding to court or administrative orders, subpoenas, or other legal proceedings as permitted or required by law
• Other disclosures required by state or federal lawSubstance Use Disorder Records
Certain records related to substance use disorder treatment may receive additional protections under federal law. If Ironwood Counseling receives or maintains records protected by 42 CFR Part 2, those records will be used and disclosed only as permitted by applicable federal law.
Part 2 records generally may not be used or disclosed in civil, criminal, administrative, or legislative proceedings against a patient without the patient's specific written consent or an appropriate court order and subpoena that meet the requirements of federal law..
Additional Protections for Mental Health Information
Mental health information may be subject to additional protections under Missouri and federal law. When a state or federal law provides greater privacy protection than HIPAA, Ironwood Counseling will follow the more protective law.
Our Responsibilities
Ironwood Counseling is required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information.
We will notify you promptly if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your information.
We must follow the duties and privacy practices described in this Notice and provide you with a copy upon request.
We will not use or share your information other than as described in this Notice unless you authorize us to do so in writing. If you provide authorization, you may revoke it at any time by notifying us in writing.
Changes to This Notice
Ironwood Counseling may change the terms of this Notice, and the changes may apply to all information maintained by the practice. The current Notice will be available upon request and on the Ironwood Counseling website.
Questions or Complaints
If you have questions about this Notice, would like to exercise your privacy rights, or believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may contact: Ian Hobbs, LCSW
Ironwood Counseling
214 E. Kansas St, Suite 102
Liberty, MO 64068
816-459-0203
ian@ironwoodkc.comYou may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights. Ironwood Counseling will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint or exercising your privacy rights.