Our Commitment to Your Privacy
Acorns to Oaks Behavioral Services is committed to maintaining the privacy of your Protected Health Information (PHI). PHI is information that identifies you and relates to your past, present, or future physical or mental health condition, the health care services provided to you, or payment for those services. We are required by law to maintain the privacy of your PHI, provide you with this Notice of our legal duties and privacy practices, and notify you following a breach of unsecured PHI.
How We May Use and Disclose Your Health Information
The following categories describe different ways we may use and disclose your PHI. Not every possible use or disclosure is listed, but all permitted uses and disclosures fall within one of the categories below.
Uses and Disclosures for Treatment, Payment, and Operations
- Treatment: We may use and disclose your PHI to provide, coordinate, or manage your behavioral health care and any related services. For example, we may share information with other providers involved in your care, such as your supervising BCBA, referring physician, or school team, as necessary to coordinate your treatment.
- Payment: We may use and disclose your PHI to bill and collect payment for the behavioral health services we provide to you. This includes submitting claims to your health insurance, verifying coverage, and responding to insurance inquiries.
- Health Care Operations: We may use and disclose your PHI to support the business activities of our practice. These activities include quality assessment, training and supervision of clinical staff, licensing and credentialing, and conducting or arranging for legal, auditing, or accreditation services.
Other Permitted Uses and Disclosures
- As Required by Law: We will disclose your PHI when required to do so by federal, state, or local law, including mandatory reporting requirements.
- Public Health Activities: We may disclose PHI to authorized public health authorities to prevent or control disease, injury, or disability.
- Abuse or Neglect: As a mandated reporter under Florida law, we are required to report known or suspected child abuse or neglect to appropriate authorities.
- Health Oversight: We may disclose PHI to governmental agencies conducting audits, investigations, or inspections related to the health care system or government benefit programs.
- Legal Proceedings: We may disclose PHI in response to a court order, subpoena, or other lawful process.
- Law Enforcement: We may disclose PHI to law enforcement officials under specific circumstances as permitted by HIPAA.
- Serious Threats: We may disclose PHI when necessary to prevent a serious and imminent threat to the health or safety of a person or the public.
- Workers' Compensation: We may disclose PHI as authorized by workers' compensation laws.
Uses and Disclosures Requiring Your Authorization
We will obtain your written authorization before using or disclosing your PHI for purposes other than those described above, including:
- Most uses and disclosures of psychotherapy notes
- Uses and disclosures for marketing purposes
- Sale of your PHI
- Any other use or disclosure not described in this Notice
You may revoke a previously provided authorization in writing at any time, except to the extent we have already relied on it.
Your Rights Regarding Your Health Information
- Right to Access: You have the right to inspect and obtain a copy of your PHI maintained in our records. We may charge a reasonable fee for copies.
- Right to Amend: If you believe your PHI is incorrect or incomplete, you may request that we amend it. We may deny your request under certain circumstances.
- Right to an Accounting of Disclosures: You have the right to request a list of disclosures of your PHI made by us, other than for treatment, payment, or health care operations.
- Right to Request Restrictions: You may request that we restrict the use or disclosure of your PHI. We are not required to agree to all requests, but we will consider each request carefully.
- Right to Confidential Communications: You may request that we communicate with you about your health information in a certain way or at a certain location.
- Right to a Paper Copy of This Notice: You have the right to a paper copy of this Notice upon request, even if you have received it electronically.
Our Duties
We are required by law to maintain the privacy of your PHI and to provide you with this Notice of our legal duties and privacy practices. We are required to abide by the terms of the Notice currently in effect. We reserve the right to change this Notice and our privacy practices. If we make a material change, we will make the revised Notice available in our office and on this website.
Complaints
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with us or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights. To file a complaint with us, contact:
Acorns to Oaks Behavioral Services — Privacy Officer
Lake Helen, Florida — Serving Volusia County, FL
support@acornstooaks.healthcare
To file a complaint with the Department of Health and Human Services, visit hhs.gov/ocr. You will not be retaliated against for filing a complaint.
Effective Date
This Notice of Privacy Practices is effective as of May 1, 2026.