Notice of Privacy Practices
NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES
Effective Date: August 19, 2026
This Notice describes how your medical and mental health information may be used and disclosed and how you can access this information. Please review it carefully.
Because we electronically transmit health information for certain transactions, The Bindu Institute, LLC is a covered entity under HIPAA and must follow the HIPAA Privacy Rule. We are required to maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information (“PHI”), provide you with this Notice, and follow the terms of the Notice currently in effect.
If a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your information, we will notify you as required by law.
How We May Use and Disclose Your Health Information
As a general rule, we will not disclose your confidential mental health information without your written authorization. However, HIPAA and Florida law permit certain uses and disclosures without authorization. When disclosure is allowed, we limit it to the minimum necessary information. The minimum‑necessary rule applies only to disclosures, not to the completeness of your clinical record.
Treatment
We may use your information within our practice to provide, coordinate, or manage your care. This includes contacting you with appointment reminders, scheduling information, or other communications related to your treatment. Appointment reminders will not include detailed clinical information.
We may also disclose information to other health care professionals involved in your care when permitted by law or when you provide written authorization. Because mental health information receives additional protection under Florida law, we follow the law that provides the greater level of privacy.
Payment
We may use and disclose your information to obtain payment for services, determine coverage, obtain authorization, or submit claims to your health plan.
Health Care Operations
We may use and disclose your information for activities necessary to operate our practice, such as quality improvement, staff training, compliance activities, audits, credentialing, licensing, and business administration.
Other Uses and Disclosures Permitted or Required by Law
We may use or disclose your information without written authorization when permitted or required by federal or Florida law. Examples include:
Serious and Imminent Threats
If you communicate a specific threat of serious bodily injury or death toward an identifiable or readily available person, and a licensed or certified mental health professional determines you have the apparent intent and ability to carry out the threat imminently, we may disclose information to the potential victim and must disclose the communication to law enforcement to the extent necessary.
Abuse, Neglect, or Exploitation
We are mandated reporters under Florida law. We must report known or suspected child abuse, abandonment, neglect, or sexual abuse, and known or suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a vulnerable adult.
Judicial and Administrative Proceedings
We may disclose information in response to certain court orders, subpoenas, or other legal processes when authorized or required by law. Mental health records and privileged communications may receive additional protections.
Law Enforcement
We may disclose information to law enforcement only when specifically permitted or required by law. A request alone does not authorize disclosure of confidential mental health information.
Health Oversight Activities
We may disclose information to authorized agencies for licensing, audits, investigations, inspections, or disciplinary actions.
Workers’ Compensation
We may disclose information as necessary to comply with workers’ compensation laws.
Public Health and Other Required Activities
We may disclose information when required or expressly permitted by law. Depending on the circumstances, this may include certain public health activities, approved research, organ and tissue donation, coroners or medical examiners, military or national‑security functions, or correctional institutions.
Uses and Disclosures Requiring Your Written Authorization
We will obtain your written authorization for any use or disclosure not permitted or required by law. You may revoke an authorization at any time in writing, except to the extent information has already been disclosed in reliance on it.
Authorization is required for psychotherapy notes when required by HIPAA, for marketing activities requiring authorization, and for the sale of protected health information.
Psychotherapy notes are separate, private notes kept by your therapist for personal clinical use and are not part of your regular clinical record.
We do not use your information for marketing. This statement is included because HIPAA requires us to explain your rights regarding marketing.
Substance Use Disorder Records (42 CFR Part 2)
The Bindu Institute, LLC is not a substance use disorder treatment program and is not subject to 42 CFR Part 2. However, if we receive records from a Part 2 program, those records—or testimony describing them—will not be used or disclosed in any civil, criminal, administrative, or legislative proceeding against you without your specific written consent or a court order that meets Part 2 requirements. Any such court order must be accompanied by a subpoena or other legal mandate compelling disclosure.
We treat Part 2 records with at least the same level of protection as your other health information, and in some circumstances with additional protections required by federal law.
Your Rights Regarding Your Health Information
Right to Inspect and Obtain a Copy
You may request access to or a copy of your health information. If maintained electronically, you may request an electronic copy. We may charge a reasonable, cost‑based fee as permitted by law.
In limited circumstances, access may be denied, and you may have the right to request review of the denial. To request access to your records, please contact the Privacy Officer using the information below.
Right to Request an Amendment
If you believe information is incorrect or incomplete, you may request an amendment. If denied, you may submit a written statement of disagreement.
Right to Request Restrictions
You may request restrictions on certain uses or disclosures. We are not required to agree to most restrictions. However, if you pay for a service entirely out of pocket and request that information not be disclosed to your health plan, we will honor the request when required by law.
Right to Request Confidential Communications
You may request that we communicate with you in a specific way or at a specific location. We will accommodate reasonable requests.
Right to an Accounting of Disclosures
You may request a list of certain disclosures made during the period permitted by law. Some disclosures, including those for treatment, payment, and health care operations, are not included.
Right to a Copy of This Notice
You may request a paper or electronic copy of this Notice at any time.
Special Protections for Mental Health Information
Communications between a licensed mental health professional and a client are confidential and may be protected by Florida’s psychotherapist‑patient privilege and other applicable laws. Florida’s psychotherapist‑patient privilege is a legal protection that applies in court settings and is separate from HIPAA’s privacy protections.
Privilege may not apply to communications relevant to involuntary‑hospitalization proceedings, court‑ordered mental‑health examinations, or communications relevant to a proceeding in which you place your mental condition at issue.
When Florida law provides greater privacy protection than federal law, we follow the law that provides the greater protection.
Family Members and Others Involved in Your Care
With your permission, or when otherwise permitted by law, we may share information relevant to your care with a family member, caregiver, personal representative, or other person involved in your care or payment.
Special confidentiality rules apply to minors, guardians, couples, and families. When multiple family members participate in therapy, confidential communications will not be released based on a waiver of privilege unless each participating member provides written agreement, as required by Florida law.
Electronic Communication and Patient Portal
We may communicate with you through approved electronic systems, including our patient portal, telephone, text messaging, or email, consistent with our privacy and security policies. Electronic communications may include appointment reminders, scheduling updates, and other messages related to your care.
Email and text messaging may carry privacy risks; you may request more secure communication methods.
Text messaging opt‑in data and consent will not be shared with any third parties, except as necessary to deliver text message services.
Our Responsibilities
We are required to maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information, follow federal and Florida confidentiality laws, provide you with this Notice, follow the terms of the Notice currently in effect, notify you of any breach that may have compromised your information, and obtain your authorization when required by law.
We will not retaliate against you for exercising your privacy rights or filing a complaint.
Changes to This Notice
We may change the terms of this Notice as permitted by law. Changes may apply to information we already maintain as well as information we receive in the future. The current Notice will be available upon request, at our office, through our patient portal or website, and by any other means required by law.
Questions or Complaints
To exercise your rights or ask questions about this Notice, contact:
Privacy Officer: Jessica Hansen
Phone: 850‑816‑8122
Email: admin@TheBinduInstitute.com