PRIVACY POLICY
WEB COPY OF MINDFUL GLIMMER COUNSELING PRIVACY POLICIES
NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES
Effective February 16, 2026
The purpose of this notice is to describe how health information may be used and disclosed by Mindful Glimmer Counseling and how you, the client, or parent/legal guardian of the client, can access this information. Please review it carefully and ask any questions you may have.
PLEDGE REGARDING HEALTH INFORMATION
Mindful Glimmer Counseling understands that health information about you and your healthcare is personal and is committed to protecting your Protected Health Information (“PHI”).
Mindful Glimmer Counseling creates a record of the care and services you receive. SimplePractice, a HIPAA-compliant electronic health record system, is used to create and manage electronic medical records. These files contain intake paperwork, insurance/billing information, clinical records documenting session(s), records received from other providers, and any medical releases you have signed.
This record is necessary to provide quality care and to comply with legal and ethical requirements. This Notice applies to all records of your care generated by Mindful Glimmer Counseling.
Mariah Garcia, LCSW, is required by law to:
● Maintain the privacy of PHI
● Provide you with this Notice of legal duties and privacy practices
● Follow the terms of the Notice currently in effect
● Notify you in the event of a breach of unsecured PHI as required by federal law
Mindful Glimmer Counseling may change the terms of this Notice. Any changes will apply to all PHI maintained. The updated Notice will be available in the office and in your client portal.
HOW HEALTH INFORMATION MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED
The following categories describe ways Mindful Glimmer Counseling may use and disclose health information. Not every use or disclosure will be listed.
For Treatment, Payment, and Health Care Operations
Federal privacy regulations allow healthcare providers with a direct treatment relationship to use or disclose PHI without written authorization for treatment, payment, and healthcare operations.
Treatment
This includes providing, coordinating, or managing your healthcare and consulting with other providers. Disclosures for treatment are not limited to the minimum necessary standard.
Payment
If you use health insurance, certain PHI (including demographic information, diagnosis codes, dates of service, and treatment information required for medical necessity review) may be disclosed to your insurance carrier.
Health Care Operations
This includes practice management, supervision, consultation, compliance activities, and quality review. Professional consultations will use non-identifying information whenever possible unless authorization is provided.
SPECIAL CONFIDENTIALITY FOR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER RECORDS
Federal law (42 CFR Part 2) provides additional protections for records related to substance use disorder (SUD) diagnosis, treatment, or referral.
If your record contains SUD treatment information subject to 42 CFR Part 2:
Such information may not be disclosed without your written authorization except as permitted by federal law.
Recipients of such information are prohibited from redisclosing it unless permitted by law.
Violations may result in civil penalties.
Where applicable, authorization forms will include required Part 2 language.
Lawsuits and Disputes
If you are involved in a lawsuit, health information may be disclosed in response to a court or administrative order. In response to subpoenas or lawful processes, reasonable efforts will be made to notify you or obtain a protective order where required.
CERTAIN USES AND DISCLOSURES
Psychotherapy Notes
Psychotherapy notes, as defined in 45 CFR §164.501, require authorization for use or disclosure except for:
a. Use by Mariah Garcia for treatment
b. Training or supervision
c. Legal defense
d. Ethical complaint defense
e. Compliance investigations by the Secretary of Health and Human Services f. As required by law
g. Health oversight activities related to the originator
h. Coroner duties authorized by law
i. To prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to health or safety
Mariah Garcia will not use or disclose PHI for marketing purposes and will not sell PHI.
USES AND DISCLOSURES NOT REQUIRING AUTHORIZATION Subject to legal limitations, PHI may be disclosed without authorization:
1. When required by federal or Idaho law
2. For public health activities (including abuse reporting and serious threats to safety) 3. For health oversight activities
4. For judicial and administrative proceedings
5. For law enforcement purposes
6. To coroners or medical examiners
7. For specialized government functions
8. For workers’ compensation compliance
9. For appointment reminders and care coordination
10. In the event of nonpayment, to collection agencies or legal proceedings 11. To financial institutions when disputing a transaction
12. For minor clients, to parents/guardians as required by Idaho law
USES AND DISCLOSURES REQUIRING OPPORTUNITY TO OBJECT
PHI may be shared with family members or others involved in care or payment unless you object. For non-emergency disclosures to adults, written authorization is generally required. In emergencies, disclosures may occur with retroactive consent where permitted.
YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING PHI
You have the right to:
Request limits on uses/disclosures (not all requests must be agreed to).
Restrict disclosures to health plans when services are paid in full out-of-pocket.
Request confidential communications by alternative means.
Inspect and obtain copies of your record (electronic or paper) within 30 days. Reasonable, cost-based fees may apply consistent with state and federal law.
Receive an accounting of disclosures within 60 days.
Request amendments to your record.
Receive a paper or electronic copy of this Notice at any time.
BREACH NOTIFICATION
You will be notified without unreasonable delay if a breach of unsecured PHI occurs that affects your information, as required by federal law.
COMPLAINTS
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with:
Mariah Garcia, LCSW
Mindful Glimmer Counseling
2273 E Gala Street, STE 120
Meridian, ID 83642
You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights. You will not be retaliated against for filing a complaint.