NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES

Lighthouse Counseling LCSW – Savannah Babych, LCSW
Effective Date: 11/14/2026

This Notice describes how your health information may be used and disclosed, and how you can access this information.
Please review it carefully.

As a psychotherapy practice, Lighthouse Counseling LCSW is committed to protecting your privacy. We are legally required to maintain the confidentiality of your Protected Health Information (PHI) under federal HIPAA law and New York State mental health confidentiality laws. 

Lighthouse Counseling LCSW is legally required to protect the privacy and security of your Protected Health Information (PHI).
As a HIPAA-covered entity, we agree to:

  • Maintain the confidentiality of your PHI and follow all federal and New York State privacy laws.

  • Provide you with a written Notice of Privacy Practices that explains how your information may be used and disclosed.

  • Use or disclose only the minimum necessary information needed to support your care, billing, or healthcare operations.

  • Inform you promptly if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your information.

  • Follow the terms of our current Notice of Privacy Practices and notify you if it changes.

  • Provide you with access to your records, including the right to request corrections, restrictions, and confidential communication.

  • Obtain your written authorization before using or disclosing information for any purpose not described in this Notice.

  • Protect your information through secure systems, HIPAA-compliant technology, and administrative safeguards.

  • Ensure all staff, contractors, or associates who may access PHI are trained in privacy and security procedures.

We take our responsibility to protect your privacy seriously and are committed to maintaining the confidentiality and integrity of your health information.

If you have any questions about this notice, please contact Savannah Babych, the acting Privacy Officer at (845)262-0311. 

1. Your Rights Regarding Your Health Information

You have the right to:

✔ Get an electronic or paper copy of your record

You may request a copy of your PHI or treatment record. We will provide it within 30 days unless prohibited by law (e.g., safety concerns). This typically includes medical or billing records. It does not include information that is needed for civil, criminal or administrative actions or proceedings. We may charge a fee for costs associated with mailing, copying or other supplies associated with your request.

✔ Request to correct your record

If you believe information is incorrect, you may request a correction. Written explanation for such request is required.We reserve the right to deny your request if you request to amend information that: was not created by us;is not part of the health information kept by us; is not part of the information that you would be permitted to inspect or copy; is determined to be accurate or complete. You have the right to request an amendment for as long as the information is kept by us or for us. If you are denied access to your health information, you may request that the denial be reviewed.  A Medical Records Access Review Committee will review your request and the denial. The person(s) conducting the review will not include the person who denied your request. We will comply with the outcome of the review. 

✔ Request confidential communications

You can request to be contacted at a specific phone number, email, or address. You must make this request in writing and specify the method of contact.

✔ Request restrictions on disclosures

You may ask us not to share information for certain purposes. 

You have the right to request a restriction or limitation on the health information we use or disclose about you for the purpose of treatment, payment, or health care operations. You also have the right to request that we restrict or limit health information about you that we may use or disclose to someone who is involved in your care or the payment for your care, such as a family member. For example, you could ask that we not use or disclose information about the medication you are taking to your spouse or significant other. We are not required to agree to your request. If we do agree, we will comply with your request unless the information is needed to provide you with emergency treatment. To request restrictions, you must make your request in writing to Savannah Babych, LCSW. In your request, you must tell us: (1) what information you want to limit; (2) whether you want to limit our use, disclosure, or both; and (3) to whom you want the limits to apply (for example, disclosures to your spouse). 

✔ Get a list of disclosures

You have the right to request a list of information releases that we have made of your health information. The list will not include: health information releases: (1) made for purposes of providing treatment to you, obtaining payment for services, or releases made for other administrative or operational purposes; (2) made for national security; (3) made to correctional and other law enforcement custodial situations; (4) made based on your written authorization; (5) made to persons who are involved in your care; or (6) made prior to April 14, 2003. To request this list or accounting of disclosures, you must submit your request in writing to Savannah Babych, LCSW. Your request must state a time period which may not be longer than 6 years and may not include dates before April 14, 2003. Your request should indicate in what form you want the list (for example, on paper or electronically). The first list you request within a 12 month period will be free. For additional lists, we may charge you for the costs of providing the list. We will notify you of the cost involved and you may choose to withdraw or modify your request at that time before any costs are incurred. 

✔ Choose someone to act on your behalf

If you have a legal guardian, health care proxy, or authorized representative, they may exercise your rights.

✔ File a complaint

You may file a complaint without retaliation:

  • Directly with Lighthouse Counseling LCSW/Savannah Babych, LCSW (acting Privacy Officer)

  • With the U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services

  • With the NYS Office of Mental Health (if applicable)

  • Or call OCR Hotline: (800)-368-1019

2. How We May Use and Disclose Your Information

We may share your information for the following lawful purposes:

A. Treatment

To provide, coordinate, or manage your care. Individuals and programs within our organization may share health information about you to coordinate the services you may need, such as clinical services, therapy, nutritional services, hospitalization, or transfers or referrals for follow-up care. We may use health information about you to provide you with treatment or services.
Example: consulting with another provider when clinically appropriate (with your permission).

B. Payment

Your Protected Health Information will be used as needed to obtain payment for your health care services. This may include any activities that your health insurance plan may undertake before it approves or pays for the health care services we recommend for you or for making a determination of eligibility or coverage for insurance benefits, reviewing services provided to you, or undertaking utilization review activities. You may request that we restrict the use of your Protected Health Information and disclosure of same for treatment, payment or health care operations, but we are not required to agree with the restriction. If we do agree with the restriction, we will not violate that agreement, except in cases of emergency.
Example: submitting a diagnosis code on a Superbill.

C. Healthcare Operations

For quality improvement, training, audits, or administrative tasks.

3. Uses & Disclosures That Require Your Written Authorization

We must obtain your written permission before sharing PHI for:

  • Marketing or promotional purposes

  • Release of psychotherapy notes

  • Disclosure to attorneys, schools, employers, or family

  • Any release not covered under treatment, payment, or operations

You may revoke authorization at any time.

Information will be disclosed to third parties with your expressed written consent. Your counselor may request that you sign a consent form to obtain records from other parties who have treated you, are currently treating you or to other agencies when referrals are made on your behalf to another agency. This written consent may be revoked by you at any time by notifying your counselor or the Privacy Officer in writing. In all cases, the consent will expire in 12 months from the date that you signed the consent. We will also disclose information to a third part if they provide us with a written consent from you to do so. You may specify, on the consent form, the information you wish us to obtain or release.

4. Uses & Disclosures Allowed Without Authorization

There are limited situations where the law requires disclosure without your written consent:

A. Safety Emergencies

If you are at imminent risk of harming yourself or others.

B. Mandated Reporting

  • Child abuse or neglect

  • Abuse of a vulnerable adult (in certain cases)

C. Court Orders or Legal Requirements

If a judge legally requires records or testimony. We may also disclose Protected Health Information, so long as applicable legal requirements are met, for law enforcement purposes. We may disclose Protected Health Information in the course of any judicial or administrative proceedings, in response to an order of a court or administrative tribunal, in response to a subpoena, in response to a discovery request or other lawful process. We may disclose your Protected Health Information in the event that a crime occurs on the premises of the agency. Consistent with applicable federal and state laws, we may disclose your Protected Health Information if we believe that the use or disclosure is necessary to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to the health or safety of a person or to the public. (refer to Confidentiality Section of Consent to Services). We may also disclose Protected Health Information if it is necessary for law enforcement authorities to identify or apprehend an individual.

D. Public Health

Such as reporting certain communicable diseases.

E. Health Oversight Agencies

HIPAA compliance audits or investigations.

We disclose only the minimum necessary information.

5. Special Protections for Mental Health & Sensitive Information

New York State and federal laws provide extra protection for:

  • Substance use treatment

  • HIV/AIDS status

  • Sexual assault history

  • Reproductive health information

  • Minor clients

  • Genetic information

We will never release these records without your explicit written authorization, unless legally required.

6. Communication Practices

We may contact you via:

  • Phone call

  • Voicemail

  • Email

  • Text message

  • Patient portal (if applicable)

These communications may include appointment reminders, scheduling information, or billing updates.

You may request alternate communication preferences at any time.

7. Changes to This Notice

Lighthouse Counseling LCSW may revise this Notice at any time. The updated version will be available upon request and posted in the office and/or website.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF RECEIPT

Notice of Privacy Practices – Lighthouse Counseling LCSW/ Savannah Babych, LCSW

By signing below, I acknowledge that I have received and reviewed the Notice of Privacy Practices (NPP) for Lighthouse Counseling LCSW/Savannah Babych, LCSW, which explains how my Protected Health Information may be used and disclosed, and what rights I have regarding my personal health information.

I understand that I may request a printed or electronic copy at any time.