Notice of Privacy Practices
Effective Date: January 1, 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.
The Banyan Tree Center (“The Banyan Tree,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is required by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”) to maintain the privacy of your protected health information (“PHI”), provide you with this Notice of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to your PHI, and notify you following a breach of unsecured PHI. We are required to abide by the terms of the Notice currently in effect. We reserve the right to change the terms of this Notice and to make the new Notice provisions effective for all PHI that we maintain. A revised Notice will be posted in our office and on our website.
Your Health Information Rights
Right to a Copy of This Notice. You have the right to receive a paper copy of this Notice at any time. Please contact our Chief Privacy Officer at the address listed below.
Right to Inspect and Copy. You have the right to inspect and obtain a copy of the PHI we maintain about you. Your request must be in writing. We may charge a reasonable fee for copying and mailing costs. In limited circumstances, we may deny your request; if we do, we will explain our reasons in writing and, where applicable, inform you of your right to have the decision reviewed.
Right to Amend. If you believe PHI we maintain about you is inaccurate or incomplete, you have the right to request that we amend it. Your request must be in writing and include a reason supporting the request. We may deny your request in certain circumstances; if we do, we will explain our reasons in writing, and you may submit a statement of disagreement.
Right to an Accounting of Disclosures. You have the right to request a list of certain disclosures we have made of your PHI, covering up to six years prior to the date of your request. Requests must be in writing. The first accounting in any twelve-month period is free; we may charge a reasonable fee for additional requests.
Right to Request Restrictions. You have the right to request a restriction on our use or disclosure of your PHI. Requests must be in writing. We are not required to agree to all restrictions, except that we must agree not to disclose PHI to your health plan for payment or health care operations if you have paid for the service in full out of pocket.
Right to Revoke Authorization. If you have given us a written authorization to use or disclose your PHI, you have the right to revoke that authorization in writing at any time, except to the extent that we have already acted in reliance on it.
Right to Request Alternative Communications. You have the right to request that we communicate with you about medical matters in a specific way or at a specific location (for example, by mail to a particular address). Requests must be in writing; we will accommodate all reasonable requests.
Right to Notification of Breach. You have the right to be notified if we discover a breach of your unsecured PHI.
Right to Opt Out of Fundraising Communications. If we contact you for fundraising purposes, you have the right to opt out of receiving further fundraising communications.
Complaints. If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with our Chief Privacy Officer at the address below or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights. You will not be retaliated against for filing a complaint.
How We May Use and Disclose Your Health Information Without Your Authorization
Treatment. We may use and disclose your PHI to provide, coordinate, or manage your mental health care and any related services, including sharing information with other providers involved in your treatment.
Payment. We may use and disclose your PHI to bill and collect payment for services, including communicating with your insurer or other payor about eligibility, authorization, and claims.
Health Care Operations. We may use and disclose your PHI for administrative and operational activities, including quality improvement, staff training, licensing, audits, and general business functions.
Business Associates. We contract with outside vendors (such as billing services, accountants, attorneys, and technology providers) who may need access to PHI to perform services for us. We require each business associate to safeguard your PHI.
Individuals Involved in Your Care. Unless you object, we may disclose PHI to a family member, friend, or other person you identify, limited to information directly relevant to that person’s involvement in your care or payment for your care.
Appointment Reminders and Health-Related Communications. We may use your PHI to provide appointment reminders, treatment alternatives, or information about health-related benefits and services that may be of interest to you.
Required by Law. We may use or disclose PHI when required by federal, state, or local law, including for judicial and administrative proceedings, reports of abuse or neglect, and law enforcement purposes.
Public Health and Safety. We may disclose PHI to public health authorities, health oversight agencies, or to avert a serious threat to health or safety, as permitted by law.
Research. We may use or disclose PHI for research purposes when an institutional review board or privacy board has approved the research and protocols for protecting privacy.
Coroners, Funeral Directors, and Organ Donation. We may disclose PHI to coroners, medical examiners, funeral directors, and organ procurement organizations as authorized by law.
Workers’ Compensation. We may disclose PHI as necessary to comply with workers’ compensation laws.
Specialized Government Functions. We may disclose PHI for specialized government functions, including national security, intelligence activities, and protective services for public officials.
De-Identified Information. We may use and disclose PHI in ways that do not personally identify you.
Uses and Disclosures That Require Your Written Authorization
The following uses and disclosures will be made only with your written authorization:
- Psychotherapy Notes. Most uses and disclosures of psychotherapy notes.
- Marketing. Most uses and disclosures for marketing purposes.
- Sale of PHI. Any disclosure that constitutes a sale of your PHI.
- Other Uses. Any other use or disclosure not described in this Notice.
You may revoke an authorization at any time in writing, except to the extent we have already acted in reliance on it.
Georgia State Law and Other Applicable Laws
Georgia law and certain other federal laws may provide you with greater privacy protections than HIPAA. Where state or federal law provides stronger protections, we will comply with those stronger protections. This includes, without limitation, federal regulations governing the confidentiality of alcohol and drug abuse patient records (42 C.F.R. Part 2) and Georgia laws protecting mental health records.
Electronic Communications
Please be aware that email, text messages, and other electronic communications may not be secure. Do not send us sensitive information via electronic means that require confidentiality. Confidential messages should be sent by other means. If you wish to use secure electronic communication, please contact our office.
Contact Information
If you have questions, requests, or concerns about your PHI rights or our privacy practices — or to obtain a paper copy of this Notice — please contact:
Chief Privacy Officer The Banyan Tree Center 240 Old Epps Bridge Road Athens, GA 30606 Phone: (706) 850-7041 Email: [email protected]