Perkins Counseling & Psychological Services Privacy Policy

SMS Communication Policies 

SMS opt-in or phone numbers for the purpose of SMS are not being

Perkins Counseling & Psychological Services, PLLC will not use or disclose your protected health information (PHI), i.e. your phone number. Information obtained as part of the SMS consent process will not be shared with third parties.

Types of SMS Communications

If you have consented to receive text messages from Perkins Counseling & Psychological Services, you may receive text messages related to appointments, client care, and general practice communication. Clients may receive updates regarding your inquiries, appointments, and general communication from the practice.

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED OR DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY. 

Effective Date: January 1, 2026

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS NOTICE OR IF YOU NEED MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT OUT PRIVACY OFFICER:

Privacy Officer: Practice Administrator
Mailing Address: 10580 Ligon Mill Road, Suite 210 Wake Forest, NC 27587
Telephone: 919-263-9592
Fax: 919-263-9670

About This Notice

We are required by law to maintain the privacy of Protected Health Information and to give you this Notice explaining our privacy practices with regard to that information. You have certain rights – and we have certain legal obligations – regarding the privacy of your Protected Health Information, and this Notice also explains your rights and our obligations. We are required to abide by the terms of the current version of this Notice.

What is Protected Health Information?

“Protected Health Information” is information that individually identifies you and that we create or get from you or from another health care provider, health plan, your employer, or a health care clearinghouse and that related to (1) your past, present, or future physical or mental health or conditions, (2) the provision of health care to you, or (3) the past, present, or future payment for this health care.

How We May Use and Disclose Your Protected Health Information

We may use and disclose your Protected Health Information in the following circumstances:

  • For Treatment. We may use or disclose your Protected Health Information to give you medical treatment or services and to manage and coordinate needed medical care. For example, your Protected Health Information may be provided to a physician or other health care provider (e.g., a specialist or laboratory) to whom you have been referred to ensure that physician or other health care provider has the necessary information to determine a diagnosis or treatment or provide you with a service.
  • For Payment. We may use and disclose your Protected Health Information so that we can bill for the treatment and services received from us and can collect payment from you, a health insurance plan may undertake before it approves or pays for the health care services we recommend, such as making a determination of eligibility or coverage for insurance benefits, reviewing services provided to you for medical necessity, and undertaking utilization review activities. For example, we may need to give your health plan information about your treatment in order to obtain payment.
  • For Health Care Operations. We may use and disclose Protected Health Information for our health care operations. For example, we may use your Protected Health Information to internally review the quality of the treatment and services you receive and to evaluate the performance of our team members providing this care. We also may disclose information to physicians, nurses, medical technicians, medical students, and other authorized personnel for education purposes.

Appointment Reminders/Treatment – Alternatives/Health-Related – Benefits and Services.

We may use and disclose Protected Health Information to contact you to remind you that you have an appointment for medical care, or to contact you to tell you about possible treatment options or alternatives or health related benefits and services that may be of interest to you.

  • Minors. We may disclose the Protected Health Information of minor children to their parents or guardians unless such disclosure is otherwise prohibited by law.
  • As Required by Law. We will disclose Protected Health Information about you when required to do so by international, federal, state or local law.
  • To Avert a Serious Threat to Health or Safety. We may use and disclose Protected Health Information when necessary to prevent a serious threat to your health or safety or to the health or safety of others. However, we will only disclose the information to some who may be able to help prevent the threat.
  • Business Associates. We may disclose Protected Health Information to our business associates who perform functions on our behalf or provide us with services if the Protected Health Information is necessary for those functions or services. For example, we may use another company to do our billing, or to provide transcription or consulting services for us. All of our business associates are obligated, under contract with us, to protect the privacy and ensure the security of your Protected Health Information.
  • Military and Veterans. If you are a member of an armed forces family, we may disclose Protected Health Information as required by military command authorities.
  • Workers’ Compensation. We may use or disclose Protected Health Information for workers’ compensation or similar programs that provide benefits for work-related injuries or illness.
  • Public Health Risks. We may disclose Protected Health Information for public health activities. This includes disclosures to : (1) a person subject to the jurisdiction of the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) for purposes related to the quality, safety or effectiveness of an FDA-regulated product or activity; (2) prevent or control disease, injury or disability; (3) report births and deaths; (4) report child abuse or neglect; (5) report reactions to medications or problems with products; (6) notify people of recalls of products they may be using; and (7) a person who may have been exposed to disease or may be risk for contractin or spreading a disease or condition.
  • Abuse, Neglect, or Domestic Violence. We may disclose Protected Information to the appropriate government authority if we believe a patient has been the victim of abuse, neglect, or domestic violence and the patient agrees or we are required or authorized by law to make a disclosure.
  • Health Oversight Activities. We may disclose Protected Health Information to a health oversight agency for activities authorized by law. These oversight activities include, for example, audits, investigations, inspections, licensure, and similar activities that are necessary for the government to monitor the health care system, government programs and compliance with civil rights laws.
  • Data Breach Notification Purposes. We may use or disclose your Protected Health Information to provide legally required notices of unauthorized access to or disclosure of your health information.
  • Lawsuits and Disputes. If you are involved in a lawsuit or a dispute, we may disclose Protected Health Information in response to a court or administrative order. We also may disclose Protected Information in response to a subpoena, discovery request, or other legal process from someone else invoiced in the dispute, but only if efforts have been made to tell you about the request or to get an order protecting the information requested. We may also use or disclose your Protected Health Information to defend ourselves in the event of a lawsuit.
  • Law Enforcement. We may disclose Protected Health Information, so long as applicable legal requirements are met, for law enforcement purposes.
  • Military Activity and National Security. If you or your family members are invoiced with the military, national security or intelligence activities or if you are in law enforcement custody, we may disclose your Protected Health Information to authorized officials so they may carry out their duties under the law.
  • Coroner, Medical Examiners, and Funeral Directors. We may disclose Protected Health Information to a coroner, medical examiner, or funeral director so that they can carry out their duties.

Uses and Disclosures That Require Us to Give You an Opportunity to Object and Opt Out.

  • Individuals Involved in Your Care or Payment for Your Care. Unless you object, we may disclose to a member of your family, a close friend or any other person you identify, your Protected Health Information that directly relates to that person’s involvement in your healthcare. If you are unable to agree or object to such a disclosure, we may disclose such information as necessary if we determine that it is in your best interest based on our professional judgement.
  • Disaster Relief. We may disclose your Protected Health Information to disaster relief organizations that seek your Protected Health Information to coordinate your care or notify family and friends of your location or condition in a disaster. We will provide you with an opportunity to agree or object to such a disclosure whenever we practicably can do so.

Your Written Authorization is Required for other Uses and Disclosures

The following uses and disclosures of your Protected Health Information will be made only with your written authorization:

  • Most uses and disclosures of psychotherapy notes or evaluations by psychologists;
  • Uses and disclosures of Protected Health Information for marketing purposes.
  • Disclosures that constitute a sale of your Protected Health Information.
  • Any information related to diagnosis of treatment of HIV, Alcohol and Substance Abuse Information, Mental Health Information of Genetic Information.

Other uses and disclosures of Protected Health Information not covered by this Notice or the laws that apply to us will be made only with your written authorization. If you do give us an authorization, you may revoke it at any time by submitting a written revocation to our Privacy Officer and we will no longer disclose Protected Health Information under the authorization. But disclosure that we made in reliance on your authorization before you revoked it will not be affected by the revocation.

Uses and Disclosures That Require Us to Give You an Opportunity to Object and Opt Out.

  • Individuals Involved in Your Care or Payment for Your Care. Unless you object, we may disclose to a member of your family, a close friend or any other person you identify, your Protected Health Information that directly relates to that person’s involvement in your healthcare. If you are unable to agree or object to such a disclosure, we may disclose such information as necessary if we determine that it is in your best interest based on our professional judgement.
  • Disaster Relief. We may disclose your Protected Health Information to disaster relief organizations that seek your Protected Health Information to coordinate your care or notify family and friends of your location or condition in a disaster. We will provide you with an opportunity to agree or object to such a disclosure whenever we practicably can do so.

Your Written Authorization is Required for other Uses and Disclosures

The following uses and disclosures of your Protected Health Information will be made only with your written authorization:

  • Most uses and disclosures of psychotherapy notes or evaluations by psychologists;
  • Uses and disclosures of Protected Health Information for marketing purposes.
  • Disclosures that constitute a sale of your Protected Health Information.
  • Any information related to diagnosis of treatment of HIV, Alcohol and Substance Abuse Information, Mental Health Information of Genetic Information.

Other uses and disclosures of Protected Health Information not covered by this Notice or the laws that apply to us will be made only with your written authorization. If you do give us an authorization, you may revoke it at any time by submitting a written revocation to our Privacy Officer and we will no longer disclose Protected Health Information under the authorization. But disclosure that we made in reliance on your authorization before you revoked it will not be affected by the revocation.

How to Exercise Your Rights

To exercise your right described in this Notice, send your request, in writing, to our Privacy Officer at the address listed at the beginning of this Notice. We may ask you to fill out a form that we will supply. To exercise your right to inspect and copy your Protected Health Information, you may also contact your provider directly. To get a paper copy of the Notice, contact our Privacy Officer by phone or mail.

Changes To This Notice

We reserve the right to change this Notice. We reserve the right to make the changed Notice effective for Protected Health Information we already have as well as for any Protected Health Information we create or receive in the future. A copy of your current Notice is posted in our office and on our website.

Complaints

You may file a complaint with us or with the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services if you believe your privacy rights have been violated.

To file a complaint with us, contact our Privacy Officer at the address list at the beginning of this Notice. All complaints must be made in writing and should be submitted within 180 days of when you know or should have known of the suspected violation. There will be no retaliation against you for filing a complaint.

To file a complaint with the Secretary, mail it to: The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office of Civil Rights, 61 Forsyth Street, SW, Suite 3B70, Atlanta, GA 30303-8909, Telephone (404)562-7886; (404)331-2867 (TDD), FAX: (404)562-7881

There will be no retaliation against you for filing a complaint.