Textcoach®

Terms of Use

By using Textcoach™, you are certifying that you are 18 year of age or older and are expressly consenting to the collection, use, and disclosure of your personal information in accordance with state and federal laws that govern confidentiality, as well as in accordance with HIPAA privacy laws. In this disclaimer, the term "Client" is used to describe the individual that visits the Coaching portal or using the Coaching app and voluntarily enters information and utilizes the services provided by the Coaches. You are also acknowledging that the laws for the state in which you reside may limit or prevent you from accessing these services directly. In such an event, your Coach will help you find alternative resources to provide the appropriate level of care. All Coaches are licensed mental health professionals who have a master's or doctorate degree in psychology or a related counseling field. Each Coach is trained in providing therapy, has had training specific to providing distance counseling, and has experience in the delivery of behavioral health services.

You also acknowledge that not all concerns are appropriate for Coaching. Stress, lifestyle change, relationship issues, situational depression, worry and grief/loss issues are examples of some concerns that may be appropriate for Coaching. Individuals with severe alcohol or substance abuse disorders, eating disorders, severe depression or with other more severe or acute mental health conditions should be assessed telephonically or in person. CuraLinc Healthcare maintains best practice standards, and Coaches reserve the right to refer you to more appropriate levels of treatment at any time if Coaching cannot clinically address your needs.

The information you provide is kept confidential in compliance with the most restrictive applicable local, state or federal laws. CuraLinc Healthcare takes all necessary and reasonable precautions to ensure the information you provide is accessible only to authorized CuraLinc Healthcare employees. All offline material is kept in a secure database that only authorized CuraLinc Healthcare employees may access. CuraLinc Healthcare will not release your information to any third party unless you have submitted written authorization for such disclosure signed by you, and if necessary, notarized.

Confidentiality will not be upheld if any of the following circumstances occur: - There is an imminent risk of death or injury to yourself such as in the case of suicide; - There is an imminent risk of death or injury to a specific person such as in the case of homicide; - There is concern about the safety and welfare of any children, disabled person, or elderly persons; - Information may be disclosed under direct court ordered subpoena, and/or with legal counsel in regards to the above.

In the event of an emergency, or the need of immediate services, you are strongly encouraged to contact your local emergency services or call 911.

CuraLinc Healthcare takes every reasonable technical, physical and administrative precaution necessary to ensure that services provided over the internet are done in a safe and secure manner. The latest encryption software, such as SSL, is utilized to maintain this security and privacy. Passwords are also employed to verify the identity of returning clients requesting services. CuraLinc Healthcare cannot guarantee the security and privacy of the computer or device (smart phone, tablet, etc.) used by the client and/or the environment in which they chose to participate in Coaching. CuraLinc Healthcare encourages clients to use the latest antivirus and firewall software, and to use this service in a safe and private location. You are also strongly encouraged to enable and use the passcode feature for an additional layer of privacy on the mobile app.

You have the right to terminate Coaching at any time without fear of repercussions. Your information will continue to remain confidential and will be stored in accordance with the most restrictive local, state, or federal laws. In the event that other accommodations are required that extend beyond what CuraLinc is able to reasonably provide, CuraLinc reserves the right to refer you to an appropriate mental health provider in your area who is able to provide services at the same level. If you have any questions about the security or privacy of Textcoach™, you may contact the Privacy Contact at CuraLinc Healthcare, 314 W. Superior Street, Suite 601, Chicago, IL, 60654, 800- 490-1585.

CuraLinc Healthcare reserves the right to modify these Terms of Use at any time.

Privacy Policy

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

We respect client confidentiality and will only release information about you in accordance with applicable State and Federal law. If state law is stricter, these more stringent provisions will always take precedence. This notice describes our policies related to the use of your coaching and/or mental health records. We are required by law to maintain the privacy of protected health information and to provide you with notice of our legal duties and privacy practices. In accordance with state and federal law, we will make reasonable efforts to limit use, disclosure of and requests for protected health information to the minimum necessary to accomplish the intended purpose.

Effective Date: January 1, 2020

Privacy Contact: If you have any questions about this policy or your rights, contact the Privacy Contact at CuraLinc Healthcare, 314 W. Superior Street, Suite 601, Chicago, IL, 60654, 800-490-1585.

USE AND DISCLOSURE OF PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION

In order to provide you care, there are times when we will need to share your information with others. This includes the following times, under 45 C.F.R. 164.502:

Treatment: Information about you may be disclosed for treatment purposes. For example, information may be disclosed to a clinical supervisor, consulting Coach or therapist or member of a team providing services to provide, coordinate, or manage your care.

Payment: Information may be used for payment purposes. Information may be used to collect sums or receive third party payment for certain mental health services, but disclosure will be limited only to information needed to pursue collection.

Healthcare Operations: Information about you may be used to coordinate healthcare operations. For example, the information may be used in conducting a peer review of the services being provided.

However, if state law is more restrictive, your protected health information will be disclosed to a third person or for billing purposes only to the minimum extent necessary and in accordance with such state law.

INFORMATION DISCLOSED WITHOUT YOUR CONSENT

Pursuant to Federal Statute 45 C.F.R. 164.512, information about you can be disclosed without your consent in the following circumstances (certain records, such as Coaching notes, are subject to additional disclosure restrictions):

Emergencies: In case of an emergency, and if you are not able to give or refuse permission, we will share only the information that is directly necessary for obtaining emergency care for you, according to our professional judgment.

Danger to Self and/or Others: Information may be disclosed if you are a danger to yourself or others. CuraLinc may disclose information to the appropriate authorities if we reasonably believe such disclosure is necessary to protect you or a third party from a clear imminent risk of serious physical or mental injury or disease or death. class=SpellE>CuraLinc may report information in the event of a serious threat of physical violence against a reasonably identifiable victim.

Use for Public Health Activities: Information may be disclosed to a public health authority that is authorized by law to collect or receive information for public health activities.

Abuse or Neglect: Information about you may be disclosed if CuraLinc has a reasonable basis to believe that abuse or neglect may have occurred, whether it be child abuse, elder abuse, institutional abuse or domestic violence.

As Required by law: CuraLinc must disclose information if required to do so by a court order, judicial or administrative proceeding, or for other law enforcement purposes.

Health Oversight Activities: Information about you may be disclosed to a health oversight agency that is authorized by law to collect or receive certain information for the appropriate oversight of the health care system, eligibility for government benefit programs, compliance with government regulatory programs, or compliance with civil rights laws.

In the Event of Death: Information may be disclosed to a coroner or medical examiner for the purposes of identification, determination of the cause of death, or other duties as authorized by law.

Research: Information may be used or disclosed for research purposes in such manner as authorized by law.

Specialized Government Functions: Information may be disclosed for specialized functions related to, but not limited to, military and veterans activities, national security and intelligence activities, or medical suitability determinations.

Workers' Compensation: Information about you may be disclosed to the extent necessary to comply with workers' compensation laws or other similar programs that provide benefits for work-related injuries or illness.

INFORMATION DISCLOSED WITH YOUR CONSENT

Other uses and disclosures of your protected health information will be made only with your written authorization. You may consent in writing to (via a CuraLinc Authorization for Disclosure of Records and Communications Form) a release of your records to yourself or others for any purpose you choose.

You may revoke any such authorization in writing at any time unless we have already acted in reliance upon it.

We may contact you to provide information about treatment alternatives or other health related benefits and services that may be of interest to you.

INDIVIDUAL PRIVACY RIGHTS

Pursuant to Federal statute 45 C.F.R. 164, you have the following rights under law:

Right to Inspect and Copy Your Record: With limited exceptions, you are entitled to inspect the mental health records we have generated about you. You are also entitled to a copy of these records. Please make a request in writing to the Privacy Contact to inspect and/or copy your records. We may charge you a reasonable fee for copying and mailing your record.

Right to Restriction of Record: You may ask us not to use or disclose part of the record. This request must be in writing to the Privacy Contact. CuraLinc is not required to agree to your request if we believe it is in your best interest to permit disclosure of the information.

Right to Confidential Communications: You may request that we communicate with you about your information by different means or at different locations. Your request must be made in writing to the Privacy Contact. CuraLinc is required to accommodate any reasonable request you make concerning such contact.

Right to Amend Record: You may request that we amend your mental health records by adding or deleting certain information that is incomplete or inaccurate. This request must be made in writing to the Privacy Contact. We may deny your request if we did not create the information you want changed, or for certain other reasons. If we deny your request, we will provide you with a written explanation. You may then respond with a statement of disagreement that will be added to your records. If we accept your request to change the information, we will make reasonable efforts to tell others, including people you name, of the amendment and to include the amendment in any future sharing of that information.

Right to Copy of Privacy Notice: You have the right to obtain a paper copy of this notice upon request, even if you have agreed to receive this notice electronically.

Right to Accounting of Disclosures: You have a right to receive a list of all the times during the six year period prior to the date of your request that we or a business associate shared your information for purposes other than treatment, payment, and health care operations, and other specified exceptions. This request must be made in writing to the Privacy Contact.

QUESTIONS AND COMPLAINTS

If you have any questions about this notice, or if you think we have violated your privacy rights, please contact the Privacy Contact at CuraLinc Healthcare, 314 W. Superior Street, Suite 601, Chicago, IL, 60654, 800-490-1585. You may also submit a written complaint to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 200 Independence Avenue SW, Washington D.C., 20201, (877) 696-6775. We will not retaliate in any way if you choose to file a complaint.

RESPONSIBILITY TO COMPLY WITH NOTICE

lang=EN-US>CuraLinc is required to comply with the terms of the Privacy Notice currently in effect. However, class=SpellE>CuraLinc reserves the right to change its Privacy Policy based on its needs and changes in State and Federal law. Any material change in the Privacy Policy will be communicated on this site.