Privacy Policies

We don’t collect nor use private data of our clients. The only private information we share is if a client prefers for their private information to shared with an insurance company for billing.

SMS TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1. Introduction
Welcome to MICHAEL LOFTIS, LCSW. By accessing or using our services, including receiving SMS communications, you agree to comply with and be bound by these Terms and Conditions. If you do not agree with these terms, please do not engage with our services.
2. Consent for SMS Communication
By providing your consent to receive SMS communications, you acknowledge and agree to receive text messages from MICHAEL LOFTIS, LCSW at the phone number you provide. Information obtained as part of the SMS consent process will not be shared with third parties.
3. Types of SMS Communications
If you have consented to receive text messages, you may receive SMS communications related to the following:

CLIENTS will receive texts regarding upcoming appointments dates and times.

4. Standard Messaging Disclosures

Message Frequency: Frequency of messages may vary depending on your interactions with us.
Standard messaging rates will be charged by your mobile service provider.
You can opt-out of receiving SMS messages at any time by texting “STOP” to the number from which you received the message.

For assistance, text “HELP” ” to any text message or contact us directly at 615-890-7946 , you can email us at loftissw@bellsouth.net or visit our privacy policy https://michaelloftislcsw.com/privacy-policies/

SMS consent and Phone number will never be shared or sold to any third party or affiliates for marketing purposes.

SMS For Consent Communication

The information (Phone Numbers) obtained as part of the SMS consent process will not be shared with third parties for marketing purposes.

SMS Terms of Service

By opting into SMS from a web form or other medium, you are agreeing to receive SMS messages from MICHAEL LOFTIS. LCSW. This includes SMS messages for appointment scheduling, appointment reminders, post-visit instructions, and billing notifications. Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply. See privacy policy at ( https://michaelloftislcsw.com/privacy-policies/) Message HELP for help. Reply STOP to any message to opt out.

MICHAEL LOFTIS,LCSW is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your information when you visit our website, https://michaelloftislcsw.com/privacy-policies/ or interact with us in any other manner.

Privacy Policy

Michael Loftis, LCSW is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your information when you visit our website, https://michaelloftislcsw.com/privacy-policies/, or interact with us in any other manner.

Information We Collect
We may collect the following types of information from you:

Personal Information: When you contact us through our Website, phone, or email, we may collect personal information that you provide, including your full name, phone number, email address, and mailing address.

Information We Collect
We may collect the following types of information from you:

Automatically Collected Information: When you visit our Website, we may automatically collect certain information about your device and usage, including IP address, browser type, operating system, referring URLs, and pages viewed.

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

To Communicate with You: We use your contact information to respond to your inquiries, provide legal services, send administrative information, and keep you informed about your case or our services.

Marketing and Promotional Communications: With your consent, we may use your information to send you updates, newsletters, or marketing communications via email, phone, or text message. You can opt out of receiving these communications at any time by following the instructions provided in the communication or contacting us directly.

Legal Compliance: We may use your information to comply with applicable laws, regulations, or legal obligations, including responding to subpoenas, court orders, or legal requests.

Consent to Receive Text Messages

You are not required to consent to receiving text messages from MICHAEL LOFTIS, LCSW. By providing your phone number and opting in, you consent to receive text messages from MICHAEL LOFTIS, LCSW regarding your inquiry, our services, or related legal matters. Message and data rates may apply. You can opt out of receiving text messages at any time by replying “STOP” to any text message you receive from us. Please note that opting out may limit our ability to communicate with you regarding your case or services.

Information Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell or rent your personal information to third parties. We do not sell, rent, release, or transfer your SMS consent or phone number to any third party for any third party marketing purposes. We may share your information in the following circumstances:

Service Providers: We may share your information with our service providers who perform services on our behalf, such as marketing, customer services, or technical support. These service providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it only for services they provide.

Legal Requirements: We may disclose your information if required by law, regulation, or legal process, or if we believe disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, property, or the safety of our users or others.

Data Security
We implement reasonable security measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Your Rights and Choices

Opting Out: You may opt out of receiving marketing communications from us by following the instructions in those communications or contacting us directly. If you opt out, we may still send you non-promotional communications related to your legal services or our ongoing business relationship.

Access and Update Information: You have the right to access, update, or correct your personal information. To do so, please contact us using the information provided below.

Third-Party Websites
Our Website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these third-party sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party websites you visit.

Children’s Privacy
Our website is not intended for children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected personal information from a child under 13, we will take steps to delete such information.

Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated “Last Updated” date. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any updates.

Contact Us
If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us at:

Company Name: MICHAEL LOFTIS, LCSW
Address: 2670 MEMORIAL BLVD., SUITE E, MURFREESBORO, TENNESSEE
Contact Info: 615-890-7946

MICHAEL LOFTIS. LCSW
NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES

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

I. MY PLEDGE REGARDING HEALTH INFORMATION:

I understand that health information about you and your health care is personal. I am committed to protecting health information about you. I create a record of the care and services you receive from me. I need this record to provide you with quality care and to comply with certain legal requirements. This notice applies to all of the records of your care generated by this mental health care practice. This notice will tell you about the ways in which I may use and disclose health information about you. I also describe your rights to the health information I keep about you, and describe certain obligations I have regarding the use and disclosure of your health information. I am required by law to:

Make sure that protected health information (“PHI”) that identifies you is kept private.
Give you this notice of my legal duties and privacy practices with respect to health information.
Follow the terms of the notice that is currently in effect.
I can change the terms of this Notice, and such changes will apply to all information I have about you. The new Notice will be available upon request, in my office, and on my website.

II. HOW I MAY USE AND DISCLOSE HEALTH INFORMATION ABOUT YOU:

The following categories describe different ways that I use and disclose health information. For each category of uses or disclosures I will explain what I mean and try to give some examples. Not every use or disclosure in a category will be listed. However, all of the ways I am permitted to use and disclose information will fall within one of the categories.

For Treatment Payment, or Health Care Operations: Federal privacy rules (regulations) allow health care providers who have direct treatment relationship with the patient/client to use or disclose the patient/client’s personal health information without the patient’s written authorization, to carry out the health care provider’s own treatment, payment or health care operations. I may also disclose your protected health information for the treatment activities of any health care provider. This too can be done without your written authorization. For example, if a clinician were to consult with another licensed health care provider about your condition, we would be permitted to use and disclose your person health information, which is otherwise confidential, in order to assist the clinician in diagnosis and treatment of your mental health condition.

Disclosures for treatment purposes are not limited to the minimum necessary standard. Because therapists and other health care providers need access to the full record and/or full and complete information in order to provide quality care. The word “treatment” includes, among other things, the coordination and management of health care providers with a third party, consultations between health care providers and referrals of a patient for health care from one health care provider to another.

Lawsuits and Disputes: If you are involved in a lawsuit, I may disclose health information in response to a court or administrative order. I may also disclose health information about your child in response to a subpoena, discovery request, or other lawful process by someone else involved in the dispute, but only if efforts have been made to tell you about the request or to obtain an order protecting the information requested.

III. CERTAIN USES AND DISCLOSURES REQUIRE YOUR AUTHORIZATION:

Psychotherapy Notes. I do keep “psychotherapy notes” as that term is defined in 45 CFR § 164.501, and any use or disclosure of such notes requires your Authorization unless the use or disclosure is:
1. For my use in treating you.
2. For my use in training or supervising mental health practitioners to help them improve their skills in group, joint, family, or individual counseling or therapy.
3. For my use in defending myself in legal proceedings instituted by you.
4. For use by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to investigate my compliance with HIPAA.
5. Required by law and the use or disclosure is limited to the requirements of such law.
6. Required by law for certain health oversight activities pertaining to the originator of the psychotherapy notes.
7. Required by a coroner who is performing duties authorized by law.
8. Required to help avert a serious threat to the health and safety of others.
Marketing Purposes. As a psychotherapist, I will not use or disclose your PHI for marketing purposes.
Sale of PHI. As a psychotherapist, I will not sell your PHI in the regular course of my business.

IV. CERTAIN USES AND DISCLOSURES DO NOT REQUIRE YOUR AUTHORIZATION.

Subject to certain limitations in the law, I can use and disclose your PHI without your Authorization for the following reasons:

When disclosure is required by state or federal law, and the use or disclosure complies with and is limited to the relevant requirements of such law.
For public health activities, including reporting suspected child, elder, or dependent adult abuse, or preventing or reducing a serious threat to anyone’s health or safety.
For health oversight activities, including audits and investigations.
For judicial and administrative proceedings, including responding to a court or administrative order, although my preference is to obtain an Authorization from you before doing so.
For law enforcement purposes, including reporting crimes occurring on my premises.
To coroners or medical examiners, when such individuals are performing duties authorized by law.
For research purposes, including studying and comparing the mental health of patients who received one form of therapy versus those who received another form of therapy for the same condition.
Specialized government functions, including, ensuring the proper execution of military missions; protecting the President of the United States; conducting intelligence or counter-intelligence operations; or, helping to ensure the safety of those working within or housed in correctional institutions.
For workers’ compensation purposes. Although my preference is to obtain an Authorization from you, I may provide your PHI in order to comply with workers’ compensation laws.
Appointment reminders and health related benefits or services. I may use and disclose your PHI to contact you to remind you that you have an appointment with me. I may also use and disclose your PHI to tell you about treatment alternatives, or other health care services or benefits that I offer.

V. CERTAIN USES AND DISCLOSURES REQUIRE YOU TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO OBJECT.

Disclosures to family, friends, or others. I may provide your PHI to a family member, friend, or other person that you indicate is involved in your care or the payment for your health care, unless you object in whole or in part. The opportunity to consent may be obtained retroactively in emergency situations.

VI. YOU HAVE THE FOLLOWING RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO YOUR PHI:

The Right to Request Limits on Uses and Disclosures of Your PHI. You have the right to ask me not to use or disclose certain PHI for treatment, payment, or health care operations purposes. I am not required to agree to your request, and I may say “no” if I believe it would affect your health care.
The Right to Request Restrictions for Out-of-Pocket Expenses Paid for In Full. You have the right to request restrictions on disclosures of your PHI to health plans for payment or health care operations purposes if the PHI pertains solely to a health care item or a health care service that you have paid for out-of-pocket in full.
The Right to Choose How I Send PHI to You. You have the right to ask me to contact you in a specific way (for example, home or office phone) or to send mail to a different address, and I will agree to all reasonable requests.
The Right to See and Get Copies of Your PHI. Other than “psychotherapy notes,” you have the right to get an electronic or paper copy of your medical record and other information that I have about you. I will provide you with a copy of your record, or a summary of it, if you agree to receive a summary, within 30 days of receiving your written request, and I may charge a reasonable, cost based fee for doing so.
The Right to Get a List of the Disclosures I Have Made.You have the right to request a list of instances in which I have disclosed your PHI for purposes other than treatment, payment, or health care operations, or for which you provided me with an Authorization. I will respond to your request for an accounting of disclosures within 60 days of receiving your request. The list I will give you will include disclosures made in the last six years unless you request a shorter time. I will provide the list to you at no charge, but if you make more than one request in the same year, I will charge you a reasonable cost based fee for each additional request.
The Right to Correct or Update Your PHI. If you believe that there is a mistake in your PHI, or that a piece of important information is missing from your PHI, you have the right to request that I correct the existing information or add the missing information. I may say “no” to your request, but I will tell you why in writing within 60 days of receiving your request.
The Right to Get a Paper or Electronic Copy of this Notice. You have the right get a paper copy of this Notice, and you have the right to get a copy of this notice by e-mail. And, even if you have agreed to receive this Notice via e-mail, you also have the right to request a paper copy of it.

EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS NOTICE
This notice went into effect on September 20, 2013
Acknowledgement of Receipt of Privacy Notice

Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), you have certain rights regarding the use and disclosure of your protected health information. By checking the box below, you are acknowledging that you have received a copy of HIPPA Notice of Privacy Practices.