Privacy Policies, Client Rights, and Notices

NOTICE OF PRIVACY RIGHTS (HIPAA)

TRUE Counseling Services, LLC
8801 Fox Drive, Thornton, CO 80260-6861
(720) 721-3071
truecounselingcolorado.com

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL (INCLUDING MENTAL HEALTH) INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY. During the process of providing services to you, True Counseling Services will obtain, record, and use mental health and medical information about you that is protected health information. Ordinarily that information is confidential and will not be used or disclosed, except as described below.

USES AND DISCLOSURES OF PROTECTED INFORMATION

A. General Uses and Disclosures Not Requiring the Client’s Consent. The Company will use and disclose protected health information in the following ways.

  1. Treatment. Treatment refers to the provision, coordination, or management of health care (including mental health care) and related services by one or more health care providers. For example, Company staff involved with your care may use your information to plan your course of treatment and consult with other staff to ensure the most appropriate methods are being used to assist you.
  2. Payment. Payment refers to the activities undertaken by a health care provider (including mental health provider) to obtain or provide reimbursement for the provision of health care. When applicable, the True Counseling Services will use your information to develop accounts receivable information, bill you, and with your consent, provide information to your insurance company for services provided. The information provided to insurers and other third party payers may include information that identifies you, as well as your diagnosis, type of service, date of service, provider name/identifier, and other information about your condition and treatment. If you are covered by Medicaid, information will be provided to the State of Colorado’s Medicaid program, including but not limited to your treatment, condition, diagnosis, and services received.
  3. Health Care Operations. Health Care Operations refers to activities undertaken by the Company that are regular functions of management and administrative activities. For example, the Company may use your health information in monitoring of service quality, staff training and evaluation, medical reviews, legal services, auditing functions, compliance programs, business planning, and accreditation, certification, licensing and credentialing activities.
  4. Contacting the Client. The Company may contact you to remind you of appointments and to tell you about treatments or other services that might be of benefit to you.
  5. Required by Law. The Company will disclose protected health information when required by law or necessary for health care oversight, This includes, but is not limited to: (a) reporting child abuse or neglect; (b) when court ordered to release information; (c) when there is a legal duty to warn or take action regarding imminent danger to others; (d) when the client is a danger to self or others or gravely disabled; (e) when required to report certain communicable diseases and certain injuries; (f) when a Coroner is investigating the client’s death.
  6. Health Oversight Activities. The Company will disclose protected health information to health oversight agencies for oversight activities authorized by law and necessary for the oversight of the health care system, government health care benefit programs, and regulatory programs or determining compliance with program standards.
  7. Crimes on the premises or observed by Company personnel. Crimes that are observed by Company staff that are directed toward staff, or occur on the Company’s premises will be reported to law enforcement.
  8. Business Associates. Some of the functions of the Company are provided by contracts with business associates. For example, some administrative, clinical, quality assurance, billing, legal, auditing, and practice management services may be provided by contracting with outside entities to perform those services. In those situations, protected health information will be provided to those contractors as is needed to perform their contracted tasks. Business associates are required to enter into an agreement maintaining the privacy of the protected health information released to them.
  9. Research. The Company may use or disclose protected health information for research purposes if the relevant limitations of the Federal HIPAA Privacy Regulation are followed. 45CFR 164.512(i).
  10. Audit. The Company will periodically be required to participate random audit of client records the Behavioral Health Administration for the purpose of licensure. Your records may be reviewed as part of that process.
  11. Emergencies. In life threatening emergencies Company staff will disclose information necessary to avoid serious harm or death.

B. Client Release of Information or Authorization

The Company may not use or disclose protected health information in any other way without a signed Release of Information or Authorization. When you sign a Release of Information or an Authorization, it may later be revoked, provided that the revocation is in writing. The revocation will apply except to the extent the Company has already taken action in reliance thereon.

YOUR RIGHTS AS A CLIENT

TRUE Counseling Services assures each client the protection of basic human, civil, and constitutional rights. At a minimum each client has the right to:

CLIENT RIGHTS

  • Seek treatment services without fear of discrimination based on sex, color, race, religion, political affiliation, national origin or ethnic background, or sexual orientation.
  • Be free from mental and physical abuse and inhumane treatment, and to be protected from all forms of sexual exploitation. Be treated with respect and dignity, and receive appropriate and reasonable adult guidance, support and supervision.
  • Have an attorney present at the initial intake, during any grievance proceeding, or at any time they feel legal advice may be warranted. Appropriate releases must be signed.
  • Seek outside consultation, including legal advice, at the client's expense.
  • Review their case file under the supervision of clinical staff and receive copies of information included in the file upon request. TRUE Counseling Services may withhold certain clinical information that may have a negative psychological impact on the client or endanger public safety. If the decision to withhold information is challenged, TRUE shall provide an independent psychological evaluation as to the psychological impact of the information in question. Review of the file will be documented in the file.
  • Have all records, information, and program involvement kept confidential. Federal, State, and Local regulations and laws protect confidentiality. Generally, treatment records are confidential and are generally available only to TRUE clinicians, staff, and State supervising authorities.
  • Request transfer to another counselor and/or to another treatment facility if they believe they are not receiving proper treatment. While TRUE Counseling Services may attempt to determine the reason for the client’s desire to leave the agency as a quality assurance measure, no attempts will be made to force disclosure of this information.
  • Be advised of the possible consequences of discontinuing treatment or of refusing to participate in recommended treatment.
  • Make a complaint or grievance free from restraint, interference, and coercion, receive assistance from a TRUE representative in making complaints, and to receive copies of the complaint procedures.
  • Be informed of the purpose and potential effects of the treatment being recommended and have their opinions heard and be included, to the greatest extent possible, when decisions are made affecting their life and during all treatment planning.
  • As payment is expected at the start of each session unless prior arrangements are made, to seek payment of their fees either through a referring agency or their insurance companies.
  • Receive the names and professional status of the staff members responsible for their care.

NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY

True Counseling Services does not exclude, deny benefits to, or otherwise discriminate against any person on the ground of Race, Color, National Origin, Age Limited English Proficiency, Sex, Gender Identity, Sexual Orientation or Sexual Preference, Marital Status, Political Affiliation, Involuntarily Committed to Treatment (pursuant to 27-81-112 and 27-82-108 CRS), Pregnancy Status, Use of Drugs by Injection, Presence of Co-Occurring Psychiatric Disorders, Use of Prescribed Psychotropic Medications, Use of Medication for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence, Deaf or Hard of Hearing, HIV Positive Status, AIDS Diagnosis, High Risk Behavior, Aid to the Needy Disabled Recipient, Use of Drugs Other than Alcohol, Disabled (as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act), Veteran or Active Military, Low Socioeconomic Status, Education Level, Ethnicity or Ethnic Origin, Religious Beliefs, or Past Criminal Convictions in admission to, participation in, or receipt of the services and benefits under any of its programs and activities, and in staff and employee assignments to clients, whether carried out by True Counseling Services directly or through a contractor or any other entity with which True Counseling Services arranges to carry out its programs and activities.

This statement is in accordance with the provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (nondiscrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (nondiscrimination on the basis of disability), the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (nondiscrimination on the basis of age), regulations of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued pursuant to these three statutes at Title 45 Code of Federal Regulations Parts 80, 84, and 91, (and state laws or corporate policies, etc.).

Additionally, in accordance with Section 1557 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, 42 U.S.C. § 18116, True Counseling Services does not exclude, deny benefits to, or otherwise discriminate against any person on the ground of sex (including gender identity) in admission to, participation in, or receipt of the services and benefits under any of its health programs and activities, and in staff and employee assignments, whether carried out by True Counseling Services directly or through a contractor or any other entity with which True Counseling Services arranges to carry out its programs and activities.

(Full text continues verbatim from your original Nondiscrimination Policy)

Privacy Policy for SMS Communications

Effective Date: 08/26/2025

At TRUE Counseling, we value your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and your choices regarding SMS communications.

1. Information We Collect

  • Your name
  • Mobile phone number
  • Consent status (opt-in/opt-out)
  • Any information you provide when communicating with us via SMS

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information you provide to:

  • Send appointment reminders, updates, and relevant counseling information
  • Respond to your inquiries
  • Share important announcements about our services

We do not sell or rent your personal information to anyone.

3. Who We Share Information With

We do not share your personal information or SMS consent with third parties or affiliates, except as necessary to:

  • Provide services you have requested (e.g., sending SMS messages via our SMS platform)
  • Comply with legal obligations

SMS consent is not shared with third parties.

4. Your Choices

Opting Out: You may opt out of receiving SMS messages at any time by replying “STOP” to any message you receive.

Help: Reply “HELP” for assistance or contact us directly.

5. Security

We take appropriate measures to protect your information from unauthorized access, disclosure, or misuse.

6. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or your SMS communications, please contact us at:

TRUE Counseling Services, LLC
720-721-3071
truecounseling@truecounseling.org
8801 Fox Drive, Suite 101 Thornton, Colorado 80260