Notice of Privacy Practices

BridgePath Counseling · Lori Chambers Obbie, MA, LMHC
Mailing address: 19 S Vernon Avenue, #705, Deer Park, WA 99006

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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.

1. My commitment to your privacy

Health information about you and your care is personal, and I am committed to protecting it. I keep a record of the care I provide you. I need this record to give you good care and to meet legal requirements. This Notice applies to all the records of your care at BridgePath Counseling.

The law requires me to:

• keep your protected health information (PHI) private
• give you this Notice of my legal duties and privacy practices
• follow the Notice currently in effect
• tell you promptly if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your information

I may change this Notice. Any change applies to all information I hold about you. The current Notice is available on request, in my office, in the client portal and on my website.

Washington State notice: I keep a record of the health care services I provide you. You may ask me to see and copy that record. You may also ask me to correct that record. I will not disclose your record to others unless you direct me to do so, or unless the law authorizes or compels me to do so.

2. How I may use and share your information for treatment, payment and health care operations

The law allows me to use and share your information for these purposes without your written authorization.

• Treatment. Providing and coordinating your care. Example: consulting another licensed clinician about how best to help you, or coordinating with your prescriber when you have asked me to. Sharing for treatment is not limited to the minimum necessary, because good care can depend on the full picture.
• Payment. Getting paid for your care. Example: sending your diagnosis and dates of service to your health plan, or to Headway or Lyra Health, which bill on my behalf.
• Health care operations. Running the practice well. Example: keeping your records in a secure electronic records system, reviewing my own work for quality, or meeting licensing requirements.

Business associates. Some services are provided for me by companies such as the Google Cloud service that hosts my records system and client portal. Each signs a Business Associate Agreement that requires them to protect your information, and they may use it only to do the work I have asked of them.

Client portal. If you use the BridgePath client portal, what you share there becomes part of your record and is protected in the same way. The portal consent explains how it works.

Appointment contact. I may use your information to contact you about appointments, in the way you have asked me to.

3. Uses and disclosures that need your written authorization

• Psychotherapy notes. I do not keep psychotherapy notes separate from your record. Everything I write about your care is part of your record and is covered by this Notice.
• Marketing. I will not use or share your information for marketing.
• Sale. I will not sell your information.
• Research. I will not use or share your information for research without your written authorization.
• Anything else not described in this Notice needs your written authorization.

You may revoke an authorization at any time by telling me in writing. The revocation does not undo anything I did in reliance on the authorization before I received it.

4. Uses and disclosures the law allows without your authorization

Within the limits the law sets, I may use or share your information without your authorization:

1. When a state or federal law requires it, limited to what that law requires.
2. To report suspected abuse, neglect or exploitation of a child or of a vulnerable adult, as Washington law requires.
3. To prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to the health or safety of you, another person or the public, including when Washington law requires me to warn or protect someone you have threatened.
4. For health oversight, such as audits, investigations and licensing reviews.
5. For judicial and administrative proceedings, such as a court order. My preference is to get your authorization first, and for a subpoena I will make efforts to tell you about the request so you can object.
6. For certain law enforcement purposes allowed by law.
7. To a coroner or medical examiner performing duties authorized by law.
8. For specialized government functions, such as military or national security purposes allowed by law.
9. For workers' compensation, as that law requires. My preference is to get your authorization first.

Lawsuits and disputes. If you are involved in a lawsuit, I may disclose information in response to a court or administrative order. I may also disclose it in response to a subpoena, discovery request or other lawful process, but only if efforts have been made to tell you about the request or to obtain an order protecting the information.

Substance use disorder records. If I receive records of substance use disorder treatment protected by federal law (42 CFR Part 2), those records, or testimony about them, will not be used or shared in a civil, criminal, administrative or legislative proceeding against you unless you give written consent or a court issues an order that meets that law's requirements.

Information shared under this Notice may be shared again by the person who receives it, and may then no longer be protected by federal privacy law.

5. Uses and disclosures you may object to

Family, friends and others involved in your care. I may share information with someone you tell me is involved in your care or in paying for it, unless you object in whole or in part. In an emergency, I may do this and ask for your agreement afterwards.

6. Your rights

1. To ask me to limit how I use or share your information for treatment, payment or operations. I am not required to agree, and I may say no if I believe it would affect your care.
2. To limit what your health plan is told about a service you paid for in full yourself. I will agree to this request unless the law requires me to share the information.
3. To choose how I contact you, for example a particular phone number or address. I will agree to all reasonable requests.
4. To see and get a copy of your record, on paper or electronically. I will respond within 30 days of your written request, or sooner if Washington law requires. I may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee. I may offer a summary instead if you agree.
5. To a list of disclosures I have made for purposes other than treatment, payment, operations, or those you authorized, for up to six years back. I will respond within 60 days. The first list in any 12 months is free; later ones may have a reasonable, cost-based fee.
6. To ask me to correct or add to your record. I may say no, but I will tell you why in writing within 60 days.
7. To a paper or electronic copy of this Notice, even if you have already received it electronically.
8. To choose someone to act for you. If you have given someone medical power of attorney, or someone is your legal guardian, that person can exercise your rights. I will check they have this authority before I act.

7. Complaints

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may complain to me using the contact details below, and to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights, at www.hhs.gov/ocr/complaints or 1-800-368-1019. I will not retaliate against you in any way for filing a complaint.

8. Contact

Lori Chambers Obbie, MA, LMHC, Privacy Officer
BridgePath Counseling, 19 S Vernon Avenue, #705, Deer Park, WA 99006
Voicemail:

✉ Email Lori about privacy

Version effective November 1, 2026.