Our Privacy Policy
NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES: HOLD YOUR HORSES, INC.
Effective Date: June 2026
THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.
1. Our Legal Duty: Hold Your Horses, Inc. is required by law to maintain the privacy of protected health information (PHI) and to provide individuals with notice of its legal duties and privacy practices with respect to protected health information [45 CFR § 164.520]. We must abide by the terms of this Notice of Privacy Practices currently in effect. We reserve the right to change our privacy practices and the terms of this Notice at any time, provided such changes are permitted by applicable law. If we make a material change, we will post the revised Notice in our office, on our website, and make copies available to you upon request.
2. Strict Protections under Illinois Mental Health Law: Under the Illinois Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act (MHDDCA), mental health and therapy records receive stricter protections than standard medical records:
●Routine Disclosures: While federal HIPAA rules allow disclosures for Treatment, Payment, and Healthcare Operations (TPO) without consent, Illinois law restricts sharing mental health information with third parties (including insurance companies or family members) without your explicit, signed permission.
●Psychotherapy Notes: We must obtain your separate, explicit written authorization before disclosing any psychotherapy notes taken during EMDR or equine-assisted sessions, except in limited emergency situations.
●Equine Care Context: All clinical notes regarding your interactions with therapy animals or equine specialists are bound by these strict mental health privacy standards.
●Minor Rights (Ages 12-17): In Illinois, minors aged 12 to 17 may consent to receive up to 8 sessions (maximum 90 minutes each) of mental health therapy without parental knowledge or consent. Records from these sessions cannot be disclosed to parents or guardians without the minor's written consent, unless the therapist determines a clear, imminent risk of harm exists.
●Illinois AIDS Confidentiality Act: Information regarding HIV/AIDS testing, status, or treatment is strictly confidential and will never be released without a specific, separate authorization.
3. Protection of Received Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Records: Hold Your Horses, Inc. is not a substance use treatment facility. However, if you or your outside medical providers share your history or current SUD treatment records with us:
●Legal Proceedings Ban: Under federal 42 CFR Part 2 and the 2026 HIPAA alignments, we are strictly prohibited from using or disclosing those received SUD records in civil, criminal, administrative, or legislative proceedings against you without your specific written consent or an authorized court order.
●No Unauthorized Redistribution: We cannot re-disclose your received SUD records to any other provider, insurer, or entity without your specific, explicit written consent.
4. Standard Uses and Disclosures of PHI (Subject to Illinois Law): We may use or disclose your PHI only with your written consent, except in the following limited circumstances:
●Treatment: We may share info internally among your care team to coordinate your EMDR and Equine sessions. We will obtain your consent before sharing info with outside professionals.
●Healthcare Operations: We may use your PHI to run our practice, assess clinical quality, review staff performance, or manage business operations.
●Marketing and Sale of PHI: We are strictly prohibited from selling your PHI or using your information for marketing purposes without your explicit written authorization.
●Fundraising: We do not use client information for fundraising. If we ever do, you have an absolute right to opt out.
5. Permitted Uses and Disclosures Without Consent: We may disclose your PHI without your authorization only when mandated or permitted by law:
●To avert a serious, imminent threat to your health or safety, or the safety of another person.
●To report suspected child abuse, neglect, or elder abuse to Illinois state authorities. In response to a valid court order that complies strictly with the criteria of the Illinois MHDDCA.
●For specialized government functions, such as national security activities or military requirements.
6. Your Rights Regarding Your Information:
●Right to Inspect and Copy: You may inspect and obtain a copy of your mental health records. Under Illinois law, we may restrict this right only if there is compelling evidence that access would cause serious harm to you.
●Right to Restrict Disclosures: You can ask us to restrict how we use or share your PHI.
●Right to Amend: If you believe your records are inaccurate or incomplete, you may submit a written request to amend the information.
●Right to an Accounting: You have the right to request a list of certain disclosures we have made of your PHI for purposes other than treatment or operations.
●Right to a Paper Copy: You have a right to receive a paper copy of this Notice at any time, even if you previously agreed to receive it electronically.
●Right to Breach Notification: We will notify you promptly if a breach occurs that compromises the privacy, security, or confidentiality of your PHI.
7. Complaints and Privacy Contact: If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with our practice or with the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint. To file a complaint with our practice, or to exercise any of your rights listed in this notice, please contact our Privacy Officer: Whitney McMahan, Phone: #312-767-7868, Mailing Address: Hold Your Horses, Inc., P.O. Box 7384, Westchester, IL 60154.