Notice of Privacy Practices

BestLife Counseling Services LLC

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.

Effective date: September 25, 2026

Privacy contact: David Joslin, Founder

Telephone: (609) 486-2003

Mailing address: BestLife Counseling Services LLC, 1127 Rt 47 S, Suite 9, Rio Grande, NJ

Who this notice covers

This notice describes the privacy practices of BestLife Counseling Services LLC (BestLife) and its workforce. It applies to identifying health information in any form, including information about counseling, psychiatric care, medication management, community-based services, and payment for care.

How we use and share information

HIPAA permits certain uses and disclosures without your written authorization. New Jersey law and other federal laws may require consent or impose additional limits. Every category below is subject to those stricter protections. When another law requires your written consent, we obtain it before sharing your information.

Treatment, payment, and running the practice

• Treatment: We use information to assess your needs, provide care, and coordinate services. For example, your counselor may coordinate care with a psychiatric nurse practitioner involved in your treatment. We obtain written consent when required by applicable confidentiality rules.
• Payment: We use information to verify coverage, bill for services, and collect payment. For example, we may send your insurer a claim showing your diagnosis and the services provided, subject to required consent and your right to restrict disclosures about services paid in full.
• Health care operations: We use information to manage the practice and improve care. For example, authorized clinical supervisors may review records to evaluate treatment quality and support appropriate clinical supervision.

We may contact you about appointments, treatment alternatives, or health-related services, consistent with applicable law and your communication preferences. Service providers such as billing and electronic-record vendors may receive information needed to work for us under appropriate privacy agreements and safeguards. We limit access and disclosures as required by law.

Other permitted or required purposes

When applicable legal conditions are met, we may use or share information for:

• Legal requirements: Disclosures required by law, including to HHS for privacy compliance reviews.
• Public health: Authorized reporting of diseases, adverse reactions, unsafe products, or other public health concerns.
• Abuse and neglect: Required or otherwise legally authorized reports of child abuse, neglect, abuse of vulnerable adults, or domestic violence.
• Safety: Preventing or lessening a serious and imminent threat, consistent with New Jersey law, by notifying people able to help.
• Oversight: Authorized audits, licensing reviews, inspections, investigations, and disciplinary proceedings.
• Legal proceedings: Valid court orders or other lawful processes after applicable confidentiality and privilege requirements are satisfied. A subpoena alone does not automatically authorize disclosure of protected counseling records.
• Law enforcement: Legally permitted disclosures concerning crimes, missing persons, or qualifying investigations.
• Research: Research satisfying applicable consent requirements or a legally valid exception with safeguards.
• Other specific purposes: Workers’ compensation; organ, eye, or tissue donation; duties of coroners, medical examiners, and funeral directors; qualifying military, national security, protective-service, or correctional functions; and legally authorized workplace health reporting.

These purposes do not override stricter protections for counseling, HIV-related, genetic, or substance use disorder information.

Family, support people, and emergencies

When legally permitted, we may share information directly relevant to a person's involvement in your care or payment if you agree or have an opportunity to object and do not object. If you cannot express your wishes, we may make a limited disclosure based on professional judgment about your best interests, but only when applicable law allows it. Similar rules apply to notifying someone responsible for your care and assisting disaster-relief efforts.

We obtain written consent whenever New Jersey law requires it; verbal agreement or lack of objection does not replace that requirement.

Additional New Jersey protections

Counseling and social work records. New Jersey's professional counselor and social worker confidentiality rules generally require written permission unless a specific exception applies. Exceptions include legally required reporting, qualifying safety threats, certain official investigations, and valid court orders. Some rules also allow limited disclosures to defend a proceeding arising from the professional services provided. HIPAA's general permissions for treatment, payment, and operations do not override these rules. We obtain required written consent for disclosures, including to insurers or other providers. Family counseling records may require permission from multiple participants. Confidentiality may continue after death. Applicable rules include N.J.A.C. 13:34-18.5 and 13:44G-12.3.

Other mental health protections. When records are subject to New Jersey's special mental health facility confidentiality laws, including N.J.S.A. 30:4-24.3, we follow those additional restrictions. Applicable mental health professional-patient privileges may also limit disclosure in legal proceedings.

HIV/AIDS and genetic information. We obtain the specific consent required for protected HIV/AIDS records and identifiable genetic information unless a statutory exception permits disclosure. General permission to release medical records may be insufficient. These protections include N.J.S.A. 26:5C-7 through 26:5C-9 and 10:5-47.

Minors. Consent and access depend on the services provided and applicable law. Parents and guardians do not automatically have access to every record when a minor may lawfully consent to confidential care. We follow applicable limits on disclosure and obtain the legally required consent.

Substance use disorder records received from other providers

BestLife does not provide substance use disorder treatment. However, we may receive records from another provider that are protected by 42 CFR Part 2. If we hold those records, we follow Part 2's additional restrictions and obtain consent when required.

Those records, and testimony describing their contents, may not be used or disclosed in civil, criminal, administrative, or legislative proceedings against you without your specific written consent or a qualifying court order issued after notice and an opportunity for you or the record holder to be heard. A court order authorizing use or disclosure must be accompanied by a subpoena or other legal requirement compelling disclosure. General consent for treatment, payment, or operations does not by itself authorize use in proceedings against you.

Uses requiring written authorization

We obtain your written authorization for:

• Most uses and disclosures of psychotherapy notes. These are a mental health professional's separately maintained notes analyzing counseling conversations. They are different from ordinary treatment records. Limited legal exceptions apply.
• Marketing uses and disclosures for which HIPAA requires authorization.
• Sales of protected health information for which HIPAA requires authorization.
• Other uses and disclosures not described in this notice, unless otherwise required or permitted by law.

You may withdraw an authorization at any time by sending a written request to our Privacy Contact. Withdrawal applies going forward and does not undo actions already taken in reliance on your authorization.

Fundraising communications

If we contact you for legally permitted fundraising, you may opt out using the instructions in the communication or by contacting our Privacy Contact. Opting out will not affect your treatment or payment. Before using Part 2 records for fundraising, we will give you a clear opportunity to choose not to receive fundraising communications. We obtain consent when other applicable law requires it.

Your rights and how to use them

Contact David Joslin at the telephone number or mailing address above for assistance with any of these rights.

Ask us to limit use or sharing

Submit a written request identifying the information, the use or disclosure you want restricted, and the people or organizations involved. You may request limits on treatment, payment, operations, or sharing with people involved in your care. We generally do not have to agree, but we will follow restrictions we accept, subject to legal exceptions.

Services paid in full: We must honor your request not to disclose information to your health plan for payment or health care operations when the information relates solely to an item or service paid in full by you or someone other than the health plan, unless disclosure is required by law. Tell us before we submit a claim so we can arrange payment and record the restriction.

Choose how we contact you

Ask in writing for a particular method or location, such as a specific telephone number or mailing address. We will accommodate reasonable requests. You do not need to explain your reason. You must provide a workable way to reach you and, when appropriate, explain how payment will be handled.

See and obtain copies of your records

Submit a written request identifying the records and your preferred format. You may inspect or obtain copies of medical, billing, and other records used to make decisions about you. We provide electronic copies when required and available in an appropriate format.

We respond within the applicable legal deadline-generally 30 days under HIPAA, or sooner when New Jersey law requires. We will explain any legally permitted extension in writing. We may charge only legally permitted, reasonable, cost-based copying fees. Certain records, including separately maintained psychotherapy notes, are excluded from HIPAA's access right. If we deny access, we explain the reason in writing and any available review rights.

Request a correction or amendment

Submit a written request identifying what you believe is incorrect or incomplete and why. We generally respond within 60 days. If a legally permitted extension is needed, we explain it in writing. We may deny a request for a legally permitted reason, such as when the record is accurate and complete. A denial will explain the reason and how to submit a statement of disagreement.

Get a list of certain disclosures

Submit a written request specifying a period of up to six years before your request. This accounting generally excludes disclosures for treatment, payment, or operations; disclosures made with your authorization; and other legally excluded disclosures.

We generally respond within 60 days, subject to a permitted extension with written notice. One accounting in a 12-month period is free. We may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee for additional requests, but will tell you first and let you withdraw or modify the request.

Get a paper copy of this notice

Ask our Privacy Contact or office staff at any time. We will provide a paper copy without charge, even if you previously agreed to receive it electronically.

Act through a personal representative

A person legally authorized to make health care decisions for you may exercise applicable rights on your behalf. We verify that person's authority and follow applicable exceptions and limits.

Our responsibilities and changes to this notice

We are required by law to maintain the privacy of your protected health information, provide this notice of our legal duties and privacy practices, and notify you following a breach of your unsecured protected health information as required by law.

We must follow the notice currently in effect. We may revise this notice and make legally permitted changes apply to all information we maintain, including information received before the change. The revised notice will identify its effective date and will be available upon request, at our office, and on our website if we maintain one.

Questions and complaints

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may complain to BestLife by contacting David Joslin, Founder, at (609) 486-2003 or by writing to BestLife Counseling Services LLC, 1127 Rt 47 S, Suite 9, Rio Grande, NJ. Describe what happened and when, and tell us how to contact you. We can help you put your complaint in writing.

You may also complain directly to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights, without first complaining to BestLife:

• Online: https://ocrportal.hhs.gov/ocr/cp/complaint_frontpage.jsf
• Telephone assistance: 1-800-368-1019; TDD: 1-800-537-7697
• Mail: Centralized Case Management Operations, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Room 509F HHH Building, Washington, DC 20201

HHS complaints generally must be submitted in writing within 180 days of when you knew or should have known of the violation. HHS may extend that deadline for good cause.

BestLife will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint or exercising your privacy rights.