Privacy Policy Statement – SMS and Email Communications
Effective Date: 07/24/2025
Summit Ridge Counseling Group is committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring compliance with all applicable laws, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Missouri state privacy laws, and federal communication standards. This Privacy Policy explains how we use SMS (text messages) and email to communicate with you.
1. How We Use SMS and Email Communications
With your express consent, we may send you SMS or email messages for the following purposes:
Appointment Reminders: Date, time, and location of upcoming appointments.
Document Notifications: Notice that documents (e.g., treatment plans, test results, or session notes) have been posted to your secure patient portal.
Billing Updates: Information about billing statements, payment due dates, or insurance-related matters.
Appointment Changes: Notifications about cancellations, rescheduling, or provider availability.
We do not send marketing messages via SMS or email. These messages are intended solely for healthcare-related administrative purposes.
2. Consent to Receive Messages
By providing your mobile phone number and/or email address, you acknowledge and consent to receive the above communications. Consent is not a condition of receiving services.
You may opt out at any time:
SMS Opt-Out: Reply “STOP” to any text message to stop receiving SMS communications.
Email Opt-Out: Click the “unsubscribe” link in any non-essential email or contact our office directly.
Please note that opting out of SMS or email may limit our ability to notify you about important information, including appointment changes and billing.
3. Message Frequency and Costs
Message frequency will vary depending on your appointment schedule and account activity.
Standard message and data rates may apply based on your mobile plan. [Practice Name] is not responsible for any charges from your mobile carrier.
4. Security and Confidentiality
We use secure, HIPAA-compliant platforms for SMS and email communications.
Messages will not include sensitive personal health information (PHI) unless communicated through your secure patient portal.
We recommend checking your patient portal regularly for detailed information.
5. Your Rights
You have the right to:
Access and review your communication preferences.
Withdraw consent for SMS and/or email communications.
Request a copy of this Privacy Policy at any time.
To manage your preferences or ask questions about this policy, contact us at (816) 287-4040 or by email at office@summitridgecounseling.