privacy practices
Notice of Privacy Practices
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.
Last Updated: September 23, 2026
This Notice applies to health information held by Barbara Lynn (Blaze) Lazarony, MA, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist #151788, doing business as Love on the Autism Spectrum (“we,” “us,” or “our”).
You are not agreeing to anything by reading this. It tells you what we do with your information and what rights you have. Coaching is not a health care service and is not covered by this Notice.
Two Sets of Rules Apply
We are a covered entity under HIPAA. We are also subject to the California Confidentiality of Medical Information Act (CMIA), which in places protects you more than HIPAA does. Where the two differ, we follow the more protective rule.
How We May Use and Disclose Your Information Without Your Authorization
Treatment
To provide your care, and to coordinate it with others involved in it. For example, with your written permission we may share relevant information with your physician or psychiatrist.
Payment
To bill and collect for services. For example, preparing a Superbill you submit to your insurer, or processing a card payment.
Health care operations
To run the practice, including scheduling, record-keeping, quality review, and professional consultation or supervision with other qualified professionals who are themselves bound by confidentiality.
Where the law requires or permits disclosure
- Suspected abuse or neglect of a child, elder, or dependent adult, as California mandated-reporting law requires.
- Reasonable suspicion of physical abuse between intimate partners, to the extent the law requires.
- A serious and imminent threat of harm to you or to an identifiable other person, including the duty to warn and protect under Tarasoff, which may mean contacting the intended victim and law enforcement.
- A valid court order. We respond to a subpoena only after asserting privilege on your behalf where that is appropriate.
- Health oversight activities, and other disclosures required by law.
Psychotherapy Notes Get Extra Protection
Psychotherapy notes are the separate notes a therapist keeps about a session, apart from your main record. Most uses and disclosures of psychotherapy notes require your specific written authorization, and we will not release them without it except in the narrow circumstances the law allows.
Uses That Always Require Your Written Authorization
- Most uses and disclosures of psychotherapy notes
- Any use or disclosure for marketing purposes
- Any sale of your protected health information, which we do not do
- Any other use or disclosure not described in this Notice
You may revoke an authorization in writing at any time. Revoking it stops future use and disclosure, but it cannot undo something already done in reliance on it.
Your Rights
To see and get a copy of your record
You may inspect and request a copy of your record, including an electronic copy. We may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee. In limited circumstances we may deny a request, and we will tell you in writing why and how to have that decision reviewed.
To request a correction
If you believe something in your record is wrong or incomplete, you may ask us to amend it. If we deny the request, you may file a written statement of disagreement, which becomes part of your record.
To an accounting of disclosures
You may request a list of certain disclosures we have made of your information.
To request restrictions
You may ask us to limit how we use or disclose your information. We are not always required to agree, and we will tell you if we cannot.
To confidential communications
You may ask us to contact you in a particular way or at a particular place, such as only by email, or with no voicemail. We will accommodate reasonable requests.
To a paper copy of this Notice
You may ask for a paper copy at any time, even if you received it electronically.
To be told about a breach
We will notify you if a breach compromises the privacy or security of your information.
Our Duties
- We are required by law to maintain the privacy of your protected health information.
- We are required to give you notice of our legal duties and privacy practices, which is this document.
- We are required to notify you following a breach of unsecured protected health information.
- We must abide by the terms of the Notice currently in effect.
Record retention
- Adult records are retained for at least seven years from the date therapy ends.
- For a client who was a minor, records are retained for at least seven years from the date the client turns 18.
Changes to This Notice
We may change this Notice, and a change applies to information we already hold as well as to information we receive in the future. The current version is always posted on this page and is available from us on request. Each version carries its effective date.
Complaints
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may complain to us, and you may complain to the federal government. You will not be retaliated against in any way for filing a complaint.
To us
Privacy Officer, Love on the Autism Spectrum — (831) 222-1559, or by portal message or email to Blaze@BlazeLazarony.com.
To the federal government
Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services — hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints
To the state licensing board
Board of Behavioral Sciences — bbs.ca.gov, or (916) 574-7830.
Questions
For any question about this Notice or about your information, contact the Privacy Officer at the number above.
This Notice is separate from our website Privacy Policy, which covers information collected when you visit the site.
Have a question this page didn't answer?
Email Blaze@BlazeLazarony.com — I read every message myself.