Notice of Privacy Practices

Effective Date: January 1, 2026

Our Commitment to Your Privacy

At Astacio Wellness, LLC, we understand that information about your health and care is deeply personal. We are committed to protecting your Protected Health Information (PHI). We create a record of the services you receive to provide quality care and comply with legal requirements in Connecticut and New York.

This notice describes our legal duties and privacy practices. We are required by law to:

Ensure your PHI is kept private.
Provide you with this notice of our legal duties.
Follow the terms of the notice currently in effect.

Your Rights Regarding Your Health Information

As a client of Dr. Starlin Astacio, you have specific rights under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA):

Right to Inspect and Copy: You have the right to look at and get a copy of your health information (such as billing records and clinical notes). We will provide this within 30 days.
Right to Amend: If you feel the information we have is incorrect or incomplete, you may ask us to amend it.
Right to an Accounting of Disclosures: You can request a list of the times we’ve shared your health information for purposes other than treatment, payment, or operations.
Right to Request Restrictions: You can ask us not to use or share certain health information for treatment, payment, or our operations.
Right to Confidential Communications: You can ask us to contact you in a specific way (for example, home or office phone) or to send mail to a different address to maintain your privacy.

How We Use and Disclose Health Information

Federal and State laws allow us to use or disclose your PHI without your written authorization for the following purposes:

Treatment: We may disclose your PHI to coordinate your care. For example, Dr. Astacio may consult with another licensed healthcare provider regarding your condition to assist in diagnosis.
Payment: We use your PHI to process billing, insurance claims, and invoices through our secure portal, SimplePractice.
Healthcare Operations: We use your PHI to run our practice, including sending appointment reminders via email or SMS and conducting quality assessments.
Supervision & Training: As an AAMFT-approved supervisor, Dr. Astacio may use clinical information for training or supervising mental health practitioners. In these instances, your identity is protected, and the focus is on clinical skill development.

Disclosures Requiring Your Specific Authorization

We will not use or share your information for the following without your express written consent:

Psychotherapy Notes: Most uses or disclosures of psychotherapy notes require your signed authorization.
Marketing: We will not use your information for marketing or public reviews (testimonials) without a specific HIPAA authorization.
Sale of PHI: Astacio Wellness, LLC will never sell your personal health information.

Special Protections: Telehealth & State Law

Telehealth Security: All video and audio sessions are conducted via SimplePractice, using point-to-point encryption. We do not record sessions without explicit, separate written consent.
Connecticut & New York Law: Where state law provides more stringent protection than HIPAA (specifically regarding HIV-related information or minor consent in NY/CT), Astacio Wellness, LLC will adhere to the more protective state statute.

Our Responsibilities

We are required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information.
We will let you know promptly if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your information.
We will not use or share your information other than as described here unless you tell us we can in writing.

Special Notice for Connecticut & New York Residents

Dr. Starlin Astacio complies with the privacy regulations of both Connecticut and New York. In instances where state law provides stricter protection than federal HIPAA guidelines (particularly regarding minor consent and sensitive health data), we will follow the more protective state statute.

Complaints & Contact

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with Dr. Starlin Astacio or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

Dr. Starlin Astacio, Privacy Officer Astacio Wellness, LLC

Phone: 860-900-9401

Email: astaciowellness@gmail.com