01 Purpose and Acceptance of Terms

These Legal Policies govern access to and use of the Sprout Anew Mental Health Services LLC website, patient-facing online services, appointment-request tools, secure messaging links, telehealth access points, and related digital resources (collectively, the “Site”). By accessing or using the Site, you agree to these policies. If you do not agree, please discontinue use of the Site.

02 Informational and Medical Disclaimer

The Site provides general educational and administrative information only. Website content is not medical advice and is not a substitute for evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, or emergency care by a qualified healthcare professional.

Do not disregard, delay, or alter professional medical advice because of information found on the Site. Treatment decisions should be made in consultation with an appropriately licensed clinician who understands your individual circumstances.

No provider-patient relationship is created merely by visiting the Site, submitting a contact form, requesting an appointment, sending a message, or receiving general information. A provider-patient relationship begins only after the practice accepts the patient, verifies eligibility, completes required registration and consent processes, and a licensed clinician agrees to provide care.

03 Emergency and Crisis Instructions

The Site, patient portal, voicemail, email, and appointment-request systems are not emergency services and are not monitored continuously. Do not use them for urgent or life-threatening concerns.

04 Permitted and Prohibited Uses

You may use the Site only for lawful personal purposes related to obtaining information about the practice and accessing authorized services. You may not:

• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to the Site, portal, accounts, systems, or data;
• Interfere with, damage, disable, overburden, or disrupt the Site or its security features;
• Upload malicious code, viruses, automated scraping tools, or other harmful technology;
• Impersonate another person, misrepresent your identity, or submit false information;
• Use the Site to harass, threaten, defame, exploit, or violate the rights of others;
• Copy, reproduce, modify, distribute, sell, or commercially exploit Site content without written permission;
• Use public-facing forms to send emergencies, highly sensitive clinical information, Social Security numbers, or other information that should be transmitted through an approved secure channel.

05 Patient Portal and Communication Services

Secure portal tools and communication services are provided for authorized users and routine, nonurgent matters.

• Users are responsible for maintaining accurate contact information, protecting passwords, and preventing unauthorized account access.
• Portal and secure messages may become part of the medical record.
• The portal is not monitored continuously and does not guarantee an immediate response.
• Clinical questions may require a scheduled appointment and may not be resolved through messaging.
• Ordinary email, standard text messaging, and public website forms may not be secure and should not be used for sensitive health information unless the practice has specifically approved the method.

06 SMS, Email, and Electronic Communication Consent

When you provide a telephone number or email address and consent to electronic communications, you authorize Sprout Anew Mental Health Services LLC and its approved service providers to contact you for scheduling, reminders, portal notifications, administrative updates, billing matters, and other permitted communications.

• Message and data rates may apply.
• Delivery is not guaranteed and may be affected by your carrier, device, or service provider.
• You may withdraw consent for nonessential SMS or email communications by following opt-out instructions or contacting the practice; however, withdrawal may limit convenience features.
• Electronic communication consent does not authorize emergency communication or replace your obligation to seek immediate emergency assistance when needed.

07 Telehealth and Virtual Care

Telehealth services are subject to clinical appropriateness, provider availability, patient identity verification, informed consent, technology requirements, and applicable federal and state law. The patient must be physically located in a jurisdiction where the treating clinician is authorized to practice at the time of the appointment.

Telehealth may involve limitations compared with in-person care, including technology failure, privacy risks, and limits on physical examination.

The clinician may discontinue or convert a virtual visit when an in-person evaluation, emergency intervention, or higher level of care is necessary.

Patients must join from a private, safe location and may not participate while driving or operating machinery.

Specific telehealth consent and clinical policies provided during intake control over any general website description.

08 Minors, Parents, and Guardians

Services for minors require consent, participation, and documentation consistent with applicable law and clinical policy. The practice may request proof of identity, legal guardianship, custody authority, or authorization to consent to treatment. Access to adolescent records and portal information may be limited by privacy and consent laws.

09 Controlled Substances and Prescription Limitations

Website access, appointment requests, or telehealth participation do not guarantee that any medication will be prescribed. Prescribing decisions are based on clinical judgment, medical necessity, safety, professional standards, and applicable law.

Controlled substances may require additional documentation, prescription-monitoring review, drug screening, treatment agreements, laboratory testing, in-person evaluation, or coordination with other providers.

The practice may decline, delay, taper, or discontinue a medication when clinically indicated or legally required.

The practice does not guarantee that a pharmacy, insurer, or regulator will approve or dispense a prescription.

10 Appointments, Fees, Payment, and Cancellation

Appointment requests are not confirmed until the practice issues confirmation. Patients are responsible for providing accurate insurance and billing information and for amounts not paid by insurance, including deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, noncovered services, and applicable fees.

Insurance verification is not a guarantee of coverage or payment.

Late cancellations, missed appointments, returned payments, forms, records, or other noncovered services may result in charges under the practice’s published financial and cancellation policies.

Patient-specific financial and cancellation agreements provided during intake control over general website statements.

11 Privacy and HIPAA Materials

Use of personal information collected through the Site is governed by the Website Privacy Policy. Uses and disclosures of protected health information by the practice are addressed in the HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices. These documents are separate and may apply differently depending on the information, service, and communication channel involved.

12 Third-Party Websites and Services

The Site may link to third-party websites, payment processors, scheduling systems, patient portals, pharmacies, insurers, educational resources, maps, or other external services. Sprout Anew Mental Health Services LLC does not control and is not responsible for third-party content, availability, privacy practices, security, accuracy, or services. A link does not imply endorsement. Users should review the terms and privacy practices of each third party before providing information.

13 Intellectual Property

Unless otherwise stated, the Site design, text, graphics, logos, service marks, photographs, downloads, and other content are owned by or licensed to Sprout Anew Mental Health Services LLC and are protected by applicable intellectual-property laws. Limited personal, noncommercial use is permitted. No ownership rights are transferred by access to the Site.

14 Accessibility

Sprout Anew Mental Health Services LLC seeks to make its digital services reasonably accessible. Users who encounter an accessibility barrier may contact the practice to request assistance or an alternative format. The practice will consider reasonable requests consistent with applicable law and operational feasibility.

15 Accuracy, Availability, and Changes

The practice endeavors to keep Site information current but does not warrant that all content is complete, accurate, or continuously available. Services, hours, clinicians, insurance participation, fees, eligibility requirements, and Site features may change without notice. The practice may suspend, modify, or discontinue any part of the Site.

16 Disclaimer of Warranties

To the extent permitted by law, the Site and its content are provided “as is” and “as available,” without warranties of any kind, express or implied, including warranties of accuracy, availability, merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, noninfringement, or security. Nothing in this section limits rights that cannot lawfully be waived.

17 Limitation of Liability

To the extent permitted by law, Sprout Anew Mental Health Services LLC and its owners, clinicians, employees, contractors, and service providers will not be liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from use of or inability to use the Site, reliance on Site content, third-party services, communication delays, or unauthorized access beyond the practice’s reasonable control. This limitation does not apply where prohibited by law.

18 Indemnification

To the extent permitted by law, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless Sprout Anew Mental Health Services LLC from claims, liabilities, damages, and reasonable expenses arising from your unlawful misuse of the Site, violation of these policies, infringement of another person’s rights, or submission of false or unauthorized information.

19 Governing Law and Venue

These Legal Policies are governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, without regard to conflict-of-law principles, except where federal law or another jurisdiction’s mandatory law applies. Any permitted legal action relating to the Site shall be brought in a court of competent jurisdiction located in [County/City], Virginia, unless applicable law requires otherwise.

20 Complaints and Grievances

Patients and website users may raise concerns without retaliation. Complaints about care, access, privacy, billing, discrimination, or website accessibility may be directed to the appropriate role listed below. The practice may request additional information to investigate and respond.

Contact Information

21 Updates to These Policies

The practice may revise these Legal Policies periodically. The updated version will be posted with a new “Last Revised” date. Continued use of the Site after an update constitutes acceptance of the revised policies to the extent permitted by law.

22 Severability and Entire Agreement

If any provision is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in effect. These Legal Policies, together with the Website Privacy Policy and other policies expressly incorporated by reference, constitute the agreement governing use of the Site. Patient-specific clinical, privacy, telehealth, and financial documents may impose additional terms and will control when they directly address the matter at issue.