|
Privacy Statement Information regarding your health
care, including payment for health care, is protected by two
federal laws: the health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), 42 U.S.C. § 1320d et seq.,
45 C.F.R. Parts 160 & 164, and the Confidentiality Law, 42 U.S.C.
§ 290dd-2, 42 C.F.R. Part 2. Under these laws, the Center for
Alcohol & Drug Services (The CENTER) may not say to a person
outside of the CENTER that you attend the program, nor may the
CENTER disclose any information identifying you as an alcohol or
drug abuser, or disclose any other protected information except
as permitted by federal law.
The CENTER must obtain your written consent before it can
disclose information about you for payment purposes. For
example, the CENTER must obtain your written consent before it
can disclose information to your health insurer in order to be
paid for services. Generally, you must also sign a written
consent before the CENTER can share information for treatment
purposes or for health care operations. However, federal law
permits the CENTER to disclose information without your written
permission in the following circumstances:
- Pursuant to an agreement with a qualified service
organization/business associate
- For research, audits or evaluations
- To report a crime committed on the CENTER premises or
against CENTER personnel
- To medical personnel in a medical emergency
- To appropriate authorities to report suspected child
abuse or neglect
- As allowed by a court order
For example, the CENTER can disclose information without your
consent to obtain legal or financial services, or to another
medial facility to provide health care to you, as long as there
is a qualified service organization/business associate agreement
in place.
Before the CENTER can use or disclose any information about
your health in a manner which is not described above, it must
first obtain your specific written consent allowing it to make
the disclosure. Any such written consent may be revoked by you
in writing. Your Rights
Under HIPAA you have the right to request restrictions on
certain uses and disclosures of your health information. The
CENTER is not required to agree to any restrictions you request,
but if it does agree then it is bound by that agreement and may
not use or disclose any information which you have restricted
except as necessary in a medical emergency.
You have the right to request that we communicate with you by
alternative means or at an alternative location. The CENTER will
accommodate such requests that are reasonable and will not
request an explanation from you. Under HIPAA you also have the
right to inspect and copy your own health information maintained
by the CENTER, except to the extent that the information
contains psychotherapy notes or information compiled for use in
a civil, criminal or administrative proceeding or in other
limited circumstances. If you want copies of your health
information a charge for coping may be imposed.
Under HIPAA, you also have the right, with some exceptions to
amend health care information maintained in the CENTER records,
and to request and receive an accounting of disclosures of your
health related information made by the CENTER without your
consent during the six years prior to your request. You also
have the right to receive a paper copy of this notice.
CENTER Duties
The Center for Alcohol & Drug Services (The CENTER) is
required by law to maintain the privacy of your health
information and to provide you with notice of its legal duties
and privacy practices with respect to your health information.
The CENTER is required by law to abide by the terms of this
notice. The CENTER reserves the right to change the terms of
this notice and to make new provisions effective for all
protected health information it maintains. The new notice will
be effective for all protected health information that the
CENTER maintains at that time. You may obtain a copy of any
revised Notice of Privacy Practices by asking for one at the
time of your next appointment, by calling the office and
requesting that one be sent to you by mail, or by downloading a
PDF of the Policy from this website.
Complaints & Reporting Violations
If you believe that your privacy rights have been violated
under HIPAA, you may file a complaint with the Center for
Alcohol & Drug Services, Inc. (The CENTER) and the Secretary of
the United States Department of Health & Human Services.
Violation of the Confidentiality Law by a program is a crime.
Suspected violations of the Confidentiality Law may be reported
to the United States Attorney in the district where the
violation occurs.
Acknowledgement
You are entitled to a copy of this notice. Acknowledgement of
this notice requires a signature on the Orientation Sign-Off
Sheet.
PDF
of Privacy Practices
|
