CLIENT RIGHTS AND CONFIDENTIALITY
Notice of Privacy Practices
This Notice of Privacy Practices Act is provided to you as required by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) Privacy Rule. It does describe how medical information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information. Please review it carefully.
Uses and Disclosure of Health Information
Each client has the right to privacy. Federal law and regulations protect client records.
Information regarding you or your care may be given to any outside person, group or agency without written permission.
North Carolina law does provide that information may be released without your permission under the following circumstances:
· If a Court of Law requires your records be released.
· If you become a threat to yourself or others.
· If disclosure is made to medical personnel in a medical emergency.
· In cases of abuse or neglect.
Individual Rights
In most cases, you have the right to look at or get a copy of health information about you that we use to make decisions about you.
You have the right to receive a list of instances where we have disclosed health information about you for reasons other than treatment, payment, or related administrative purposes.
You have the right to request that your information be communicated to you in a confidential manner.
If you believe that information in your record is incorrect or important information is missing, you have the right to request that we correct the existing information or add the missing information.
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.
This notice is effective as of April 15, 2003
Use and Disclosure of Health Information
Treatment, Payment, and Health Care Operations
New Waters Recovery uses and discloses your protected health information for treatment, payment, and health care operations. Some examples of when our organization may use or disclose your health care information for these purposes include:
1. Sharing test results with other health care providers for confirmation of a diagnosis.
2. Providing your diagnosis or other information about your health to your insurance provider or our billing service to obtain payment for the health care services we provide.
3. Reviewing information as part of our quality improvement program.
Other Uses and Disclosures
New Waters Recovery may also use or disclose your protected health information, in compliance with guidelines outlined by law, for the following purposes:
1. Providing you with information related to your health.
2. Contacting you regarding appointments, information about treatment alternatives, or other health related services.
3. Incidental uses or disclosures (e.g., listing your name on a sign-in sheet, etc.); Compliance with all laws (including reports of suspected abuse, neglect, or violence).
4. Providing certain specified information to law enforcement or correctional institutions.
5. Providing information to a coroner, medical examiner, funeral director, or organ procurement organization.
6. Public health activities when requested by a public health authority or the FDA. Responding to health oversight agencies.
7. Responding to court or administrative tribunal orders, subpoenas, discovery requests or other lawful processes.
8. Research activities.
9. When necessary to avert a serious threat to health or safety.
10. Military affairs, veterans’ affairs, national security, intelligence, Department of State, or presidential protective service activities.
11. Providing information regarding your location, general condition, or death to public or private disaster relief agencies; or informing a family member, other relative, or close friend
12. Information is relevant to the individual’s involvement with your care.
13. Notification of your location, general condition, or death.
14. To assist in your health care (e.g., pick-up prescriptions or other documents, note follow-up care instructions, etc.).
Authorization for Other Uses
New Waters Recovery will make other uses and disclosure of your protected health information only after obtaining your written authorization. If you authorize a use not contained in this notice, you may revoke your authorization at any time by notifying us in writing that you wish to revoke your authorization.
YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING THE PRIVACY OF YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION
Subject to limitations outlined by law, you have certain rights related to use and disclosure of your protected health information, including the right to:
1. Request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures. However, New Waters Recovery is not obligated to agree to requested restrictions.
2. Receive confidential communications of protected health information.
3. Inspect and copy your protected health information with some limited exceptions.
4. Amend your health information.
5. Receive an accounting of disclosures of your health information.
6. Obtain a copy of this notice.
7.
New Waters Recovery’s duties regarding the privacy of your health information
Subject to limitations outlined by law, New Waters Recovery has certain duties related to your protected health information, including:
1. New Waters Recovery is required by law to maintain the privacy of protected health information and to provide individuals with notice of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to protected health information.
2. New Waters Recovery is required to abide by the terms of the privacy notice that is currently in effect.
3. New Waters Recovery reserves the right to change a privacy practice described in this notice and to make such change effective for all protected health information. Revised notice will be posted in our office and available upon request.
Concerns
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may make a complaint by contacting the client concern line at
