Who We Are

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This Notice of Privacy Practices (“Notice”) describes the privacy practices of Reach for Recovery and its clinicians, nurses, and clinic personnel. 

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Our Privacy Obligations (HIPAA and Part 2)

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We are required by law to maintain the privacy of your health information, including information concerning substance abuse treatment (“Protected Health Information” or “PHI”), and to provide you with this Notice of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to your PHI.  We are also obligated to notify you following a breach of unsecured PHI.  When we use or disclose your PHI, we are required to abide by the terms of this Notice (or other notice in effect at the time of the use or disclosure).  These requirements are based on provisions in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as amended (“HIPAA”), and the Confidentiality of Substance Abuse Disorder Patient Records in 45 C.F.R. Part 2 (“Part 2”). In cases where there is a conflict between HIPAA and Part 2 requirements, we follow the more restrictive provisions.

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Confidentiality of Substance Use Disorder Patient Records Under Part 2

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The confidentiality of substance use disorder patient records maintained by us is protected by Part 2.  Generally, we may not provide information to third parties about your substance abuse treatment with us, or disclose any information identifying you as having or having had a substance use disorder except as provided in a written consent provided by you and in certain other non-consent situations, as described in more detail below.  Please refer to 42 U.S.C. 290dd-3 and 42 U.S.C. 290ee-3 and 42 CFR Part 2 for more information.

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Permissible Uses and Disclosures Without Your Written Authorization

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In certain situations, which we describe in Section V below, we must obtain your written authorization in order to use and/or disclose your PHI.  However, we do not need any type of authorization from you for the following uses and disclosures:

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1. The disclosure is allowed by court order;

2. The disclosure is made to medical personnel in a medical emergency;

3. The disclosure is made to appropriate authorities to report suspected child abuse or neglect;

4. The disclosure is made to a qualified service organization/business associate that is providing services for us;

5. The disclosure is made to qualified personnel for research, audit or program evaluation; or

6. The disclosure is made in connection with a suspected crime committed on the premises or a crime against any person who works for us or about any threat to commit such a crime.

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Uses and Disclosures Requiring Your Written Authorization

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• Use or Disclosure with Your Authorization.  We must obtain your written authorization (“Authorization”) for uses and disclosures of PHI that are not listed in Section IV above. We ask you to help us care for you and support your treatment goals by providing a written consent that allows your providers to receive from, and disclose to, other treating providers, your identity and information in order to provide you the care you need, to obtain payment for care and treatment, and to allow for communication with other professionals, friends, and advocates involved in your treatment or recovery.

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• Revocation of Your Authorization.  You may withdraw (revoke) your Authorization (except to the extent that we have acted in reliance upon it) by delivering a written statement to or calling the Privacy Officer identified below.

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Your Rights Regarding Your Protected Health Information

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For Further Information; Complaints.  If you would like more information about your privacy rights, if you are concerned that we have violated your privacy rights, or if you disagree with a decision that we made about access to your PHI, you may contact our Privacy Officer.  You may also file written complaints with the Director, Office for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  Upon request, the Privacy Officer will provide you with the correct address for the Director.  In addition, violation of Part 2 is a crime. Suspected violations may be reported to appropriate authorities in accordance with federal regulations:

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U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland

SAMHSA Center for Substance Abuse Treatment

36 S. Charles Street, 4th Floor

Baltimore, MD 21201

5600 Fishers Lane

Rockville, MD 20857

Phone: 410-209-4800

Phone: (240) 276-1660

 

We will not retaliate against you if you file a complaint.

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Right to Request Additional Restrictions.  You have the right to request a restriction on the uses and disclosures of your PHI (1) for treatment, payment and health care operations purposes, and (2) to individuals (such as a family member, other relative, close personal friend or any other person identified by you) involved in your care or with payment related to your care.  For example, you have the right to request that we not disclose your PHI to a health plan for payment or health care operations purposes, if that PHI pertains solely to a health care item or service for which we have been involved and which has been paid out of pocket in full.  Unless otherwise required by law, we are required to comply with your request for this type of restriction.  For all other requests for restrictions on use and disclosures of your PHI, we are not required to agree to your request, but will attempt to accommodate reasonable requests when appropriate.  If you wish to request additional restrictions, please contact our Privacy Officer.

 

Right to Receive Confidential Communications.  You may request, and we will accommodate, any reasonable written request for you to receive your PHI by alternative means of communication or at alternative locations.

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Right to Inspect and Copy Your Health Information.  You may request access to your client file and billing records maintained by us to inspect and request copies of the records.  Under limited circumstances, we may deny you access to a portion of your records.  If you would like to access your records, please contact our Privacy Officer.  If you request copies, we will charge you a cost-based fee, consistent with applicable state law.

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Right to Amend Your Records.  You have the right to request that we amend PHI maintained in your client file or billing records.  If you desire to amend your records, please contact our Privacy Officer.  We will comply with your request unless we believe that the information that would be amended is accurate and complete or other special circumstances apply.

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Right to Receive an Accounting of Disclosures.  Upon request, you may obtain an accounting of certain disclosures of your PHI made by us during any period prior to the date of your request provided such period does not exceed (6) six years.  We are not required to provide you with an accounting of the following disclosures of your PHI:

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1.     To carry out treatment, payment, and health care operations;

2.     Information previously provided to you;

3.     Incident to use or disclosure otherwise permitted by Part 2;

4.     For our directory or to persons involved with your care or other notification purposes;

5.     For national security or intelligence purposes;

6.     To correctional institutions or law enforcement officials;

7.     As part of a limited data set; or

8.     Prior to the date that we are required to provide an accounting to you.

 

We must generally respond within sixty (60) days after your request.

 

Right to Receive A Copy of this Notice.  Upon request, you may obtain a copy of this Notice, either by email or in paper format.  Please submit your request to:

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Privacy Officer
Reach for Recovery
1701 Old Minden Road

Suite 17F

Bossier City, LA 71111

Phone: 318-317-1238

 

Effective Date and Duration of This Notice

Effective Date.  This Notice is effective on June 11, 2020.

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Right to Change Terms of this Notice.  We may change the terms of this Notice at any time.  If we change this Notice, we may make the new notice terms effective for all Protected Health Information that we maintain, including any information created or received prior to issuing the new notice.  If we change this Notice, we will post the new notice in Reach for Recovery’s locations and on our website at www.reachforrecoverynow.com.  You also may obtain any new notice by contacting the Privacy Officer

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You may contact the Privacy Officer at:

Privacy Officer
Reach for Recovery
1701 Old Minden Road

Suite 17F

Bossier City, LA 71111

318-317-1238