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NARCONON LOUISIANA NOTICE OF PRIVACY
PRACTICES
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.
AUGUST 16,
2006
SUMMARY OF YOUR PRIVACY RIGHTS
At
Narconon Louisiana we are committed to preserving the privacy and
confidentiality of your health information whether created by us or maintained
on our premises. We are required by certain federal and state regulations to
implement policies and procedures to safeguard the privacy of your health
information. Copies of our privacy policies and procedures are maintained in
the legal office. We are required by state and federal regulations to abide by
the privacy practices described in this notice including any future revisions
that we may make to the notice as may become necessary or as authorized by
law.
Individually identifiable information about your past,
present, of future health or condition, the provisions of health care to you,
or payment for the health care treatment or services you receive is considered
protected health information (PHI). As such, we are required to provide you
with this Privacy Notice that contains information regarding our privacy
practices that explains how, when and why we may use or disclose your protected
health information and your rights and our obligations regarding any such uses
or disclosures. Except in specified circumstances, we will use or disclose only
the minimum necessary protected health information to accomplish the intended
purpose of use or disclosure of such information.
We have a limited right to use and disclose your health
information for purposes of treatment, payment, or for the operations of our
facility. For other purposes, you must give us your written authorization to
release your protected health information unless the law permits or requires us
to make the use or disclosure without your authorization.
I. Understanding Your Health Record &
Information. When you enroll at Narconon Louisiana a record of personal
health information is created. As you progress through your services at our
center, this record is updated. Typically, this record contains your symptoms,
examination, lab test results, diagnoses, and plan for future care. This
information, often referred to as your health record, serves as a:
Plan for your care and treatment Communication source
between health care professionals; Tool with which we can check results and
continually work to improve the care we provide; Means by which private
insurance payers can verify the services billed Legal document that describes
the care you receive.
Understanding what is in your health record and how the
information is used helps you to: Ensure its accuracy Better understand why
others may review your health information; Make an informed decision when
authorizing disclosures.
II. Your Health Information Rights Although your
health record is the physical property of Narconon Louisiana, the information
belongs to you. You have the right to:
Inspect and receive a copy of your health record. You
have the right to inspect and copy your health information, such as your
medical and billing records that we use to make a decision about your care and
services. In order to inspect or copy your health information, you must submit
a written request to us. If you request a copy of your medical information, we
may charge you a reasonable fee for the paper, labor, mailing, and retrieval
costs involved in filling your request. We will respond to written requests
within thirty (30) days of receipt of such requests. Should we deny your
request to inspect and/or copy your health information, we will provide you
with written notice of our reasons of the denial and your rights for requesting
a review of our denial.
Request a restriction on certain uses and disclosures of
your health information. You have the right to request that we limit how we
use or disclose your protected health information for treatment, payment or
health care operations. You also have the right to request a limit on the
health information we disclose about you to someone who is involved in your
care or the payment for your care or services. For example, you may ask that
Narconon not disclose your health information or course of treatment to a
family member.
Request a correction/amendment to your health record if
you believe the health information we have about you is incorrect or
incomplete. You have the right to make such a request of us as long as we
maintain/retain your health record. We will respond within sixty (60) days of
receipt of your written request. We may deny your request if: a) your request
is not submitted in writing; b) your written request does not contain a reason
to support your request; c) the information was not requested by us, unless the
person or entity that created the information is no longer available to make
the amendment; d) it is not part of the health information kept by our
facility; e) it is not part of the information which would be permitted to
inspect and copy; or f) the information is already accurate and complete. If
your request is denied, we will provide you with a written notification of the
reason(s) for such denial and your rights to have the request, the denial, and
any written response you may have relative to the information and denial
process appended to your health record.
Request confidential communication about your health
information. You may ask that we communicate with you at a location other
than your home or by a different means of communication such as telephone or
mail. To request confidential communications you must: a) notify us in writing;
b) indicate the information you wish to limit; c) indicate whether or not you
wish to limit or restrict our use or disclosure of such information; and d)
identify to whom the restrictions apply (that is, which family member(s),
agency, etc.)
Receive a listing of certain disclosures Narconon
Louisiana has made of your health information upon request. This
information is maintained for six (6) years or the life of the record,
whichever is longer. You have the right to request that we provide you with a
listing of when, to whom, for what purpose, and what content of your protected
health information we have released over the specified period of time. This
accounting will not include any information we have made for the purposes of
treatment, payment, or health care operations or information released to you,
your family, or disclosures made for national security purposes, or any
releases pursuant to your authorization. Your request may not include releases
prior to April 14, 2003. We will respond to your request within sixty (60) days
of the receipt of your written request. Should additional time be needed to
reply, you will be notified of such extension. However, in no case will such
extension exceed thirty (30) days.
Revoke your written authorization to use or disclose
health information. This does not apply to health information already
disclosed or used in circumstances where we have taken action on your
authorization or the authorization was obtained as a condition of obtaining
insurance coverage and the insurer has a legal right to contest a claim under
the policy or the policy itself.
Obtain a copy of the Narconon Louisiana Notice of Privacy
Practices upon request.
III. Narconon Louisiana's Responsibilities
Narconon Louisiana is required by law to:
Maintain the
privacy of your health information Inform you about our privacy practices
regarding health information we collect and maintain about you.
Notify you
if we are unable to agree to a requested restriction.
Accommodate
reasonable requests you may have to communicate health information by
alternative means or at alternative locations.
Honor the terms of this
notice or any subsequent revisions of this notice.
Narconon Louisiana reserves the right to change its privacy
practices and to make the new provisions effective for all protected health
information it maintains. If Narconon Louisiana makes any significant changes
to this Notice, it will send you a copy within 60 days. Narconon Louisiana will
post any revised Notice of Privacy Practices in a public place in its facility
and on its web site at http://www.drugabusesolution.com
and you may also request a copy of the Notice.
Narconon Louisiana understands that health information about
you is personal and is committed to protecting your health information.
Narconon Louisiana will not use or disclose your health information without
your permission, except as described in this Notice and as permitted by the
Privacy Act.
IV. How Narconon Louisiana will use and disclose health
information about you.
The following categories describe how we may use and
disclose health information about you:
We will use and disclose your health information to
provide your treatment by medical professionals.
For example: Your personal health information will be
recorded in your health record and used to determine the course of medical
treatment for you. Your health care providers will record the actions they take
in your health record so that other health care providers will know how you are
responding to medical treatment.
If Narconon Louisiana refers you to another health care
facility or provider, Narconon Louisiana may disclose your relevant health
information to that health care provider for treatment purposes only.
We will use and disclose your health information for
payment purposes.
For example: If you have private insurance a bill
will be sent to your health plan for payment. The information accompanying the
bill will include information that identifies you as well as your diagnosis,
procedures, and supplies used for your treatment.
We will use and disclose your health information for
health care operations.
For example: We may use your health information to
evaluate your care and outcomes with our quality improvement team. This
information will be used to continually improve the quality and effectiveness
of the services we provide.
Business Associates: Narconon Louisiana may provide
some healthcare services and related functions the use of contracts with
business associates. In such an instance Narconon Louisiana may disclose your
health information to business associates so that they can perform their jobs.
We require our business associates to protect and safeguard your health
information in accordance with all applicable federal laws.
Interpreters: In order to provide you proper care
services, Narconon Louisiana may use the services of an interpreter. This may
require the use or disclosure of your personal health information to the
interpreter. We require any interpreter to protect and safeguard your health
information in accordance with all applicable federal laws.
Uses and Disclosures about Decedents: Narconon
Louisiana may use or disclose health information about decedents to a coroner
or medical examiner for the purpose of identifying a deceased person,
determining the cause of death, or other duties are authorized by law. Narconon
Louisiana may disclose health information to funeral directors consistent with
applicable laws as necessary to carry out their duties.
Workers Compensation: Narconon Louisiana may use or
disclose your health information for workers compensation purposes as
authorized or required by law.
Public Health: Narconon Louisiana may use or disclose
your health information to public health or other appropriate government
authorities as follows: (1) Narconon Louisiana may use or disclose your health
information to government authorities that are authorized by law to collect or
receive such information for the purpose of preventing or controlling disease,
injury, or disability, or conducting public health surveillance,
investigations, and interventions; (2) Narconon Louisiana may disclose your
health information to government authorities that are authorized by law to
receive reports of child abuse or neglect; (3) Narconon Louisiana may disclose
your health information to government authorities that are authorized by law to
receive reports of other abuse, neglect, or domestic violence as required by
law, or as authorized by law if Narconon Louisiana believes it is necessary to
prevent serious harm; and (4) when authorized by law, Narconon Louisiana may
disclose your health information to an individual who may have been exposed to
a communicable disease or may otherwise be at risk of contracting or spreading
a disease or condition.
Health Oversight Authorities: Narconon Louisiana may
use or disclose your health information to health oversight agencies (for
example, The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals or Office of
Addictive Disorders) for activities authorized by law. These oversight
activities include: investigations, audits, inspections and other actions.
Narconon Louisiana is required by law to disclose protected health information
to the Secretary of Health and Human Services to investigate or determine
compliance with the HIPAA privacy standards.
Compelling Circumstances: Narconon Louisiana may use or
disclose your health information in certain other situations involving
compelling circumstances affecting the health or safety of an individual. For
example, in certain circumstances: (1) we may disclose limited protected health
information where requested by a law enforcement official for the purpose of
identifying or locating a suspect, fugitive, material witness or missing
person; (2) we may use or disclose protected health information if we believe
it is necessary to prevent or lessen a serious or imminent threat to the health
and safety of a person; (3) we may use or disclose protected health information
to report a crime committed on Narconon Louisiana premises; and (4) we may make
any other disclosures that are required by law.
Non Violation of this Notice: Narconon Louisiana is
not in violation of this Notice or the HIPAA Privacy Rule if any of its
employees or its contractors (business associates) discloses protected health
information under the following circumstances:
1. Disclosure by Whistleblowers: If a Narconon
Louisiana employee or contractor (business associate) in good faith believes
that Narconon Louisiana has engaged in conduct that is unlawful or otherwise
violates clinical and professional standards or that the care or services
provided by Narconon Louisiana had the potential of endangering one or more
students or members of the workplace or the public and discloses such
information to:
a. A public health oversight authority (The Louisiana
Department of Health and Hospitals or Office of Addictive Disorders) authorized
by law to investigate or otherwise oversee the relevant conduct or the
suspected violation, or an appropriate health care accreditation organization
for the purpose of reporting the allegation of failure to meet professional
standards or misconduct by Narconon Louisiana; or
b. An attorney on behalf of an employee or contractor
(business associate) for the purpose of determining their legal options
regarding the suspected violation.
2. Disclosures by Employee Crime Victims: Under
certain circumstances, a Narconon Louisiana employee (or contractor) who is a
victim of a crime on or off the premises may disclose information about the
suspect to law enforcement officials provided that:
a. The information disclosed is about the suspect who
committed the criminal act.
b. The information disclosed is limited to identifying and
locating the suspect.
3. Reports of Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect: The
restrictions on disclosure and use in the federal law and regulations do not
apply to reporting under state laws of incidents of suspected child abuse and
neglect, to the appropriate state and local authorities.
Any other uses and disclosures will be made only with
your written authorization, which you may later revoke in writing at any time.
(Such revocation would not apply where the health information already has been
disclosed or used or in circumstances where Narconon Louisiana has taken action
in reliance on your authorization or the authorization was obtained as a
condition of obtaining insurance coverage and the insurer has a legal right to
contest a claim under the policy or the policy itself.)
To exercise your rights under this Notice, to ask for more
information, or to report a problem contact:
Privacy Officer
HIPAA Compliance Officer
35059 Bend
Road
Denham Springs, LA,
70706 225-243-5047
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you
may file a written complaint with:
Secretary of Health and Human Services
U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services
Washington, DC 20201
There will be no retaliation for filing a
complaint. |
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