Notice of Privacy Practices  - Effective April 14, 2003

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.

Our Obligation to You

Spectrum Human Services values the trust and confidence that you have placed in us, and has adopted the following policies and procedures for the protection of your privacy.  These policies and procedures are consistent with applicable Federal and State laws protecting the privacy of information regarding health, mental health, and/or substance abuse treatment, and with our own Code of Ethics. We are required by law to maintain the privacy of "protected health information" about you, to notify you of our legal duties and your legal rights, and to follow the privacy policies described in this notice.  "Protected health information" means any information that we create or receive that identifies you and relates to your health, treatment, or payment for services to you.
   

Use and Disclosure of Information About You

Use and disclosure for TREATMENT:

Your signature on the accompanying "Notice of Privacy Practices Acknowledgement and Consent Form" will serve as your consent for our staff to share your protected health information within Spectrum Human Services as necessary to provide treatment of the highest quality to you.  Only the minimum necessary information will be shared for this purpose.  Here are some examples:

• Various members of our staff may use your clinical record in the course of our care for you.  This includes clinicians and program staff, physicians, and supervisors.
• Our clerical staff will use the information about you that is necessary for scheduling and/or contacting you about your appointments.
• We may contact you to tell you about treatment services that we offer that might be of benefit to you. 

Use and disclosure for PAYMENT:

Your signature on the accompanying "Notice of Privacy Practices Acknowledgement and Consent Form" will serve as your consent for our staff to share protected health information as needed to arrange for payment for services to you.  Here are some examples:

• Information about your diagnosis and the services we render is included in the bills that we submit to your health plan or other payor (e.g., Medicaid, Medicare, commercial health insurance, Workers' Compensation, etc.)
• Your health plan or other payor may require information from your clinical record in order to confirm that the services rendered are covered by your benefit program, and are medically necessary. 

Use and disclosure for HEALTH CARE OPERATIONS:

Your signature on the accompanying "Notice of Privacy Practices Acknowledgement and Consent Form" will serve as your consent for our staff to share protected health information as needed for our health care operations, or those of another organization that has a relationship with you.  Here are some examples:

• Our quality assurance staff reviews records to be sure that we deliver appropriate treatment of high quality.
• Your health plan may wish to review your records to be sure that we meet national standards for quality of care. 

Disclosure TO OR FROM THIRD PARTIES:

It is Spectrum's policy to obtain your specific written permission on an Authorization Form for every disclosure of protected health information to, or that we request from, third parties.  Here are some examples of third parties:

• Your primary care physician or other medical specialists
• Other behavioral health providers
• Your family
• Residential facilities
• Attorneys

Disclosure that MAY BE MADE WITHOUT YOUR CONSENT OR AUTHORIZATION: 

There are certain circumstances in which we may be required by law to disclose protected health information without your permission, or in which we may need to disclose such information to insure the safety of yourself or others.  These circumstances include:

• Emergencies.  We will disclose your protected health information as needed to avert any serious threat to the health or safety of yourself or others.
• To health oversight agencies.  We are legally obligated to disclose protected health information to certain government agencies, including the federal Department of Health and Human Services, the state Office of Mental Health and Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, and the county Department of Mental Health.
• To child protection agencies.  We will disclose protected health information as needed to comply with state law requiring reports of suspected incidents of child abuse or neglect.
• Pursuant to a court order
• To public health authorities
• To law enforcement officials in some circumstances
• To correctional institutions regarding inmates
• To federal officials for lawful military or intelligence activities
• To coroners, medical examiners, and funeral directors
• To researchers involved in approved research projects
• As otherwise required by law.

Disclosure Regarding Alcohol and Drug Abuse Issues or Treatment:

If your protected health information includes information about alcohol and drug abuse issues or treatment, Spectrum will follow the provisions of federal law 42 CFR Part 2 regarding the confidentiality of such information.  Except for emergencies, we will not disclose information regarding alcohol and drug abuse issues or treatment to a third party without your written Authorization or a court order.
  

Your Legal Rights

Right to request confidential communications.  You may request that communications to you, such as appointment reminders, bills, or explanations of health benefits be made in a confidential manner.  We will accommodate any such request, as long as you provide a means for us to process payment transactions.

Right to request restrictions on use and disclosure of your information.  You have the right to request restrictions on our use of your protected health information for particular purposes. We are not obligated to agree to a requested restriction, but we will consider your request.

Right to revoke a Consent or Authorization.  You may revoke a written Consent or Authorization for us to use or disclose your protected health information.  The revocation will not affect any previous use or disclosure of your information.

Right to review and copy record.  You have the right to see records used to make decisions about you.  We will allow you to review your record unless a clinical professional determines that would create a substantial risk of physical harm to you or someone else.  If another person or organization provided information about you to our clinical staff in confidence, that information may be removed from the record before it is shared with you.  We will also delete any protected health information about other people.  At your request, we will make a copy of your record for you.  We will charge a reasonable fee for this service.

Right to "amend" record.  If you believe your record contains an error, you may ask us to amend it.  If there is a mistake, a note will be entered in the record to correct the error.  If not, you will be told and allowed the opportunity to add a short statement to the record explaining why you believe the record is inaccurate.  This information will be included as part of the total record, and shared with others if it might affect decisions they make about you.

Right to an accounting.  You have the right to an accounting of some disclosures of your protected health information to third parties.  This does not include disclosures that you authorize; disclosures that occur in the context of treatment, payment, or health care operations; or certain additional types of disclosures specified by law.  We will provide an accounting of other disclosures made after April 14, 2003, and occurring within a period of up to six years preceding the request.

Right to a paper copy of this Notice.  You have the right to receive a paper copy of this Notice of Privacy Practices. 

How to Exercise Your Rights