This notice describes how protected medical and drug and alcohol-related information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information. Please review it carefully.

General Information

Information regarding your health care, including payment for health care and treatment, is primarily protected by three federal laws: (i) the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), 42 U.S.C. § 1320d et seq., 45 C.F.R. Parts 160 & 164; (ii) the additional privacy and security requirements enacted pursuant to Subtitle D of the Health Information Technology for Clinical Health Act (HITECH), including 45 C.F.R. Sections 164.308, 164.310, 164.312, and 164.316; and (iii) the Confidentiality Law, 42 U.S.C. § 290dd-2, 42 C.F.R. Part 2. Under these laws, Life Point may not say to a person outside Life Point that you attend the program, nor may Life Point disclose any information identifying you as someone with a substance use disorder, or disclose any other protected information about you, except as permitted by federal law.

How Life Point May Use and Disclose Medical Information about You

The following list describes the ways Life Point may use and disclose your medical information. The examples provided serve only as guidance and do not include every possible use or disclosure.

For Treatment. We may use and disclose your Protected Health Information to provide, coordinate, or manage your health care and any related service.

For Payment. We may use and disclose medical information about you so that the treatment and services you receive may be billed and payment may be collected from you, an insurance company, or a third party.

For Health Care Operations. We may use and disclose medical information about you for our operations. These uses and disclosures are necessary to operate Life Point in an efficient manner and to ensure that all individuals receive quality care.

Treatment Reminders. We may use and disclose medical information in order to remind you of a scheduled treatment appointment or procedure.

Business Associates. Life Point may disclose information about you without your authorization to obtain claims processing, utilization review, quality assurance, legal, accounting, financial, management, administrative, and other services, as long as Life Point has a Business Associate Agreement in place with the applicable third party.

Required by Law. We will disclose medical information about you when required to do so by federal or state laws.

To Avert a Serious Threat to Health or Safety. We may use and disclose medical information about you to medical or law enforcement personnel when necessary to prevent a serious threat to your health and safety or the health and safety of the public or another person.

Sale of Life Point. We may use and disclose medical information about you to another healthcare entity in the sale, transfer, merger, or consolidation of Life Point, unless your medical information includes information about substance use disorder treatment services provided to you.

Electronic Disclosure. We may disclose your medical information orally, in paper format or through the use of any electronic means.

Organ and Tissue Donation.  If you have formally indicated your desire to be an organ donor, we may release medical information to organizations that handle procurement of organ, eye, or tissue transplantations.

Military and Veterans.  If you are a member of the armed forces, we may release medical information about you as required by military command authorities.

Workers’ Compensation.  We may release medical information about you for workers’ compensation or similar programs.  These programs provide benefits for work-related injuries or illness.

Public Health Risks.  We may disclose medical information about you for public health activities.  These activities generally include the following:

• To prevent or control disease, injury, or disability; 

• To report births and deaths; 

• To report child abuse or neglect; 

• To report reactions to medications or problems with products; 

• To notify people of recalls of products they may be using; 

• To notify a person who may have been exposed to a disease or may be at risk for contracting or spreading a disease or condition; 

• To notify the appropriate government authority if we believe a patient has been the victim of abuse, neglect, or domestic violence. 

All such disclosures will be made in accordance with the requirements of federal and state laws and regulations.
Health Oversight Activities.  We may disclose medical information to a health oversight agency for activities authorized by law.  Health oversight agencies include public and private agencies authorized by law to oversee health care providers and the health care industry in general.

Law Enforcement.  We may release medical information if asked to do so by a law enforcement official: (1) in response to a court order or subpoena; or (2) if Life Point determines there is a probability of imminent physical injury to you or another person, or immediate mental or emotional injury to you. 

Coroners, Medical Examiners, and Funeral Directors.  We may release medical information to a coroner or medical examiner when authorized by law (e.g., identify a deceased person or determine cause of death) or to funeral directors.

Inmates.  If you are an inmate of a correctional facility or under the custody of a law enforcement official, we may release health and treatment information about you to the correctional facility or law enforcement official.  Such release would be necessary for: (1) the facility to provide you with proper care; (2) to protect your health and safety or the health and safety of others; and (3) to ensure the safety and security of the correctional facility.

Other Uses and Disclosures

Life Point will not use or disclose your medical information for any other purposes (including, without limitation, marketing), unless you give Life Point your written authorization to do so.

Substance Use Disorder Treatment. To the extent your treatment at Life Point consists of substance use disorder treatment, your medical information related to such services is protected by federal law and regulation (see 42 CFR Part 2) and will only be used or disclosed by Life Point pursuant to the same terms described in the original document.

Changes to This Notice

Life Point reserves the right to change its privacy and security practices and to make the new provisions effective for all Protected Health Information that Life Point holds or maintains.

Complaints

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with the Life Point Privacy Officer or with the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services at 200 Independence Avenue, S.E., Washington, D.C. 20201.