SUMMARY OF
USE AND DISCLOSURE OF PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION NOTICE

 

THIS IS A SUMMARY OF THE ATTACHED NOTICE, WHICH GIVES YOU A BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE FEDERAL LAW PROTECTING YOUR RIGHTS TO PRIVACY PROTECTION OF YOUR PERSONAL HEALTH INFORMATION.

Please Read the Attached Notice for Complete Information

 

New River is required by law to maintain the privacy of protected health information and to provide you with notice of its legal duties and privacy practices. New River must abide by the terms of the notice currently in effect, but New River reserves the right to change the terms. If there is a change, New River will post the revisions in each facility and provide you with a written, revised notice as soon as practicable by mail or hand delivery.

As a patient of New River, information about you may be used and disclosed to other parties for purposes of treatment, payment, and health care operations. These uses and disclosures include, but are not limited to, a release of information contained in financial records and/or medical records, including information concerning communicable diseases, psychiatric diagnosis and treatment records and/or laboratory test results, medical history, treatment progress and/or any other related information, to:

  1. Your insurance company, self-funded or third-party health plan, Medicare, Medicaid, or any other person or entity that may be responsible for paying or processing for payment any portion of your bill for services (with your consent);
  2. Any person or entity affiliated with or representing New River Behavioral HealthCare for purposes of administration, billing, and quality and risk management;
  3. In some cases, family members or other caregivers who are part of your home care plan for service;
  4. Licensing and accrediting bodies, including the information contained in the New River Data Set to the state agency acting as a representative of the Medicare/Medicaid program;
  5. Contact you to provide appointment reminders or information about other health activities we provide;
  6. Other health care providers to initiate treatment.


New River is permitted to use or disclose information about you without consent or authorization in the following circumstances;

  1. In emergency treatment situations, if New River attempts to obtain consent as soon as practicable after treatment;
  2. Where substantial barriers to communicating with you exist and New River determines that the consent is clearly inferred from the circumstances;
  3. Where New River is required by law to provide treatment and we are unable to obtain consent;
  4. Where the use or disclosure is required by law;
  5. For certain public health activities;
  6. To a government authority authorized to investigate abuse or neglect reports, when New River reasonably believes you are a child or disabled adult and are a victim of abuse or neglect;
  7. Health care oversight activities;
  8. Certain judicial administrative proceedings;
  9. Certain law enforcement purposes;
  10. To coroners, medical examiners and funeral directors, in certain circumstances;
  11. To avert a serious threat to health and safety;
  12. For specialized government functions, medical suitability determinations, correctional institution and custodial situations;
  13. For Workers' Compensation purposes.

New River is permitted to use or disclose information about you without consent or authorization provided you are informed in advance and given the opportunity to agree to or prohibit or restrict the disclosure in the following circumstances:

  1. To a family member, relative, friend, or other identified person, the information relevant to such persons involvement in your care or payment for care. 

Other uses and disclosures will be made only with your written authorization. That authorization may be revoked, in writing, at any time, except in limited situations.

HOW MEDICAL AND DRUG AND ALCOHOL RELATED INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED

New River Behavioral HealthCare may not say to a person outside New River that you attend the program, nor may New River disclose any information identifying you as an alcohol or drug abuser, or disclose any other protected information except as permitted by federal law.

 

New River must obtain your written consent before it can disclose information about you for payment purposes. For example, New River must obtain your written consent before it can disclose information to your health insurer in order to be paid for services.   Generally, you must also sign a written consent before New River can share information for treatment purposes or for health care operations.  However, federal law permits New River to disclose information without your written permission: 

 

1.                  Pursuant to an agreement with a business associate;

2.                  For research, audit or evaluations;

3.                  To report a crime committed on New River’s premises or against New River personnel;

4.                  To medical personnel in a medical emergency;

5.                  To appropriate authorities to report suspected child abuse or neglect as allowed by a court order.

YOUR RIGHTS

You have the right, subject to certain conditions, to:

1.      Request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures of information about you, however, New River is not required to agree to the requested restriction;

2.      Receive confidential communication of protected health information;

3.      Request to inspect and copy protected health information;

4.      Request amendment of protected health information;

5.      Request to receive an accounting of disclosures;

6.      Obtain a paper copy of this notice, if you had agreed to receive this notice electronically.

COMPLAINTS

You may complain to New River and the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services if you believe that your privacy rights have been violated. There will be no retaliation against you for filing a complaint. The complaint should be filed in writing with New River and should state the specific incidents(s) in terms of subject, date, and other relevant matters. A complaint to the Secretary must comply with the standards set out in 45 CFR § 160.306.