Privacy

General Information

Information regarding your health care, including payment for health care, is protected by two federal laws: the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), 42 U.S.C. § 1320d et seq., 45 C.F.R. Parts 160 & 164, and the Confidentiality Law, 42 U.S.C. § 290dd-2, 42 C.F.R. Part 2. Under these laws, Clermont Recovery Center, Inc. (CRC) may not say to a person outside CRC that you attend the program, nor may CRC disclose any information identifying you as an alcohol or drug abuser, or disclose any other protected information except as permitted by federal law.

CRC must obtain your written consent before it can disclose information about you for payment purposes. For example, CRC 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 CRC can share information for treatment purposes or for health care operations. However, federal law permits CRC to disclose information without your written permission:


For example, CRC can disclose information without your consent to obtain legal or financial services, or to another medical facility to provide health care to you, as long as there is a business associate agreement in place.

Before CRC can use or disclose any information about your health in a manner that is not described above, it must first obtain your specific written consent allowing it to make the disclosure. You may revoke any such written consent verbally or in writing.


Your Rights

Under HIPAA you have the right to request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures if your health information. CRC is not required to agree to any restriction you request, but if it does agree then it is bound by that agreement and may not use or disclose any information, which you have restricted except as necessary in a medical emergency. You have the right to request that we communicate with you by an alternative means or at an alternative location. CRC will accommodate such requests that are reasonable and will not request an explanation from you. Under HIPAA, you also have the right to inspect and copy your own health information maintained by CRC, except to the extent that the information contains psychotherapy notes or information compiled for use in a civil, criminal, or administrative proceeding or in other limited circumstances. Under HIPAA, you also have the right, with some exceptions, to amend health care information maintained in CRC's records, and to request and receive an accounting of disclosures of your health-related information made by CRC during the six years prior to your request. You also have the right to receive a paper copy of this notice.


Clermont Recovery Center's duties

CRC is required by law to maintain the privacy of your health information and to provide you with notice of its legal duties and privacy practices with respect to your health information. CRC reserves the right to change the terms of this notice and to make new notice provisions effective for all protected health information it maintains. The most recent copy of this notice will be posted in the lobby of each site and will be available on our website at http://www.recoveryctr.org.


Complaints and Reporting Violations/ Contact

You may complain to CRC and the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services if you believe your privacy rights have been violated under HIPAA. To file a complaint or to obtain further information with CRC contact:


Complaints must be in writing and you will not be retaliated against for filing such a complaint.

Violation of the Confidentiality Law by a program is a crime. Suspected violations of the Confidentiality Law may be reported to the United States Attorney in the district where the violation occurs.