Narconon in California: Notice of Privacy Practices
This
notice describes how medical information about you may be used,
disclosed, and how you can get access to this information. Please
review
the following material carefully.
Summary
of Your Privacy Rights
At Narconon 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 department by our legal
liason. 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. 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 Records and Information
When you enroll at Narconon a record
of personal health information is created. As you progress through
the
services
at
our center, the health information 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 , 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 receive a copy of 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 receive a copy of 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. You may submit your request on the Request for Inspection/Copy
of Protected Health Information form, which is available in the legal
department. We will respond 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
California 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 Notice
of Privacy Practices upon request.
III.
Narconon Responsibilities
Narconon
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 reserves the right to change its privacy
practices and to make the new provisions effective for all protected
health
information it maintains. If Narconon makes
any significant changes to this Notice, it will send you a copy
within 60 days.
Narconon will post any revised Notice of Privacy
Practices in a public place in its facility and on its web site
at www.calnarconon.org.
and you may also request a copy of the Notice.
Narconon understands that health
information about you is personal and is committed to protecting
your health information.
Narconon 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 Will Use and Disclose 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 Califronia refers you to another
health care facility or provider, Narconon 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 may provide some healthcare
services and related functions the use of contracts with business
associates. In such an instance Narconon 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 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
California 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 as authorized by law. Narconon
may disclose health information to funeral directors
consistent with applicable laws as necessary to carry out their duties.
Workers Compensation: Narconon may use or disclose your
health information for workers compensation purposes as authorized
or required by law.
Public Health: Narconon may use or disclose your health
information to public health or other appropriate government authorities
as follows: (1) Narconon 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 may disclose your health information to government authorities
that are authorized by law to receive reports of child abuse or neglect;
(3) Narconon 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 believes it is necessary to prevent
serious harm; and (4) when authorized by law, Narconon
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
California may use or disclose your health information to health
oversight agencies (for example,
Oklahoma Department of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services)
for activities authorized by law. These oversight activities include:
investigations, audits, inspections and other actions. Narconon
California 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 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 premises; and (4) we may
make any other disclosures that are required by law.
Non Violation of this Notice: Narconon 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 employee
or contractor (business associate) in good faith believes that Narconon has engaged in conduct that is unlawful or otherwise violates
clinical and professional standards or that the care or services
provided by Narconon 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 (for example, the California
Department of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services) 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
California; 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 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.
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
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 the
HIPAA Compliance Officer at
(800) 556-8885
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.
|
Welcome
to CalNarconon.Org
