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.
Effective date: [Launch date]
Who this notice covers
This notice applies to Renovia Behavioral Health, LLC, its staff, and everyone who works with us to provide your care. Renovia Sober Living is a separate organization and is not covered by this notice.
Our promise to you
Your health information is private. Records about substance use treatment get extra protection under federal and state law. The law requires us to:
Extra protection for your substance use treatment records
Records of substance use disorder treatment are protected by a federal law called 42 CFR Part 2. North Carolina law also protects records from licensed mental health and substance use facilities. These laws are stricter than the general health privacy law known as HIPAA.
In most cases, we need your written consent before we share any information that shows you are a patient here. This includes simply confirming that you receive care from us. When federal and state laws differ, we follow the one that gives you the most protection.
Your records cannot be used against you in court without your permission
We will not use or share your records, or testimony about what is in them, in any civil, criminal, administrative, or legislative case against you unless one of these applies:
How we use and share your information with your consent
You may sign one written consent that allows us to use and share your records for your treatment, to get paid for your care, and to run our organization (known as "health care operations"). For example, with your consent we may:
You can take back your consent at any time by telling us in writing. Taking it back does not undo anything we already shared while your consent was in place.
Once we share your records under this consent with another health care provider or health plan,that organization may share them again as HIPAA allows. It still may not use them against you in a legal case without your consent or a qualifying court order.
Family and friends
We do not share your information with family members, partners, or friends unless you give written consent. This includes telling someone that you are a patient here. You choose who we can talk to and what we can share. You can change your choice at any time.
When we may share information without your consent
The law allows us to share information without your consent only in limited situations:
- Medical emergencies: With medical staff when needed to treat a serious emergency and we cannot get your consent first.
- Child abuse or neglect: To make a report required by North Carolina law.
- Crimes at our program: With law enforcement, about a crime committed on our property or against our staff, or a threat to commit such a crime.
- Court orders: When a court issues an order that meets the requirements of 42 CFR Part 2.
- Audits and reviews: With government agencies or other qualified reviewers who check our program for quality, licensing, or billing, under strict privacy rules.
- Research: Only under strict federal rules that protect your identity.
- Our service providers: With companies that help us run our program, such as our secure records system. They must sign agreements to protect your information.
- Public health: Only in a form that does not identify you.
- Government oversight: With the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services when it reviews our compliance with privacy laws.
Things we will never do without your written permission
We do not use your information for fundraising.
Your rights
- See and get a copy of your records. You can ask for a paper or electronic copy. We will respond within 30 days and may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee.
- Ask us to correct your records. If you think something is wrong or missing, ask us in writing. We may say no, but we will explain why in writing within 60 days.
- Choose how we contact you. You can ask us to reach you a certain way, such as only by cell phone or at a different address. We will say yes to reasonable requests.
- Ask us to limit what we share. You can ask us not to use or share certain information. We do not have to agree, except in this case: if you pay for a service in full yourself, you can ask us not to share information about that service with your health plan, and we will agree unless the law requires us to share it.
- Get a list of who we shared your information with. You can ask for a list of times we shared your information in the past six years, with some exceptions. One list per year is free.
- Get a list of who received your records under a general consent. If your consent lets us share with a group of providers rather than named ones, you can ask for a list of who received your records.
- Get a paper copy of this notice at any time, even if you received it electronically.
- Choose someone to act for you. If you have given someone medical power of attorney, or you have a legal guardian, that person can use your rights for you.
To use any of these rights, contact our Privacy Officer using the information below.
If you believe your privacy rights were violated
You can file a complaint with us by contacting our Privacy Officer.
To report a concern about a licensed facility in North Carolina, you can contact the NC DHHS Complaint Intake Unit at 1-800-624-3004 (within NC) or 919-855-4500.
We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.
Changes to this notice
We may change this notice. Any change will apply to all information we have about you. The new notice will be posted in our office and on our website, and you can ask for a copy at any time.
