Privacy Policy
Privacy
NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)
and Drug Abuse Prevention, Treatment, and Rehabilitation ACT
HOUSTON RECOVERY CENTER
150 N Chenevert, Houston, TX 77002
Effective Date: 11/17/2015
THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW HEALTH INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.
Your Privacy Rights at Houston Recovery Center:
- You can ask to see or get a copy of the health information that we have about you. You can choose to get a summary of your health information instead of a copy. If you want a summary or a copy of your health information, you may have to pay a reasonable fee for it.
- You can ask us to correct information in your records if you think the information is incorrect or incomplete. We will not destroy or change our records, but we will add the correct information to your records and make a note in your records that you have provided the information.
- You can ask for a list of the disclosures of your health information that we made to other people in the last six years. The list will not include disclosures for treatment, payment, health care operations, national security, law enforcement, or disclosures where you gave your permission. There will be no charge for one list per year.
- You can ask us to limit some of the ways we use or share your health information for treatment or our operations. We are not required to agree to your request, and we may say “no” if it would affect your care.
- You can ask us to contact you in a specific way or to send mail to a different address. We will agree to your request as long as it is reasonable.
- You can ask for a paper copy of this notice any time, even if you have agreed to receive this notice electronically.
- You have the right to be notified of a breach of unsecured health information in the event that you are affected.
PROCESS TO CORRECT OR GET A COPY OF YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION:
If you believe that the Houston Recovery Center has incorrect information about your health and would like to have it corrected or you would like to get a copy of your health information please contact:
Ericka Garza
HIPAA Compliance Officer
egarza@houstonrecoverycenter.org
150 N Chenevert, Houston, TX 77002
Treatment and Health Care Operations:
We may use or disclose your health information to provide care to you or for our own health care operations.
Your Health information may be exchanged between the Texas Department of State Health Services, Texas Department of Aging and Disabilities, local mental health or mental retardation authorities, community MHMR centers, and contractors of mental health and mental retardation services, for purposes of treatment, or health care operations, without your permission.
Treatment: We can use or disclose your health information and share it with other professionals who are treating you.
Health Care Operations: We can also use your health information for health care operations:
– Case Management and care coordination;
– Conducting training programs;
– Providing medical review, legal services, or auditing functions;
– Engaging in business planning and management or general administration.
Because you are being treated for alcohol or drug abuse, Houston Recovery Center will not tell any unauthorized person outside of Houston Recovery Center that you have been to Houston Recovery Center or that you are being referred to treatment for alcohol or drug abuse, without your written permission. We will not disclose any information identifying you as an alcohol, drug, or substance user, except as allowed by law. Houston Recovery Center may only disclose information about your treatment for alcohol or drug abuse without your permission in the following circumstances:
- Pursuant to a special court order that complies with 42 Code of Federal Regulations Part 2 Subpart E;
- To medical personnel in a medical emergency;
- To qualified personnel for research, audit, or program evaluation;
- To report suspected child abuse or neglect;
- To Advocacy, Inc. and/or the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services, as allowed by law, to investigate a report that you have been abused or have been denied your rights.
Federal and State laws prohibit re-disclosure of information about alcohol or drug abuse treatment without your permission. Federal rules restrict any use of information about alcohol or drug abuse treatment to criminally investigate or prosecute any alcohol or drug abuse patient.
COMPLAINT PROCESS:
If you believe that the Houston Recovery Center has violated your privacy rights, you have the right to file a complaint. You must file your complaint within 180 days of when you knew or should have known about the event that you think violated your privacy rights. You may complain by contacting:
Ericka Garza
HIPAA Compliance Officer
egarza@houstonrecoverycenter.org
150 N Chenevert, Houston, TX 77002
or:
Texas Department of State Health Services/
Texas Department of Aging & Disability Services
Consumer Services and Rights Protection/Ombudsman Office
P.O. Box 12668, Austin, Texas 78711
1 (800) 252-8154 (toll free) or (512) 206-5670
http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/hipaa/privacycomplaints.shtm
You may also file a written complaint with:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights, Region VI
1301 Young St., Suite 1169, Dallas, Texas 75202
1 (800) 368-1019 (toll free) or (214) 767-4056 or (214) 767-8940 (TDD)
(214) 767-0432 Fax
http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints/index.html
You must file your complaint within 180 days of when you knew or should have known about the event that you think violated your privacy rights. For complaints against alcohol or drug abuse treatment programs, contact the United States Attorney’s Office for the judicial district in which the violation occurred. To locate this office, consult the blue pages in your telephone book. Houston Recovery Center will not retaliate against you if you file a complaint.