Privacy Policy

NOVUS MEDICAL DETOX CENTER OF PASCO COUNTY, LLC

NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL AND DRUG AND ALCOHOL RELATED INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION.

PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.

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, Novus Medical Detox Center of Pasco County, LLC (“Novus”) may not say to a person outside Novus that you attend the program, nor may Novus disclose any information identifying you as an alcohol or drug abuser, or disclose any other protected information except as permitted by federal law. Novus must obtain your written consent before it can disclose information about you for payment purposes. For example, Novus 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 Novus can share information for treatment purposes or for health care operations. However, federal law permits Novus to disclose information without your written permission:

1. Pursuant to an agreement with a qualified service organization/ business           associate;
2. For research, audit or evaluations;
3. To report a crime committed on Novus’ premises or against Novus personnel;
4. To medical personnel in a medical emergency;
5. To appropriate authorities to report suspected child abuse or neglect;
6. As allowed by a court order.

For example, Novus can disclose information without your consent to report a crime or to another medical facility to provide health care to you.

Before Novus can use or disclose any information about your health in a manner which is not described above, it must first obtain your specific written consent allowing it to make the disclosure. Any such written consent may be revoked by you in writing.

Your Rights

Under HIPAA you have the right to request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures of your health information. Novus is not required to agree to any restrictions 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 alternative means or at an alternative location. Novus 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 Novus, 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 Novus’ records, and to request and receive an accounting of disclosures of your health related information made by Novus during the six years prior to your request. You also have the right to receive a paper copy of this notice.

Novus’ Duties

Novus 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. Novus is required by law to abide by the terms of this notice. Novus reserves the right to change the terms of this notice and to make new notice provisions effective for all protected health information it maintains.

Complaints and Reporting Violations

You may complain to Novus and the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services if you believe that your privacy rights have been violated under HIPAA. 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.

Contact

For further information, contact (727) 213-2001.

Effective Date

May 18, 2007

Information Collection and Use

This privacy policy covers Novus Medical Detox Center’s treatment of personally identifiable information that we collect when you are on our site and when you use our services. This policy does not apply to the practices of companies that we do not own or control, or to people that we do not employ or manage. We may collect personally identifiable information when you visit or use our Web pages. We also automatically receive and record information on our server logs from your browser including your IP address, cookie information and the page you requested. We may use this information for three internal purposes:

1. to customize the content you see
2. to fulfill your requests for certain services and information
3. to contact you if you request information

We will not sell or rent your personally identifiable information to anyone. We will not send personally identifiable information about you to other companies or people unless we have your written consent to share the information or we respond to subpoenas, court orders or legal processes.

Cookies

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