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We are required by law to maintain the privacy of your health information in accordance with federal and state law. In particular, we protect the privacy and security of your substance use disorder patient records in accordance with 42 U.S.C. § 290dd–2 and 42 C.F.R. Part 2, the Confidentiality of Substance Use Disorder Patient Records (“Part 2”), in addition to HIPAA and applicable state law. This Notice of Privacy Practices (“Notice”) outlines our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to health information. We are required by law to provide you with a copy of this Notice and to notify you following a breach of your unsecured health information.
We will abide by the terms of the Notice. We reserve the right to make changes to this Notice as permitted by law. We reserve the right to make the new Notice provisions effective for all health information we currently maintain, as well as any health information we receive in the future. If we make material or important changes to our privacy practices, we will promptly revise our Notice. Each version of the Notice will have an effective date listed on the first page. If we change this Notice, you can access the revised Notice on our website (www.addictionology.center).
You have the right to file a complaint if you believe your privacy rights have been violated. If you would like to file a complaint about our privacy practices, you can do so by sending a letter outlining your concerns to: www.addictionology.center, Attn: Privacy Officer, 5203 Chippewa, Suite 301; St. Louis, MO 63109, or by contacting our Privacy Officer by telephone at 314-481-5000. You also have the right to complain to the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, the United States Attorney for the judicial district in which the violation occurs, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (“SAMHSA”) office responsible for opioid treatment program oversight. You will not be penalized or otherwise retaliated against for filing a complaint.
We will obtain your written authorization to use and disclose your health information unless we are permitted to use or disclose your information without your authorization under applicable law. The following categories describe the ways that we may use and disclose your health information without your written authorization under Part 2. To the extent applicable state law is even more restrictive than Part 2 on how we use and disclose any of your health information, we comply with more restrictive state law.
Within Our Organization, personnel who have a need for your information in connection with their duties that arise out of the provision of diagnosis, treatment, or referral for treatment may use and share your information.
Emergency Treatment: In the event of a bona fide medical emergency in which your prior authorization cannot be obtained, we may disclose your identifying information to medical personnel. We will obtain your authorization prior to disclosing your information for non-emergent treatment.
Business Associates/Qualified Service Organizations. We may disclose your information to third-party “business associates” and “qualified service organizations” that perform various services on our behalf, such as transcription, billing, and collection services, and who agree to protect the privacy of your health information.
Audits: We may disclose your health information to entities who are legally permitted to perform audits of our facilities. Those entities are required to maintain the privacy of your information.
Legal Proceedings We may disclose your health information pursuant to court orders that meet the requirements of applicable law.
Reporting Crimes on Our Premises or Against Our Personnel. We may disclose a patient’s commission (or threatened commission) of a crime on our premises or against our personnel to a law enforcement agency or official. We are permitted to disclose information regarding the circumstances of such incidents, including the suspect’s name, address, last known whereabouts, and status as a patient in our program.
Reporting Child Abuse or Neglect: We may report incidents of suspected child abuse and neglect to the appropriate state or local authorities.
Deceased Persons: We may disclose information relating to the cause of death of a patient under laws requiring the collection of death or other vital statistics or permitting inquiry into the cause of death.
Research: Under certain circumstances, we may disclose your health information to researchers who are conducting a specific research project. Your identifying information will never be published without your written authorization.
FDA Reporting: We may disclose patient identifying information to medical personnel of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) who assert a reason to believe that the health of any individual may be threatened by an error in the manufacture, labeling, or sale of a product under FDA jurisdiction, and that the information will be used for the exclusive purpose of notifying patients or their physicians of potential dangers.
OTHER USES AND DISCLOSURES:
Use or disclosure of your health information for any purpose other than those listed above requires your written authorization. Some examples include:
If you change your mind after authorizing a use or disclosure of your health information, you may withdraw your permission by revoking the authorization. However, your decision to revoke the authorization will not affect or undo any use or disclosure of your health information that occurred before you notified us of your decision, or any actions that we have taken based upon your authorization.
This section describes your rights regarding the health information we maintain about you. All requests or communications to exercise your rights discussed below must be submitted in writing.
Right to Inspect and Copy. You have the right to inspect and receive a copy of your health information, excluding your psychotherapy notes. We may charge you a fee as authorized by law to meet your request. You may request access to your health information in a certain electronic form and format, if readily producible, or, if not readily producible, in a mutually agreeable electronic form and format. Further, you may request in writing that we transmit such a copy to any person or entity you designate. Your written, signed request must clearly identify such designated person or entity and where you would like us to send the copy. We may deny your request to inspect and copy in limited circumstances. If you are denied access to your health information, you may request that the denial be reviewed by a licensed healthcare professional chosen by us. The person conducting the review will not be the person who denied your request. We will comply with the outcome of the review.
Right to Request Confidential Communications. You have the right to request that we communicate your health information to you in a certain manner or at a certain location. For example, you may wish to receive information through a written letter sent to a private address. We will grant reasonable requests. We will not ask you the reason for your request.
Right to Amend. You have a right to request that we amend or correct your health information that you believe is incorrect or incomplete. For example, if your date of birth is incorrect, you may request that the information be corrected. To request a correction or amendment to your health information, you must make your request in writing and provide a reason for your request. You have the right to request an amendment for as long as the information is kept by or for us. Under certain circumstances, we may deny your request. If your request is denied, we will provide you with information about our denial and how you can file a written statement of disagreement with us that will become part of your medical record.
Right to an Accounting of Disclosures. You have the right to request an accounting of disclosures we make of your health information. Please note that certain disclosures need not be included in the accounting we provide to you, including most disclosures we make pursuant to your authorization. Your request must state a time period that may not go back further than six years. You will not be charged for this accounting, unless you request more than one accounting per year, in which case we may charge you a reasonable cost-based fee for providing the additional accounting(s). We will notify you of the costs involved and give you an opportunity to withdraw or modify your request before any costs have been incurred.
Right to Request Restrictions. HIPAA provides that you have the right to request restrictions on how your health information is used or disclosed for treatment, payment, or health care operations activities but that we are not required to agree to your requested restriction unless that restriction is regarding disclosure of health information to your health insurance company and: (1) the disclosure is for the purpose of carrying out payment or health care operations and is not otherwise required by law, and (2) the health information pertains solely to a health care item or service for which you or another person (other than your health insurance company) paid for in full. Note, however, that Part 2 requires that we obtain your written authorization for most disclosures, except as expressly outlined above.
Right to a Paper Copy of This Notice. You have the right to receive a paper copy of this Notice at any time, even if you previously agreed to receive this Notice electronically. A copy of this Notice can be obtained at any time from our website at www.addictionology.center
Telehealth involves the use of secure electronic communications, information technology, or other means to enable a healthcare provider and a patient at different locations to enable a healthcare provider and a patient at different locations to communicate and share individual patient health information for the purpose of rendering clinical care. This “Telehealth Informed Consent” informs the patient (“patient,” “you,” or “your”) concerning the treatment methods, risks, and limitations of using a telehealth platform.
Telehealth services offered by www.addictionology.center (“Group”), and the Group’s engaged providers (our “Providers” or your “Provider”) may include a patient consultation, diagnosis, treatment recommendation, prescription, and/or a referral to in-person care, as determined clinically appropriate (the “Services”). Your Provider will be licensed in the state where you are located at the time of your consultation, or otherwise meet a professional licensure exception under applicable state law, and will establish a provider-patient relationship in accordance with the laws and rules in the applicable state.
Addictionology Center does not provide the Services; it performs administrative, payment, and other supportive activities for Group and our Providers.
The types of electronic transmissions that may occur using the telehealth platform include, but are not limited to:
Completion, exchange, and review of medical intake forms and other clinically relevant information (for example: health records; images; output data from medical devices; sound and video files; diagnostic and/or lab test results) between you and your Provider via:
Delivery of a consultation report with a diagnosis, treatment and/or prescription recommendations, as deemed clinically relevant
Prescription refill reminders (if applicable)
Other electronic transmissions for the purpose of rendering clinical care to you.
Improved access to care by enabling you to remain in your preferred location while your Provider consults with you. Our telehealth services are available 8 hours a day, 5 days a week.
Convenient access to follow-up care. If you need to receive non-emergent follow-up care related to your treatment, please contact your Provider by sending a message via the Spruce app.
More efficient care evaluation and management. You can expect a response within 1 hour during the business day by a trained health coach for any administrative and/or care coordination issues. Your provider will typically respond to any non-emergent messages within 1 business day during the week or during the next business days over weekends and holidays.
The primary difference between telehealth and direct in-person service delivery is the inability to have direct, physical contact with the patient. Accordingly, some clinical needs may not be appropriate for a telehealth visit and your Provider will make that determination.
Our providers do not address medical emergencies. If you believe you are experiencing a medical emergency, You should dial 9-1-1 and/or go to the nearest emergency room. please do not attempt to contact www.addictionology.center group, GROUP, or your Provider. After receiving emergency healthcare treatment, you should visit your local primary care PROVIDER.
Our Providers are an addition to, and not a replacement for, your local primary care provider. Responsibility for your overall medical care should remain with your local primary care provider, if you have one, and we strongly encourage you to locate one if you do not.
The electronic communication systems we use will incorporate network and software security protocols to protect the confidentiality of patient identification and imaging data and will include measures to safeguard the data and to ensure its integrity against intentional or unintentional corruption. All the Services delivered to the patient through telehealth will be delivered over a secure connection that complies with the requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and AccountabilityAct of 1996 (“HIPAA”).
I further acknowledge and understand the following:
Addictionology Center and its affiliated medical groups are committed to providing the best quality healthcare services.
You have the right, as a patient, to be informed about your condition and the recommended surgical, medical, or diagnostic procedure to be used so that you may make the decision whether or not to undergo any suggested treatment or procedure after knowing the risks and hazards involved. At this point in your care, no specific treatment plan has been recommended. This consent form is simply an effort to obtain your permission to perform the evaluation necessary to identify the appropriate treatment and/or procedure for any identified condition(s).
This consent provides us with your permission to perform reasonable and necessary medical examinations, testing, and treatment. By signing below, you are indicating that (1) you intend this consent is continuing in nature even after a specific diagnosis has been made and treatment recommended, and (2) you consent to treatment at this office or any other satellite office under common ownership. The consent will remain fully effective until it is revoked in writing.
You have the right at any time to discontinue services and/or decline any and all treatments, even if against medical advice. You have the right to discuss the treatment plan with your physician about the purpose, potential risks, and benefits of any test ordered for you. If you have any concerns regarding any test or treatment recommended by your healthcare provider, we encourage you to ask questions.
I voluntarily request a physician, and/or advanced practice clinician (Nurse Practitioner, Physician Assistant, or Clinical Nurse Specialist), and other health care providers or the designees as deemed necessary, to perform reasonable and necessary medical examination, testing, and treatment for the condition which has brought me to seek care at this practice. I understand that if additional testing, and invasive or interventional procedures are recommended, I will be asked to read and sign additional consent forms prior to the test(s) or procedure(s).
Our Notice of Privacy Practices resides at www.addictionology.center. It provides information about how we may use and release protected health information about you. You have the right to review our Notice before signing this form. As provided in our Notice, the terms of our Notice may change. If we change our Notice, you may obtain a revised copy by sending us an email.
You have the right to request that we restrict how protected health information about you is used or released for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations. We are not required to agree to this restriction, but if we do, we are bound by our agreement.
By signing this form, you consent to our use and release of protected health information about you for treatment, payment, and health care operations as described in our Notice. You have the right to revoke this consent in writing, and we will honor your revocation except where we have already made releases in reliance on your prior consent.
Notice of Potential Information Loss Due to Technological Failure
Information transmitted through telehealth technology may be lost due to technical failure beyond the control of the Group which can result in delays in treatment or other adverse consequences. I agree to hold-harmless www.addictionology.center group and its employees, contractors, agents, directors, members, managers, shareholders, officers, representatives, assigns, parents, predecessors, and successors for consequences of information loss due to technological failure.
Patient medication history is a list of prescription medicines that our practice providers, or other providers, have prescribed for you. A variety of sources, including pharmacies and health insurers, contribute to the collection of this history.
The collected information is stored in the practice electronic medical record system (EHR/EMR) and becomes part of your personal medical record. Medication history is very important in helping healthcare providers treat your symptoms and/or illness properly and in avoiding potentially dangerous drug interactions.
It is very important that you and your provider discuss all your medications in order to insure that your recorded medication history is 100% accurate. Some pharmacies do not make drug history information available, and your drug history might not include drugs purchased without using your health insurance. Also over‐the‐counter drugs, supplements, or herbal remedies that patients take on their own may not be included.
I give my permission to allow my healthcare provider to obtain my medication history from my pharmacy, my health plans, and my other healthcare providers. I understand this may not be a complete history, and I agree to provide a complete account of my own medication filling and use history to my Provider.
I request and permit my insurance company or benefit plan to pay directly to www.addictionology.center Group, money due for health care services, supplies, and equipment under the terms of my insurance policy or benefit plan. I understand that I may be responsible for payment in full of any amount due that is not covered or paid for by my insurance policy or benefit plan. If coverage is denied, I give my express consent to appeal to the insurance on my behalf.
Notice of Financial Responsibility
I have received a Financial Responsibility Agreement that describes the cost of www.addictionology.center group services, and I have reviewed and understand the contents of this agreement.
Release of Information and Statement of Assistance
I hereby consent and state my preference to have my www.addictionology.center group physician and other staff at www.addictionology.center group communicate with me by email or standard SMS messaging regarding various aspects of my medical care, which may include but shall not be limited to, test results, prescriptions, appointments, and billing.
I understand that email and standard SMS messaging are not confidential methods of communication and may be insecure. I further understand that, because of this, there is a risk that email and standard SMS messaging regarding my medical care might be intercepted and read by a third party.
Consent to Receive Texts and Emails from www.addictionology.center group and its Business Partners
By providing your cell phone number and email address to www.addictionology.center group, you are agreeing to be contacted by or on behalf of www.addictionology.center group and our business partners identified below at the email address and the telephone number provided, including emails to your email address and text (SMS) messages to your cell phone and other wireless devices, and the use of an automatic telephone dialing system, artificial voice, and prerecorded messages, to providing you with marketing and promotional materials relating to www.addictionology.center products and services, and products and services of the identified business partners. You may opt out of receiving text (SMS) messages from www.addictionology.center or its subsidiaries at any time by replying with the word STOP from the mobile device receiving the messages. You need not provide this consent in order to purchase any products or services from www.addictionology.center.
However, you acknowledge that opting out of receiving text (SMS) messages may impact your experience with the service(s) that rely on communications via text (SMS) messaging.
Periodically we will verify that you have the correct number of tablets or films remaining which helps us understand that you’re taking and storing the medication safely as directed. Counts may be performed by video or photograph, per instruction of staff.
I agree to adhere to all the conditions above. I understand the policies listed above and I agree to comply with this aspect of my treatment plan. I understand that the failure to comply with any of the conditions above will be grounds for the termination of my treatment with www.addictionology.center group.
I certify that I have carefully read, understand, and agree to the terms above, and I consent fully and voluntarily to this agreement. The undersigned is the patient, the patient’s legal representative, or authorized by the patient to execute this form and accept its terms.