Notice Of Privacy Practices

This notice describes how we, Muskingum Behavioral Health (MBH), use or disclose your PHI (“PHI”). PHI (Protected Health Information) is information that identifies you and relates to health care services, the payment of health care services or your physical or mental health or condition, in the past, present or future. This notice also describes your rights to access and control your PHI.

Our Responsibilities:

Federal law requires that we maintain the privacy of your PHI and provide you this Notice of our legal duties and privacy practices. We are required to notify affected individuals following a breach of unsecured PHI. We are required to abide by the terms of this Notice, which may be amended from time to time. We reserve the right to change the terms of this Notice and to make the new Notice provisions effective for all PHI that we maintain. We will promptly revise and distribute this Notice whenever there is a material change to the uses or disclosures, your rights, our duties, or other practices stated in this Notice. Except when required by law, a material change to this notice will not be implemented before the effective date of the new notice in which the material change is reflected.

What is 42 C.F.R. Part 2?

The confidentiality of alcohol and drug abuse client records maintained by this program is protected by federal law and regulations. Generally, the program may not say to a person outside the program that a client attends the program or disclose any information identifying a client as an alcohol or drug abuser; unless:

(1) The client consents in writing;

(2) The disclosure is allowed by a court order;

(3) The disclosure is made to medical personnel in a medical emergency or to qualified personnel for research, audit, or program evaluation.

Violation of the federal law and regulations by a program is a crime. Suspected violations may be reported to the appropriate authority in accordance with federal regulations.

U.S. Attorney's Office for Southern District of Ohio
303 Marconi Boulevard, Suite 200
Columbus, OH 43215

Main number: 614-469-5715

Federal law and regulations do not protect any information about a crime committed by a client either at the program or against any person who works for the program or about any threat to commit such a crime.

Federal laws and regulations do not protect any information about suspected child abuse or neglect from being reported under State law to appropriate State or local authorities.

What is HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)?

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, a US law designed to provide privacy standards to protect patients' medical records and other health information provided to health plans, doctors, hospitals and other health care providers. Muskingum Behavioral Health will only release information pertaining to your medical / substance use disorder records in accordance with HIPAA standards.

How We May Use or Disclose PHI For Treatment, Payment, and Health Care Operations:

FOR TREATMENT: We may use and disclose your PHI to coordinate or manage your care within MBH and with individuals or organizations outside of MBH that are involved in your care, such as your attending physician, other health care professionals, contracted service providers or related organizations. For example, certain service providers involved in your care may need information about your medical condition in order for us to deliver services properly and appropriately.

TO OBTAIN OR PROVIDE PAYMENT: We may include your PHI in invoices to collect or provide payment to or from third parties for the care you receive through MBH. For example, some PHI is transmitted to the Ohio Department of Aging and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services when billing transactions are conducted.

TO CONDUCT HEALTH CARE OPERATIONS: We may use and disclose PHI for our own operations and as necessary to provide quality care to all of our service recipients. Health care operations includes, but is not limited to, the following activities: quality assessment and improvement activities; activities designed to improve health or reduce health care costs; protocol development, case management and care coordination; professional review and performance evaluation; review and auditing, including compliance reviews, medical reviews, legal services and compliance programs; and business management and general administrative activities of MBH. For example, we may use PHI to evaluate our staff performance or combine your health information with other consumer PHI to evaluate how to better serve all of our consumers. Another example may be the disclosure of your PHI to staff or contracted personnel for certain limited training purposes.

HIE NOTICE: We participate in one or more Health Information Exchanges, including CliniSync. Your healthcare providers can use this electronic network to securely provide access to your health records for a better picture of your health needs. We, and other healthcare providers, may allow access to your health information through the Health Information Exchange for treatment, payment or other healthcare operations. This is a voluntary agreement. You may opt-out at any time by notifying a Patient Access Associate or contacting us at 740-454-1266 or info@mbhealth.org.

How We May Use / Disclose PHI for Appointment Reminders, Treatment Alternatives, or Fundraising Activities:

We may use and disclose your PHI to contact you as a reminder that you have an appointment. Opting in to third-party software, Vital Interaction, allows you to receive automated appointment reminders that you may receive through email, text, or phone calls. We may use and disclose your PHI to advise you or recommend possible service options or alternatives that may be of interest to you. We may contact you for fundraising activities. However, you will be provided the opportunity to opt out of receiving such fundraising communications.

Disclosures You May Authorize Us to Make:

We will not use or disclose your PHI without authorization, except as described in this Notice.

Most uses and disclosures of psychotherapy notes, as applicable, require your authorization. Subject to certain limited exceptions; we may not use or disclose PHI for marketing without your authorization. We may not sell PHI without your authorization. You may give us written authorization to use and/or disclose health information to anyone for any purpose. If you authorize us to use or disclose such information, YOU MAY REVOKE THAT AUTHORIZATION IN WRITING AT ANY TIME.

Other Specific Uses or Disclosures:

WHEN LEGALLY REQUIRED: We will disclose your PHI when required by any Federal, State or local law.

IN THE EVENT OF A SERIOUS THREAT TO LIFE, HEALTH OR SAFETY: We may, consistent with applicable law and ethical standards of conduct, disclose your PHI if we, in good faith, believe that such disclosure is necessary to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to your life, health, or safety, or to the health and safety of the public.

WHEN THERE ARE RISKS TO PUBLIC HEALTH: MBH may disclose your PHI for public activities and purposes allowed by law in order to prevent or control disease, injury or disability; report disease, injury, and vital events such as birth or death; conduct public health surveillance, investigations, and interventions; or Notify a person who has been exposed to a communicable disease or who may be at risk of contracting or spreading a disease.

TO REPORT ABUSE, NEGLECT OR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: We may notify government authorities if we believe a consumer is the victim of abuse, neglect or domestic violence. We will make this disclosure only when required or authorized by law, or when the consumer agrees to the disclosure.

TO CONDUCT HEALTH OVERSIGHT ACTIVITIES: We may disclose your PHI to a health oversight agency for activities including audits, civil administrative or criminal investigations, inspections, licensure or disciplinary action. However, we may not disclose your PHI if you are the subject of an investigation and your PHI is not directly related to your receipt of health care or public benefits.

IN CONNECTION WITH JUDICIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDINGS: We may disclose your PHI in the course of any judicial or administrative proceeding in response to an order of a court or administrative tribunal as

expressly authorized by such order, or, in response to a subpoena, discovery request or other lawful process, if we determine that reasonable efforts have been made by the party seeking the information to either notify you about the request or to secure a qualified protective order regarding your health information. Under Ohio law, some requests may require a court order for the release of any confidential medical information.

FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT PURPOSES: As permitted or required by law, we may disclose specific and limited PHI about you for certain law enforcement purposes.

FOR RESEARCH PURPOSES: We may, under very select circumstances, use your PHI for research. Before we disclose any of your PHI for such research purposes in a way that you could be identified, the project will be subject to an extensive review and approval process, unless otherwise prohibited as with Medicaid.

FOR SPECIFIED GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONS: Federal regulations may require or authorize us to use or disclose your PHI to facilitate specified government functions relating to military and veterans; national security and intelligence activities; protective services for the President and others; medical suitability determinations; and inmates and law enforcement custody.

FOR WORKERS’ COMPENSATION: We may use or disclose your PHI for workers’ compensation or similar programs.

TRANSFER OF INFORMATION AT DEATH: In certain circumstances, we may disclose your PHI to funeral directors, medical examiners, and coroners to carry out their duties consistent with applicable law.

ORGAN PROCUREMENT ORGANIZATIONS: Consistent with applicable law, we may disclose your PHI to organ procurement organizations or other entities engaged in the procurement, banking, or transplantation of organs for the purposes of tissue donation and transplant.

Your Rights with Respect to PHI:

You have the following rights regarding PHI that we maintain:

RIGHT TO A PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE: You may identify persons to us who may serve as your authorized personal representative, such as a court-appointed guardian, a properly executed and specific power-of-attorney granting such authority, a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care if it allows such person to act when you are able to communicate on your own, or other method recognized by applicable law. We may, however, reject a representative if, in our professional judgment, we determine that it is not in your best interest.

RIGHT TO REQUEST RESTRICTIONS: You may request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures of your health information. You have the right to request a limit on our disclosure of your PHI to someone who is involved in your care or the payment of your care. Although we will consider your request, please be aware that we are under no obligation to accept it or to abide by it unless the request concerns a disclosure of PHI to a health plan for purposes of carrying out payment or health care operations, and the PHI pertains solely to a health care service for which the provider has been paid out of pocket in full. To request such restrictions, please contact your Primary Counselor or Privacy Official at 740-454-1266.

RIGHT TO RECEIVE CONFIDENTIAL COMMUNICATIONS: You have the right to request that we communicate with you in a confidential manner. For example, you may ask us to conduct communications pertaining to your health information only with you privately, with no other family members present. If you wish to receive confidential communications, please contact your Primary Counselor or Privacy Official at 740-454-1266. We may not require that you provide an explanation for your request and will attempt to honor any reasonable requests.

RIGHT TO INSPECT AND COPY YOUR PHI: Unless your access to your records is restricted for clear and documented treatment reasons, you have a right to see your PHI upon request. You have the right to inspect and copy such health information, including billing records, at a reasonable time and place. A request to inspect and copy records containing your PHI may be made to your Primary Counselor or Privacy Official at 740-454-1266. If you request a copy of such health information, we may charge reasonable copying, processing, and personnel fees.

RIGHT TO AMEND YOUR PHI: You have the right to request that we amend your records, if you believe that your PHI is incorrect or incomplete. That request may be made as long as we maintain the information. A request for an amendment of records must be made in writing to your Primary Counselor or Privacy Official at Muskingum Behavioral Health, 1127 W Main St., Zanesville, Ohio 43701. We may deny the request if it is not in writing, or does not include a reason for the amendment. The request also may be denied if your health information records were not created by us, if the records you are requesting are not part of our records, if the health information you wish to amend is not part of the health information you are permitted to inspect and copy, or if, in our opinion, the records containing your health information are accurate and complete. We take the position that amendments may take the form of including a written statement from you and may not include changing, defacing or destroying any necessary information related to your health care.

RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT DISCLOSURES HAVE BEEN MADE: You have the right to request an accounting of disclosures of your PHI made by us for certain reasons, including reasons related to public purposes authorized by law, and certain research. The request for an accounting must be made in writing to your Primary Counselor or Privacy Official Muskingum Behavioral Health, 1127 W Main St., Zanesville, Ohio 43701. The request must specify the time period for the accounting starting on or after April 14, 2003. Accounting requests may not be made for periods of time in excess of six (6) years prior to the date on which the accounting is requested. We will provide the first accounting you request during any 12-month period without charge. Subsequent accounting requests may be subject to a reasonable, cost-based fee.

RIGHT TO A PAPER COPY OF THIS NOTICE: You have a right to receive paper copy of this Notice at any time, even if you have received this Notice previously. To obtain a paper copy, please contact your Primary Counselor or Privacy Official at 740-454-1266.

Where to File a Complaint:

You have the right to complain to us if you believe that your privacy rights have been violated, including the denial of any rights set forth in this Notice. Any complaints to us shall be made in writing to your Primary Counselor or the Privacy Official at Muskingum Behavioral Health, 1127 W Main St., Zanesville, Ohio 43701. We encourage you to express any concerns you may have regarding the privacy of your information. You will not be retaliated against in any way for filing a complaint.

You may also file a written complaint with the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 200 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, D.C., 20201 or call toll-free (877) 696-6775, by e-mail to OCRComplaint @ hhs.gov, or to Region V, Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 233 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 240, Chicago, Ill. 60601, Voice Phone (312) 886-2359, FAX (312) 886-1807, or TDD (312) 353-5693.

Contact Persons:

We have designated the Privacy Official as our contact point for all issues regarding consumer privacy and your rights under this Notice. If you have any questions regarding this Notice, please contact Tessa Vickers through your Primary Counselor or Privacy Official at 740-454-1266 or Muskingum Behavioral Health, 1127 W Main St., Zanesville, Ohio 43701.

Effective Date:

This Notice is effective June 30, 2020.

If You Have Any Questions Regarding This Notice, please contact your Primary Counselor or Privacy Official at 740-454-1266.