We are required by law to maintain the privacy and confidentiality of information about your health, health care, and payment for services related to your health (referred to in this notice as “protected health information” or “information”) and to provide you with this notice of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to your protected health information. When we use or disclose this information, we are required to abide by the terms of this notice (or other notice in effect at the time of the use or disclosure).

The Confidentiality of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Patient Records Regulation and the HIPAA Privacy Rule: Implications for Alcohol and Substance Abuse Programs.

Protected Health Information in connection with alcohol or drug services:

42 CFR Part 2 protects your health information if you are applying for or receiving services (including diagnosis or treatment, or referral) for drug or alcohol abuse. Generally, if you are applying for or receiving services for drug or alcohol abuse, we may not acknowledge to a person outside the program that you attend the program or disclose any information identifying you as an alcohol or drug abuser except under certain circumstances that are listed in this notice.

All Protected Health Information, including alcohol or drug services:
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”) Privacy Regulations (45 CFR Parts 160 and 164), also protect your health information whether or not you are applying for or receiving services for drug or alcohol abuse. Generally, if you are not applying for or receiving services for drug or alcohol abuse, the way we may use and disclose information differs slightly.

For more information about the HIPAA Standards

http://www.hipaa.samhsa.gov is the SAMHSA website that provides information and links for all HIPAA standards.