Notice of Privacy Practices

When it comes to your information, you have certain rights. This section explains your rights and some of our responsibilities to help you. 

Get a copy of your health information

• You can ask to see or get a copy of your health information we have about you. Ask us how to do this. 

• We will provide a copy or a summary of your health information, usually within 30 days of your request.

Ask us to correct your health information

• You can ask us to correct your health information if you think it is incorrect or incomplete. Ask us how to do this.

• We may say “no” to your request, but we will tell you why in writing within 60 days.

Request confidential communication

• You can ask us to contact you in a specific way (for example, home or office phone) or to mail it to an address you choose.

• We will consider all reasonable requests and must say “yes” if you tell us you would be in danger if we do not.

Ask us to limit what information we use or share

• You can ask us not to use or share your health information for treatment, payment, or our operations. We are not required to agree to your request and we may say “no” if it would affect your care. 

• We cannot share your substance use disorder information for treatment or payment purposes without your written consent.

Get a list of those with whom we’ve shared your information

• You can ask for a list (called an “accounting”) of the times we’ve shared your health information for six years prior to the date you ask, who we shared it with and why we shared it.

• We will include all the times we’ve shared your information, except for those about routine treatment, payment and health care operations.

Request disclosures by other organizations involved in your present and future substance use disorder care

• You have the right to ask for a list of times we shared your substance use disorder treatment information for treatment, payment, or health care operations. This list can cover up to the three years before the date you make your request and will include who we shared the information with and why.

Get a copy of this privacy notice

• You can ask for a paper copy of this notice at any time, even if you have agreed to receive the notice electronically. We will provide you with a paper copy.

Choose someone to act for you

• If you have given someone health care power of attorney or if someone is your legal guardian, that person can make choices about your health information.

• We will make sure the person has this power and can act for you before we take any action.

File a complaint if you feel your rights have been violated

• You can complain if you feel we have violated your rights by sending a letter to 401 Fifth Avenue, Suite 500, Seattle, WA 98104, Attn: Privacy Officer or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights by sending a letter to 200 Independence Avenue S.W., Washington, D.C. 20201, calling 1-877-696-6775 or visiting www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints/.

• We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

Help manage the health care treatment you receive

• We can use your health information and share it with professionals who are treating you, coordinating your care or assisting with housing placement (if you don’t have housing).

Example: A provider sends us information about your treatment services so we can arrange for coverage or to coordinate additional services.

• We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

Run our organization

• We can use and disclose your information to provide services effectively. 

Example: We may review your information to see how well the services we provide are working and to find ways to provide better care. 

Pay for your health services

• We can use and disclose your health information to pay for your health services.

Example: We share information about you with the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services and Health Care Authority for payment of the services you receive. 

We are allowed or required to share your information in other ways. Usually in ways that contribute to the public good, such as public health and research. We have to meet many conditions in the law before we can share your information for these purposes. For more information see: www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/consumers/index.html

Help with public health and safety issues

We can share health information about you for certain situations such as: 

• Preventing disease.

• Reporting suspected abuse, neglect, or domestic violence.

• Preventing or reducing a serious threat to anyone’s health or safety.

For research

We can use or share your information for health research.

Comply with the law

We will share information about you if state or federal laws require it, including with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) if DHHS wants to see that we’re complying with federal privacy law.

Address workers’ compensation, law enforcement, and other government requests

We can use or share health information about you:

• For workers’ compensation claims.

• For law enforcement purposes or with a law enforcement official – in certain limited circumstances only.

• With health oversight agencies for activities authorized by law.

Respond to lawsuits and legal actions

We can share health information about you in response to a court or administrative order, or in response to a subpoena.

Other Uses and Disclosures

Other uses and disclosures not described in this Notice will be made only with your written authorization. 

The confidentiality of substance abuse disorder information is protected by regulations that are stricter than the regulations for more general health information. For example, we cannot share your substance use disorder information for treatment purposes, for payment purposes or to run our organization without your written consent.

Consent requirement

• You can give one consent that covers all future uses or disclosures of your information for treatment, payment, and health care operations.

• You may cancel your consent at any time by telling us in writing. The cancellation takes effect once we receive it. It will not change or undo any use or disclosure that already happened based on your earlier consent.

• Even when your information is shared with your consent, anyone who receives it must follow the same confidentiality rules. They cannot share it again without your authorization.

Disclosures without consent

Federal law allows or requires us to share your substance use disorder information, even without your written consent, in the following situations:

• With medical personnel during a medical emergency

• With authorities when reporting suspected child abuse or neglect

• To report suspected criminal activity

• For research, audits, or evaluations

• When required by a court order

• When working with a qualified service organization under an approved agreement

Other uses and disclosures of your substance use disorder information not described in this Notice will be made only with your written consent. 

Protections against use of your information in legal proceedings:

• Your substance use disorder information - or any testimony based on it - cannot be used against you in court without your explicit written consent or a court order.

• If we receive a court order, you must be notified and given a chance to contest it.

• The court order must be accompanied by a subpoena to enforce disclosure of the information.

Privacy and Security of your health information

• We are required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your health information. 

• We will let you know promptly if a data breach happens that may have compromised the privacy or security of your information. Violations of the federal law and regulations will be reported to appropriate authorities in accordance with federal regulations.

• We must follow the duties and privacy practices described in this notice and give you a copy of it. 

• We will not use or share your information other than as described here unless you tell us we can in writing. If you tell us we can, you may change your mind at any time. Let us know in writing if you change your mind. 

Redisclosure: 

• Once shared, some of your information may be redisclosed by the recipient and may no longer be protected by the same rules.

Changes to the Terms of this Notice

We can change the terms of this notice, and the changes will apply to all information we have about you. The new notice will be available on request and on our web site and we will mail a copy to you.

For more information see:

• www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/consumers/noticepp.html.

• Fact Sheet 42 CFR Part 2 Final Rule | HHS.gov