Privacy Policies
united support services, Inc. NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES
Notice to Client or Guardian Regarding Protected Health Information
This notice describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information. Please review it carefully.
All information provided during the screening, referral, admission, and treatment/habilitation process is considered confidential by the employees, interns, and volunteers of all United Support Services, Inc. programs. We are required to protect the privacy of health information about you, and the disclosure of protected health information will be governed by North Carolina General Statute 122C, Federal Law regarding substance abuse records 42 CFR Part 2, and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as well as any other applicable federal or state laws. If the record contains information relating to HIV infection, AIDS or AIDS-related conditions, alcohol abuse or substance abuse, it will be strictly confidential pursuant to NC G.S. 130A-143. This information shall not be released or made public except under the circumstances outlined in the NC G.S. 130A-15 (1) – (11).
United Support Services, Inc. uses electronic records to meet statistical, financial, and medical record requirements. United Support Services, Inc. complies with expected norms and state law requirements for the security of electronic records by using an automated system that limits access to all protected health information. USS makes every effort to secure any identifying information transmitted outside the organization.
Exchange and use of protected health information between United Support Services staff and/or United Support Services provider community for the purpose of treatment or healthcare operations will be permitted and based on “need to know” guidelines, and positional authority. For example:
Information obtained about you during the screening and referral process may be shared with the provider from whom you have chosen to receive services.
Information obtained about you by a psychiatrist, therapist, case manager, nurse or other member of your treatment team will be recorded in your record and used to determine the course of treatment that should work best for you.
Treatment team members will also be expected to collaborate on developing your person-centered plan and to discuss your progress in treatment on a routine basis.
Information about the services you receive may be submitted and processed by the Authorization and/or Billing departments so your provider can be paid for your services.
Documentation from your medical record may also be pulled for review by the Quality Improvement or Authorization departments in preparation for an audit or for other reviews to improve the quality and effectiveness of the services you receive.
Treatment outcomes data collected by your provider via the NC Treatment Outcomes and Program Performance System (NC-TOPPS) will be shared with the NC Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services.
Note: Exchange of protected health information related to substance abuse treatment is generally only allowed when authorized by the consumer or legally responsible person.
Other disclosures of protected health information outside of United Support Services, Inc. are permitted when you or your legal representatives sign a written authorization or give verbal authorization in an emergency. Any authorization for disclosure may be revoked at any time but revocation must be submitted in writing and does not make exceptions to the extent of action that has already been taken in reliance on it. Revocation will be only be effective from the date of written submission.
Your protected health information will not be disclosed without your written authorization and you have the right to request restriction of the disclosure of your health information, except under circumstances when United Support Services, Inc. is allowed or required to do so. Under the following specific conditions, disclosure of information outside of United Support Services, Inc. is permitted and/or required by law and professional ethics without your specific authorization.
When there is a medical or psychiatric emergency involving your health or safety or the safety of others.
When United Support Services is required by law to report instances of neglect or abuse of a child or disabled adult.
When the disclosure is for judicial or administrative proceedings and United Support Services is responding to an order of a court or administrative tribunal.
When United Support Services is required by North Carolina Administrative Code to disclose physician information due to an incident which would cause health risk to other persons.
When United Support Services authorizes research for the purpose of program planning and evaluation of services by using statistical information that cannot be linked to any individual.
You also have other rights related to the use and disclosure of health information in your medical record. These rights include:
RIGHT TO REVIEW OR RECEIVE COPIES OF ANY OF YOUR MEDICAL RECORD
If you would like to review or receive a copy of your health information, please contact your local provider for instructions on how to submit a written request. We may deny your request in very limited circumstances. If your request is approved, we may charge a reasonable fee for the costs of copying, mailing, or other supplies associated with any request for copies. If we deny your request, we will respond to you in writing, stating why we will not grant your request and describing any rights you may have to request a review of our denial.
RIGHT TO REQUEST AMENDMENT OF ANY SECTION OF YOUR MEDICAL RECORD
If you feel we have information that is inaccurate or incomplete, you have the right to request your record be amended. If we deny your request, we will notify you in writing of our reason and will describe your rights to provide a written statement disagreeing with our denial.
RIGHT TO RECEIVE AN ACCOUNTING OF ANY DISCLOSURES THAT HAVE OCCURRED
Each disclosure of protected health information will be documented in the medical record. You have the right to request an accounting of these disclosures for the previous six years beginning with April 14, 2003.
RIGHT TO REQUEST YOUR MEDICAL RECORD BE DESIGNATED AS A '“SECURE/HOT FILE"
All medical records are secure and confidential. However, if special circumstances exist (i.e. you are the neighbor of a United Support Services employee) you may request your record be filed as a “Secure/Hot File.” We will make every effort to accommodate your request, but we are not required to do so.
RIGHT TO REQUEST AN ALTERNATIVE METHOD OF CONTACT
United Support Services, Inc. may call you or mail information to you regarding appointment reminders, billing information, or other information about treatment alternatives or services that might be of interest to you. If you would like to request confidential communication or an alternative method of contact, please notify your local provider.
RIGHT TO A COPY OF THIS NOTICE
You have a right to receive a paper copy of this notice. United Support Services, Inc. reserves the right to change this notice and to make the new notice effective for all protected health information. Any revisions to the NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES & CLIENT RIGHTS will be made available at each facility for distribution to all consumers, will be available on our United Support Services, Inc. website www.ussnc.org, or can be provided upon request.
United Support Services, Inc. will notify you of any breach of unsecured protected health information as required by law.
United Support Services, Inc. recognizes the importance of confidentiality, and your right to be fully informed of all regulations regarding protected health information. If you feel your privacy rights have been violated, you may contact any of the following to file a complaint:
United Support Services’ Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement Acting Chairman at 704-841-3544
Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health & Human Services
2001 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-2001 or 919-733-4534
U.S. Secretary of Health & Human Services
200 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20201 or 1-877-696-6775
Provision of services will not be affected by the filing of any complaint.
Click here to download a PDF of our USS Privacy Policies & Client Rights.