Our Commitment to Your Privacy

At Lighthouse Behavioral Health Center, we are dedicated to maintaining the privacy of your Protected Health Information (PHI). In providing you with addiction treatment and behavioral health services, we create records regarding your health and the care we provide. We are required by law to maintain the confidentiality of this information and to provide you with this notice of our legal duties and privacy practices.

Because we provide substance use disorder treatment, your records are protected by two distinct federal laws:

1. HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)

2. 42 CFR Part 2 (Confidentiality of Substance Use Disorder Patient Records)

These laws strictly limit when and how we can share your information. In most cases, we will not share your substance use treatment records without your specific written authorization.

Your Rights

When it comes to your health information, you have certain rights:

• Right to Inspect and Copy: You can ask to see or get an electronic or paper copy of your medical record. We will provide a copy or a summary of your health information, usually within 30 days of your request.

• Right to Amend: If you feel that the health information we have is incorrect or incomplete, you can ask us to correct it. We may say “no” to your request, but we will tell you why in writing within 60 days.

• Right to Request Confidential Communications: You can ask us to contact you in a specific way (for example, home or office phone) or to send mail to a different address. We will say “yes” to all reasonable requests.

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

• Right to an Accounting of Disclosures: You can ask for a list (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.

• Right to a Paper Copy of This Notice: You can ask for a paper copy of this notice at any time, even if you have agreed to receive the notice electronically.

How We May Use and Disclose Your Information

We typically use or share your health information in the following ways. Please note that 42 CFR Part 2 may require your written consent for these disclosures if they reveal substance use disorder treatment.

1. For Treatment We can use your health information and share it with other professionals who are treating you.

• Example: A counselor at Lighthouse BHC may discuss your progress with our medical director to adjust your treatment plan.

2. For Payment We can use and share your health information to bill and get payment from health plans or other entities.

• Example: We give information about you to your health insurance plan so it will pay for your services. Note: Disclosures to insurance plans for substance use treatment often require your specific written consent.

3. For Health Care Operations We can use and share your health information to run our practice, improve your care, and contact you when necessary.

• Example: We use health information to evaluate the quality of our staff’s services.

Special Privacy Protections (Substance Use Records)

Lighthouse Behavioral Health Center strictly adheres to 42 CFR Part 2. This means that we will not disclose any information that identifies you as a patient seeking or receiving substance use treatment unless:

• You consent in writing.

• The disclosure is allowed by a court order.

• The disclosure is made to medical personnel in a medical emergency.

• The disclosure is for research, audit, or program evaluation purposes.

• The disclosure relates to a crime committed at our facility or against our personnel.

Complaints

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with us or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

To file a complaint with us, please contact: Privacy Official (Operations Manager) Lighthouse Behavioral Health Center 1119 E Monument Street Baltimore, MD 21201 Phone: (667) 290-9390 Email: operationsmanager@lighthousebhc.org

You can also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights by visiting www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints/.