Crossroads' Turning Points, Inc. COMPREHENSIVE
FAMILY SERVICES
SERVING THE SOUTHERN
COLORADO REGION

Notice of Privacy Practices

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.

This Privacy Notice is provided by:

Crossroads' Turning Points, Inc., which will be referred to as CTP within this document, with corporate offices in Pueblo, CO.  The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a federal law.  We are required by HIPAA to provide you with this notice.  This notice describes our privacy practices, legal duties and your rights concerning your protected health information (PHI).  This notice takes effect on April 14, 2003. 

Our Legal Duties

Your privacy is important to us.  Information regarding your health care is protected by two federal laws:  The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 “HIPAA”, 42 U.S.C. 1320d et seq., 45 C.F.R., Parts 160 & 164, and the Confidentiality Law, 42 U.S.C. 290dd-2, 42 C.F.R., Part 2.  Under these laws, CTP may not say to a person outside CTP that you attend the program, nor may CTP disclose any information identifying you as an ATOD (alcohol, tobacco and other drugs) abuser, or disclose any other protected information except as permitted by federal law.

CTP is required by law to maintain the privacy of your health information and to provide you with notice of its legal duties and privacy practices with respect to your health information.  CTP is required by law to abide by the terms of this notice.  CTP reserves the right to change the terms of this notice and to make new notice provisions effective for all protected health information it maintains.  Any revised notice, while under our care, will be provided to you by either onsite at our office(s) or by mail to an address that you provide to us. 

How We May Use or Disclose Your Health Information

For Treatment:  We may use your health information to provide you with counseling or other substance abuse treatment services that CTP offers.  For example, information obtained by our staff, such as a counselor providing counseling services to you, will record information in your record that is related to your treatment.  This information is necessary to determine what treatment you should receive.

For Payment:  Generally, CTP needs your written consent before it can disclose information about you for payment purposes.  The information provided for payment may contain information that identifies you, your presenting problem and type of treatment that you received. 

For Operations:  We may use and disclose health information about you for work within our organization.  For example, your health information may be disclosed to supervisory staff, quality improvement personnel, and others to:

  • Evaluate the performance of our staff;
  • Assess the quality of care and outcomes in your case and similar cases;
  • Learn how to improve our facilities and our service.

Federal law permits CTP to disclose information without your written permission:

  • Pursuant to an agreement with a qualified service organization/business associate;
  • For research, audit or evaluations (for example: Signal and ADAD);
  • To report a crime committed on CTP’s premises or against CTP’s personnel;
  • To medical personnel in a medical emergency;
  • To appropriate authorities to report suspected child abuse or neglect;
  • As allowed by a court order.

 Before CTP can use or disclose any information about your health in a manner not described above, it must first obtain your specific written consent/authorization allowing it to make the disclosure.  Any such written consent may be revoked by you in writing. 

Your Rights

You have the right to:

  • Request a restriction on certain uses and disclosures on your health information; however, CTP is not required to agree to a requested restriction;
  • Obtain a paper copy of the notice of privacy practices upon request;
  • Inspect and obtain a copy of your designated record set;
  • Amend your health care information, with some exceptions;
  • Request that we communicate with you by alternative means or at an alternative location;
  • Receive an accounting of disclosures of your health information.

Complaints

You may file a written complaint to the Privacy Official of CTP and to the Department of Health and Human Services, if you believe your privacy rights have been violated. You will not be retaliated against for filing a complaint.

Violation of the Federal Confidentiality Law by a program is a crime.  Suspected violations of the Confidentiality Law may be reported to the United States Attorney in the district where the violation occurs. 

Contact

For further information, contact the Privacy Official, Crossroads' Turning Points, Inc. at:  719-546-6666 or 1-800-304-3758