HIPAA Notice to Consumers

Advantage Behavioral Healthcare, Inc. is committed to keeping information about you confidential and maintaining your privacy. Under the Healthcare Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996, you also have certain legal rights to your privacy. 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 and ask questions about any information you do not understand. 

Advantage Behavioral Healthcare will maintain sufficient records to justify through and appropriate treatment. The information you give us is confidential and release or disclosure of any identifiable information to any individual or agency is prohibited except under the following ethical and legal conditions:

  1. Consumer/legal representative has signed a valid authorization for release of information to a third party. (Informed Consent) 
  2. Consumer is seeking treatment at another facility within the N.C. Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services and it has been determined to be in the consumer's best interest to disclose information to the facility where consumer is requesting services. (This excludes consumers receiving substance abuse treatment) 
  3. Information may be shared with service provider or agency that contracts with Southeastern Regional Mental Health Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services (if deemed to be in the best interest of the consumer.) This excludes consumer receiving substance abuse treatment. 
  4. In the interest of public safety. (It is determined by a clinical staff member that consumer presents a danger to self or others.) 
  5. In response to a court order and/or subpoena. 
  6. In response to a medical emergency, disclosure may be made to medical personnel.
  7. State and federal laws require reporting of child abuse, disabled adult abuse, disabled adult abuse, and any threat to commit such a crime. 
  8. Crimes committed at the program, crimes against any employee of the program, and any threat to commit such a crime.
  9. In the investigation of life-threatening threats to an elected official.
  10. Disclosure may be made to qualified personnel for research, audit, or program evaluation. 

The confidentiality of alcohol and drug abuse records maintained by this programs protected by Federal Law and regulations and violations of the Federal Law and regulations by a program crime. Suspected violations may be reported to appropriate authorities in accordance with Federal regulations. (42 CFR, Part 2); (45 CFR Parts 160 and 164). 

Consumer data is maintained in a computerized system for financial, statistical, and program planning purposes. Only authorized staff members have access to this data. 

As a consumer of Advantage Behavioral Healthcare your rights are protected by enter policy as well as by State and Federal Laws. If you have concerns, complaints, or grievances which you wish to express, you are encouraged to discuss them with your clinician; or if you prefer, you may go directly to the supervisor and /or the Center Director as outlined in the Client Grievance Procedure. 

You also have the right to contact the Governor's Advocacy Council for Person with Disabilities at 1-800-821-6922. 

Revised 12/11/2019