AKEELA, INC.
NOTICE OF CLIENT PRIVACY PRACTICES
THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW HEALTH INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.
General Information
Information regarding your health care, including payment for health care, is protected by two federal laws: The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”), 42USC §1320d et seq., 45 CFR Parts 160 & 164, and the Confidentiality of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Patient Records Act, 42 USC §290dd-2, 42 CFR Part 2. Under these laws, Akeela, Inc. may not disclose to a person outside Akeela that you attend the program, nor may Akeela disclose any information identifying you as an alcohol or drug treatment patient, or disclose any other protected information except as permitted by federal law.
Akeela must obtain your written consent before it can disclose information about you for payment purposes. Akeela must obtain your written consent before it can disclose information to your health insurer in order to be paid for services. Akeela is also required to obtain your written consent before it can sell information or disclose information about you for marketing purposes, and Akeela must obtain your written consent before disclosing any of your psychotherapy records. Generally, you must sign a written consent before Akeela can share information for treatment purposes or for health care operations. However, federal law permits Akeela to disclose information without your written permission for the following reasons:
- Pursuant to an agreement with a qualified service organization/business associate;
- For research, audit or evaluations;
- To report a crime committed on Akeela’s premises or against Akeela personnel;
- To medical personnel in a medical emergency;
- To appropriate authorities to report suspected child abuse or neglect;
- As allowed by a court order
- To appropriate authorities to report suspected elder abuse or neglect;
- Suicidal or homicidal threats or attempts
- To other Akeela personnel
- As required by governmental organizations
Before Akeela can use or disclose any information about your health in a manner which is not described above, it must first obtain your specific written consent allowing it to make the disclosure. Any such written consent may be revoked by you orally or in writing.
Your Rights
Under HIPAA, you have the right to request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures of your health information. Akeela is only required to comply if you request a restriction on disclosures to your health plan for payment or health care operations purposes, and your services are pre-paid, unless the disclosure is otherwise required by law. In any other situation, Akeela is not required to agree to any restrictions you request, but if it does agree then it is bound by that agreement and may not use or disclose any information which you have restricted except as necessary in a medical emergency.
You have the right to request that we communicate with you by alternative means or at an alternative location. Akeela will accommodate such requests that are reasonable without an explanation from you. Under HIPAA you also have the right to inspect and copy your own health information maintained by Akeela, except to the extent that the information contains psychotherapy notes or information compiled for use in a civil, criminal, or administrative proceeding or in other limited circumstances. You have the right to request an electronic copy of your health information.
Under HIPAA you also have the right, with some exceptions, to amend health care information maintained in Akeela’s records, and to request and receive an accounting of disclosures of your health related information made by Akeela during the six years prior to your request. You also have the right to receive a paper copy of this request.
Akeela’s Duties
Akeela 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. Akeela is required by law to abide by the terms of this notice. Akeela reserves the right to change the terms of this notice and to make new notice provisions effective for all protected health information it maintains.
Akeela will post changes to this notice both in program locations and on the Akeela website: www.Akeela.org
Complaints and Reporting Violations
You may complain to Akeela and the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services if you believe that your privacy rights have been violated under HIPAA. Address complaints to: Privacy Officer, Akeela, Inc., 360 West Benson Boulevard, Suite 300, Anchorage, AK 99503. You will not be retaliated against for filing such a complaint.
Violation of the 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: Program Staff; Privacy Officer (907) 565-1200
