Notice of Privacy Practices

Information regarding your care and treatment, including payment for services, 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 and 164, and the Drug and Alcohol Confidentiality Law 42 U.S.C. §290dd-2, 42 C.F.R. part 2. Under these laws, House of Hope may not report to any person outside House of Hope that you attend the program. House of Hope may not disclose any information identifying you as an alcohol or drug abuse client, or disclose any other protective information except as permitted by federal law.

House of Hope can not disclose (or even acknowledge that you have been, or are currently in, any House of Hope treatment program) to any family member, Judge, Officer-of-theLaw, Drug Court, Family Court, Adult Probation & Parole, Department of Child and Family Services, friend, or any person or agency that may have a stake in your obtaining treatment.

Before House of Hope can disclose any information about you in a manner that is not described below, it must first obtain your specific written consent, stating what is to be shared, to whom, and for what purpose. Only the minimum necessary information to accomplish the stated purpose will be released. You may revoke any such consent in writing at any time and/or your consent expires automatically 30 days after exiting our treatment program. However, federal law permits House of Hope to disclose information without your written permission in the following circumstances:

1. Pursuant to an agreement made with business associates
2. For audits or evaluations by stakeholders
3. To report a crime committed on House of Hope premises or against House of Hope personnel.
4. To medical personnel in a medical emergency
5. To appropriate authorities to report suspected child/elder abuse or neglect.
6. Within the guidelines for: "Duty to warn" and "protect self or others".
7. As allowed by a duly executed "Court Order' under 42 C.F.R.
8. Relevant disclosure with other staff in clinical meetings.

House of Hope is required by law to maintain the privacy of your information and to provide you with notice of its legal duties and privacy practices with respect to your information. House of Hope is required by law to abide by the terms of this notice. House of Hope reserves the right to change the terms of this notice and to make new provisions effective for all protected information it maintains.