Uses and Disclosures of Your Health Information

In some circumstances we are permitted or required to use or disclose your health information without obtaining your prior authorization and without offering you the opportunity to object.

The most common release of information regarding your healthcare is for treatment, payment and coordination of healthcare operations:

Treatment: We may use your healthcare information to provide, or coordinate with others to provide, treatment. An example would be disclosing information from our records to your primary healthcare provider for coordination of treatment. Also, we may contact you for appointment reminders.

Payment: We may use or disclose your health information to obtain payment for the services you receive at Northeastern Center. For example, we may inform your health insurance company of your diagnosis and treatment in order to assist insurer in processing our claim for payment for services provided to you.

Healthcare Operations: Northeastern Center, Inc. may use and/or disclose your information for the purpose of day-to-day operations and functions. Your healthcare information may be used in oversight activities as required by law such as audits, inspections and licensing functions required for state licensure.

There are times Northeastern Center, Inc may release information without prior authorization for your protection or the safety of others. This release requirement is dictated by Federal and State law and may include:

• National Security;
• For Public Health Reasons;
• To disclose information about victims of abuse, neglect or domestic violence as required by law;
• For oversight activities such as audits or civil, administrative or criminal investigations;
• To facilitate organ, eye, or tissue donation;
• To avert serious threat to health or safety;
• For specialized government functions such as military, lawful intelligence, counterintelligence;
• To correctional institution or law enforcement personnel having lawful custody of protected health information of inmate or patient.

Northeastern Center, Inc. may also disclose healthcare information to family members or close personal friends to help with payment or with coordinating treatment unless you sign a form objecting to the release of this information.

Northeastern Center, Inc. may contact individuals to provide appointment reminders.

Except as described above, disclosure of information from your mental health record or drug or alcohol treatment record will be made only with your written authorization, or as dictated by Federal or State laws or rules.

Your Rights

As a client of Northeastern Center, Inc. you have the following rights:

The right to request restrictions on the use and disclosure of your health information for treatment. Northeastern Center, Inc. is not required to agree to this restriction request. In the event of an emergency or your incapacity, we reserve the right to disclose information that is directly relevant to someone involved in your healthcare. In these circumstances, the staff of Northeastern Center will use our professional judgment and experience.

The right to limit communications. You have the right to receive confidential communications of health information by alternative means or at alternative locations. This means you may designate location or means of communication such as only telephone contacts at your home. To request communications by alternative means or at alternative locations, you must submit written request to the Contact listed on the final page of this Notice.

The right to inspect and copy health information. Despite this general right, access may be denied in some limited circumstances. For example, access may be denied if you are an inmate at a correctional institution, if the federal Privacy Act applies or if access to the information is reasonably likely to endanger the life or physical safety of you or someone else. To have access to your records or receive a copy of your health information, you must make this request in writing. If copies are provided, you will be charged reasonable cost-based fees for copying and mailing the requested information. To arrange for access to your records, or to receive a copy of you records, submit a request to the Contact listed on the final page of this Notice.

The right to request an amendment. You may request that your healthcare record information be amended. This request should be submitted in writing. Your request for amendment will be reviewed by the physician and your request may be denied under certain circumstances. If your request is denied, you may submit a written statement disagreeing with this denial which will be kept on file and distributed with future disclosures of relevant information. Requests for amendments to records must be submitted in writing to the Contact listed on the final page of this Notice.

The right to an accounting of disclosures. You have the right to an accounting of disclosures of health information made during the previous six years, but not before April 4, 2003. Request for this disclosure more than one time per year may result in a reasonable, cost-based fee. Requests for an accounting of disclosures must be submitted in writing to the Contact listed on the final page of this Notice.

The right to a paper copy of this notice. You have the right to obtain a copy of this Privacy Notice upon request.

Our Duties

Northeastern Center, Inc. is required by law to maintain the privacy of your protected health information and to provide individuals with this notice of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to protected health information.

Northeastern Center, Inc. is required to abide by the Privacy Notice currently in effect. Northeastern Center, Inc. reserves the right to change the terms of this notice and to make those changes applicable to all health information we maintain. Any changes to this notice will be posted on our website and at our facility, and will be available upon request.

Questions or Complaints

You may submit a written complaint to the Northeastern Center, Inc. privacy officer at the location below or to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Northeastern Center, Inc. supports your right to the privacy of your health information. No action will be taken against you for filing any complaint.

For more information about our privacy practices or with questions or concerns, please contact:

Privacy Officer or Designee

220 S Main Street, PO Box 817
Kendallville, IN 46755 (260)347-2453

Terms of Use

The Web site www.nec.org (“Site”) is owned and maintained exclusively by Northeastern Center, Inc. Northeastern Center requires that all the visitors to this Site adhere to the terms of use set forth herein. By accessing the Site you indicate your acknowledgment and acceptance of these terms of use as well as all applicable laws. The terms of use are subject to change and may be amended, revised, or rescinded by Northeastern Center at any time without notice to you. This page contains the most recent version of the terms of use. Northeastern Center reserves the right to terminate or deny access to you if you engage in any prohibited activity.

Copyright/Trademarks

The trademarks, logos, service marks or copyrighted materials displayed on the Site are the property of Northeastern Center and/or other parties. Users are prohibited from using any trademark, logo, service mark or copyrighted material for any purpose without the written permission of Northeastern Center or such third party which may own the trademarks, logos, service marks or copyrighted materials. Users are prohibited from copying, reproducing, modifying, distributing, transmitting, displaying, publishing, selling, licensing, transferring, creating derivative works or using any information obtained on or through the Site for any commercial or public use.

Links to Other Sites

The Site may contain links to other Web sites which give you access to third-party material. Northeastern Center has no discretion to alter, update, or control the content on such a site accessed through a link. The existence of the link to another site is not an indication of Willis-Knighton’s affiliation, endorsement, authorization or sponsorship with the linked site and the user should read and be familiar with that site’s terms and conditions.

Privacy and Protection of Personal Information
Northeastern Center maintains a privacy policy regarding the use of any personal information. Please refer to this policy for further information.

Medical Representations

The information appearing on this Site is given in a generalized, generic basis and is not specific to any individual patient’s condition. Information on this Site can be helpful to you to assist in the making of informed decisions about healthcare issues. The use of this Site does not create a physician-patient or provider-patient relationship. This information is not intended to replace a health professional-patient relationship, and you should always consult with a professional for diagnosis and treatment of any health problems. You should not disregard any advice or treatment from your healthcare professional based on your interpretation of what you may read on the Site. Additionally, please do not email any questions regarding a specific medical or health condition. If any such request is received a standard response that you should consult with your own healthcare professional will be returned. If you have any questions about the terms of use, you can contact us at webmaster@nec.org.

Accuracy

Reasonable efforts have been undertaken to ensure that the information displayed on the Site is current; however, Northeastern Center does not warrant the accuracy, reliability or completeness of the information.

Liability

All content and services on the Site, or obtained from a Web site to which the Site is linked are provided to you “as is” without warranty of any kind either express or implied including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchant ability and fitness for a particular purpose, title, non infringement, security or accuracy. Additionally, Northeastern Center expressly disclaims any liability for any damage to or viruses that may infect your computer equipment or other property as you access or browse the Site or download material from it.

Registration

In some instances Northeastern Center offers users access to online registration for certain programs, events, and classes that may request personal information from you including your name, address, telephone number and e-mail address. We may use your information to send you a confirmation of your registration with our Site, to respond to questions from you, or to notify you if there is a problem with any registrations placed. Please refer to the Privacy Policy for this Site.