Notice of Privacy Practices
Effective Date: 04/14/03

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL, MENTAL HEALTH, ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUG RELATED INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.

General Information:  Information about your health care, including payment, is protected by State and Federal Law¹. Under these laws, the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS) may not say to any person outside the ODMHSAS that you receive services from us without your consent. Generally, ODMHSAS must get your written consent before we can release information about you.

EXAMPLE: We must get your written consent before we can release information to your health insurer for payment.

You may cancel your consent in writing at any time. You cannot cancel consent for information that has already been released. Federal law allows us to release information without your written permission:

1. If ODMHSAS has an agreement with an outside organization known as a qualified service organization or business associate to provide services to the Department or to our consumers;
2. For research, audit or evaluations;
3. To report a crime committed on ODMHSAS property or against ODMHSAS staff;
4. To medical personnel in a medical emergency;
5. To report suspected child abuse or neglect; or
6. As allowed by a court order.

EXAMPLE: ODMHSAS can release information without your consent to an outside organization that provides services to ODMHSAS or to our consumers, such as data processing, laboratory, or financial services or to another medical facility to provide healthcare to you, as long as we have a proper business associate/qualified service organization agreement in place.

¹ The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996, 42 U.S.C. ß 1320d et seq., 45 C.F.R. Parts 160 and 164, and the Confidentiality Law, 42 U.S.C. ß 290dd-2, 42 C.F.R. Part 2.

Your Rights Regarding Your Medical Information

Request Restriction:  You may ask us to limit certain uses or disclosure of your health information. ODMHSAS will consider your request, but does not have to agree. If your request is granted, ODMHSAS will comply except in emergency situations. We cannot agree to limit uses or releases that are required by law.
Request Confidential Communications:  You may let us know how and where you would like to be contacted. For example, you can ask that we contact you by phone rather than mail or at work rather than home. Your request must be in writing. We will go along with reasonable requests. We will not ask you for a reason.
Inspect and Copy: In most cases, you have the right to see or get copies of your records. You must make your request in writing using the “ODMHSAS Consent for Release of Confidential Information” form. You may be charged for copies of your records.
Amend/Correct: You may ask us to change information in your records if you think there is a mistake. However, we will not erase the original information. You must make a written request that explains your reason(s). We do not have to agree to your request for changes if we determine, among other things, that the current information is correct and complete.
An Accounting of Disclosures: You may ask for a list of persons to whom your health information has been released since April 14, 2003. The first list will be free. We may charge for additional lists. We will tell you about any charges and allow you to withdraw or change your request.
A Paper Copy of this Notice:  You may ask us for a copy of this notice at any time.

ODMHSAS Duties
State and Federal laws require ODMHSAS to keep your health information private and to give you this notice of our legal duties and privacy practices.By law, we will follow the terms of this notice. ODMHSAS has the right to change this notice. Any changes will apply to information we already have about you, as well as any future information. The notice contains an effective date. We will post a copy of the current notice in each facility and on our web site, http//www.odmhsas.org. In addition, we will offer you the current notice each time you are admitted.

Complaints and Reporting Violations
You may complain to ODMHSAS and the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services if you believe your privacy rights have been violated under state or federal law.  You will not be penalized for filing a complaint. To file a complaint with ODMHSAS contact:

                 OKC Metro: 405/573-660                                                              Office of Consumer Advocacy
                                or                                                                                900 East Main Street
         (Statewide) Toll Free: 866/699-6605                                                      PO Box 151
                                                                                                                  Norman, OK 73070

If you have any questions about this notice or our privacy practices, please contact our Privacy Officer at 405/522-3908.

Violation of confidentiality laws by ODMHSAS is a crime. Suspected violations of the 

confidentiality law may be reported to the United States Attorney.