Confidentiality and Privacy Practices

BARC Developmental Services is committed to ensuring the privacy and security of consumer Protected Health Information (PHI) maintained and obtained during operations related to our Human Service Programs. BARC Developmental Services will ensure the confidentiality of PHI in written, oral or electronic medium and will comply with federal and state confidentiality laws and regulations.

Notice of Privacy Practices For Consumers About Protected Health Information

BARC Developmental Services Notice of Privacy Practices for Consumer Protected Health Information

This notice describes how protected health information about you as a BARC Developmental Services Consumer may be used and disclosed and how you as a BARC Developmental Services consumer can get access to this information. Please review it carefully.

I. How BARC Developmental Services Uses and Discloses Your Health Information

BARC Developmental Services provides a broad range of services and supports through its Early Intervention, Residential, Vocational Services and Support programs. If you receive services from a BARC Developmental Services program, the program may use your protected health information and disclose it to other human services programs and outside of BARC Developmental Services, to:

1. plan and provide your care and treatment
2. communicate with health care professionals who care for you
3. describe the care you receive
4. pbtain reimbursement from private insurers or other government programs
5. verify that services billed were actually provided
6. educate health professionals g. inform public health officials charged with improving healthcare
7. assess and improve the services provided and the outcomes achieved
8. pay for services you receive
9. inform you about other public programs and services

BARC Developmental Services will not use or disclose your protected health information except as described in this notice, or otherwise authorized by law.

II. Your Health Information Rights:

You have the right to:

1. request a restriction on certain uses and disclosures of your protected health information
2. obtain a paper copy of this Notice of Privacy Practices upon request
3. inspect and copy your protected health information
4. request amendments to your protected health information
5. obtain an accounting of disclosures of your protected health information
6. request communications of your protected health information by alternative means or at an alternative address
7. revoke your consent to use or disclose protected health information to the extent that it has not already been relied upon
8. file a complaint to BARC Developmental Services' Privacy Officer and/or the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service if you believe your privacy rights have been violated.

III. BARC Developmental Services' Duties

BARC Developmental Services programs each have a duty to:

1. maintain the privacy of your protected health information
2. provide you with a notice as to our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to protected health information we collect and maintain about you
3. abide by the terms of this notice
4. notify you if we are unable to agree to a requested restriction
5. accommodate reasonable requests you may have to communicate health information by alternative means or at an alternative address
6. Provide an accounting of disclosures of your protected health information

BARC Developmental Services may change its privacy practices and make the new privacy practices effective for all protected health information we maintain. Should our privacy practices change, we will mail a revised notice to the address you have supplied us.

IV. For More Information or to Report a Problem

If you have questions and would like additional information, you may contact BARC Developmental Services' Privacy Officer, the Director of Quality Resources at 215.794.0800.

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you can file a complaint with BARC Developmental Services' Privacy Officer or with the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. There will be no retaliation for filing a complaint.

V. Examples of Disclosures for Treatment, Payment and Health Operations:

We will use your health information for treatment.

For example: Information obtained by a nurse, physician, or other member of your treatment team will be recorded in your record and used to determine the course of treatment that should work best for you.

We will use your health information for payment.

For example: A bill may be sent to you or any private or public source of health coverage you have identified. The information on or accompanying the bill may include information that identifies you, as well as your diagnosis, procedures, and supplies used. We will use your health information for regular health operations. For example: Members of a quality assurance team may use information in your health record to assess the care and outcomes in your case and others like it. This information will then be used in an effort to continually improve the quality and effectiveness of the healthcare and service we provide.

VI. Others who may receive your health information

Business Associates: there are some services provided in our organization through contracts with business associates. When these services are contracted, we may disclose your health information to our business associate so that they can perform the job we've asked them to do. However, we require the business associate to appropriately safeguard your information.

Research: We may disclose information to researchers when the information is de-identified or when their research has been approved by an institutional review board that has reviewed the research proposal and established protocols to ensure the privacy of your health information.

Organ procurement organizations: Consistent with applicable law, we may disclose health information to organ procurement organizations or other entities engaged in the procurement, banking, or transplantation of organs for the purpose of tissue donation and transplant.

Funeral Directors: We may disclose health information to funeral directors to carry out their duties, as required by law.

Public health: We may disclose your health information to public health or legal authorities charged with preventing or controlling disease, injury or disability.

Correctional institution: Should you be an inmate of a correctional institution, we may disclose to the institution or agents thereof any health information necessary for your health and the health and safety of other individuals, or for the administration of the institution.

Law enforcement: We may disclose health information for law enforcement purposes.