Privacy Policy

ADVANCE HOUSING, INC. • NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES EFFECTIVE DATE JANUARY 01, 2019 THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT

If you have any questions, please contact our Privacy Officer at the address or phone number at the bottom of this notice.

 

Our duties to you regarding Protected Health Information

Protected Health Information is individually identifiable health information that relates to your past, present, or future physical or mental health or condition and related health care services. 

 

We are required by law to do the following:

 

  1. Keep your Protected Health Information private.
  2. Give you this notice of our legal duties and privacy practices related to the use and disclosure of your Protected Health Information
  3. Follow the terms of the notice currently in effect.
  4. Communicate to you any changes we may make in this notice

Changes to this notice

We may change our policies at any time.  Therefore, we reserve the right to also change this notice.  Changes will apply to health information we already hold as well as new information we receive after the change occurs. 

Should any changes occur, we will post the new notice on our website at www.advancehousing.org. 

You will be offered a copy of the current notice and will also be asked to acknowledge in writing your receipt of this notice.

How we may use or disclose your Protected Health Information

In the following cases, we may release your Protected Health Information without your authorization:

 

  1. If a consumer voices a threat against a specific individual or group, that individual or person responsible for the group (e.g. school principle if the threat was made against a school) must be notified. Police may be notified if the intended victim cannot be contacted. [Practitioners have a duty to warn.]

 

  1. If a consumer reveals that child abuse may have taken place, the NJ Division of Child Protection and Permanency must be notified [10:37-108(b)]

 

  1. If a consumer reveals abuse or exploitation in a rooming/boarding/nursing home, this shall be reported to the County Welfare Agency [10:37-108(b)]

 

  1. Information may be shared with another mental health agency in accordance with HIPAA [10:37-6.79(a)1]

 

  1. If a judge orders the release of information to a court [10:37-6.79(a)2]

 

  1. If a consumer is psychiatrically evaluated by a psychiatric screening center, information may be released to the screening center staff to facilitate the evaluation [10:37-6.79(a)3]

 

  1. To comply with any Federal or State law requiring the release of information [10:37-6.79(a)3]

 

  1. When the Office of Licensing or Medicaid conducts a review, a consumer’s clinical record may be reviewed [10:37-6.79(b)2]

 

  1. An accreditation reviewer may look at a consumer’s record [10:37-6.79(b)3]

 

  1. If officials within the offices of the State Medical Examiner or a County Medical Examiner making investigations and conducting autopsies request the information [10:37-6.79(b)4]

 

  1. Non-specific information may be provided to a family member or friend if the consumer does not object [N.J.A.C. 10:37-6.79(e)]

 

  1. To a consumer’s personal physician to benefit the consumer [N.J.A.C. 10:37-6.79(f)]

 

  1. Medication information may be released to the consumer’s pharmacy

 

  1. Release of information about any consumer under the age of 18 requiring authorization will be determined by the consumer’s parent or guardian

The following uses and disclosures will be made only with your written authorization:

  • Uses and disclosures for marketing purposes;
  • Uses and disclosures that constitute the sale of Protected Health Information;
  • Most uses and disclosures of psychotherapy notes (if the covered entity maintains psychotherapy notes)
  • Other uses and disclosures not described in the notice will be made only with your written authorization.
    • If you choose to authorize use or disclosure, you may later revoke that authorization by notifying us in writing of your decision.

Special protections for HIV, alcohol and substance abuse, mental health, and genetic information

Special privacy protections apply to HIV related information, alcohol and substance abuse treatment information, mental health information, and genetic information.  Some parts of this Notice of Privacy Practices may not apply to those types of information. 

Breach

  • In the event that there is a breach of your unsecured PHI, you will be notified, as required by law.

Complaints

  • If you believe that your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a written complaint with our Privacy Officer.
  • You may also file a written complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Civil Rights.
  • Under no circumstances will you be retaliated against for filing a complaint with our Privacy Officer or with the Office of Civil Rights.

Privacy Officer

Advance Housing, Inc. 

Attn: Clinical Director

100 Hollister Road 

Teterboro, NJ 07608                    

 

Phone: Teterboro office (201) 498-9140 extension 239 or Sparta office (973) 940-8882 extension 202

 

 

 

Hours of operation:

Monday through Sundat 8 am- 8 pm.

Office Hours – Monday through Friday 9 am – 5 pm

If you or a family member are experiencing the signs or symptoms of a mental illness and feel you are in crisis, call 201-262-HELP (4357). Crisis counselors are available 24/7 to guide you through the next steps of getting help.