Except as outlined below, Discover Recovery will not use or disclose your PHI without your written authorization. The authorization form is available from Discover Recovery (at the address and phone number below). You have the right to revoke your authorization at any time, except to the extent that Discover Recovery has taken action in reliance on the authorization.
The law permits Discover Recovery to use and disclose your PHI for the following reasons without your authorization:
For Your Treatment
We may use or disclose your PHI to physicians, psychologists, nurses and other authorized healthcare professionals who need your PHI in order to conduct an examination, prescribe medication or otherwise provide health care services to you.
To Obtain Payment
We may use or disclose your PHI to insurance companies, government agencies or health plans to assist us in getting paid for our services. For example, we may release information such as dates of treatment to an insurance company in order to obtain payment.
For Our Health Care Operations
We may use or disclose your PHI in the course of activities necessary to support our health care operations such as performing quality checks on your employee services. We may also disclose PHI to other persons not in Discover Recovery's workforce or to companies who help us perform our health services (referred to as "Business Associates") we require these business associates to appropriately protect the privacy of your information.
As Permitted or Required By The Law
In some cases we are required by law to disclose PHI. Such as disclosers may be required by statute, regulation court order, government agency, we reasonably believe an individual to be a victim of abuse, neglect or domestic violence: for judicial and administrative proceedings and enforcement purposes.
For Public Health Activities
We may disclose your PHI for public health purposes such as reporting communicable disease results to public health departments as required by law or when required for law enforcement purposes.
For Health Oversight Activities
We may disclose your PHI in connection with governmental oversight, such as for licensure, auditing and for administration of government benefits.
To Avert Serious Threat to Health and Safety
We may disclose PHI if we believe in good faith that doing so will prevent or lessen a serious or imminent threat to the health and safety of a person or the public.
Disclosures of Health Related Benefits or Services
Sometimes we may want to contact you regarding service reminders, health related products or services that may be of interest to you, such as health care providers or settings of care or to tell you about other health related products or services offered at Discover Recovery. You have the right not to accept such information.
Incidental Uses and Disclosures
Incidental uses and disclosures of PHI are those that cannot be reasonably prevented, are limited in nature and that occur as a by-product of a permitted use or disclosure. Such incidental used and disclosures are permitted as long as Discover Recovery use reasonable safeguards and use or disclose only the minimum amount of PHI necessary.
To Personal Representatives
We may disclose PHI to a person designated by you to act on your behalf and make decisions about your care in accordance with state law. We will act according to your written instructions in your chart and our ability to verify the identity of anyone claiming to be your personal representative.
To Family and Friends
We may disclose PHI to persons that you indicate are involved in your care or the payment of care. These disclosures may occur when you are not present, as long as you agree and do not express an objection. These disclosures may also occur if you are unavailable, incapacitated, or facing an emergency medical situation and we determine that a limited disclosure may be in your best interest. We may also disclose limited PHI to public or private entity that is authorized to assist in disaster relief efforts in order for that entity to locate a family member or other person that may be involved in caring for you. You have the right to limit or stop these disclosures.
