Permitted use or disclosures without your authorization
Treatment: We may use and disclose your PHI to provide, manage, and coordinate care among the CARS staff. With your written consent we may use or disclose your PHI to a physician or mental health provider providing treatment to you or to your health care insurer to obtain necessary authorizations for your treatment.
Payment: CARS does not charge a fee. If CARS refers you to a mental health provider identified through your health insurance plan, with your written consent, we may use and disclose PHI information necessary to your insurance plan, or other parties who help pay for your care.
Healthcare Operations: We may use and disclose your PHI in order to support the business operations of CARS. These activities may include accreditation and quality assessment activities, training of interns, and other related business activities. For example, we may contact you to reschedule or remind you of an appointment. We may also provide you with information about treatment alternatives or other health-related benefits/services that may be of interest to you.
Permitted Disclosure with Authorization: You may give us a written authorization to use your PHI or to disclose to another person for the purpose you designate. If you give us an authorization, you may withdraw it in writing at any time. Your withdrawal will not affect any use or disclosures permitted by your authorization while it was in effect. Unless you give us a written authorization we can not use or disclose your PHI for any reason other than those described in this notice unless disclosure is required by law.
Emergencies: We may use or disclose your PHI in an emergency treatment situation or to avert a serious threat to your health or the safety of others. For example, we are required to take the necessary actions in regard to suicidal or homicidal threats.
Public Benefit: We may use or disclose your PHI as authorized by law for the following purposes deemed to be in the public interest or benefit:
- As required by law.
- For public health activities to a public health authority that is permitted by law to collect or receive this information. The disclosure will be made for the purpose of controlling disease, injury or disability.
- To report child abuse or neglect to an agency authorized by law to receive such reports. We may disclose your PHI if we believe that you have been a victim of abuse, neglect, or domestic violence to the government agencies authorized to receive such a report on a case by case basis. The disclosure will be made consistent with the requirements of applicable state and federal laws.
- To health oversight agencies for activities authorized by law, such as audits, investigations and inspections. Oversight agencies include government agencies that oversee the health care system, government benefit programs and civil rights laws.
- In response to court order.
- To law enforcement officials pursuant to subpoenas and other lawful purposes, concerning crime victims, suspicious deaths, crimes on our premises, reporting crimes in emergencies.
- To avert serious threat to health and safety.
- To the military and to federal officials for lawful intelligence, counterintelligence, and national security issues.
- To correctional institutions regarding inmates.
- As authorized by and to the extent necessary to comply with state worker’s compensation laws.
We will make disclosures for the following public interest purposes, only if you provide us with a written authorization or when disclosure is required by law:
- To coroners, medical examiners, and funeral directors.
