Your information is important to Behavioral Health Link and the data we collect helps us try and provide you, the user, with the best possible user experience.
The data we collect will include information you provide to us and information we collect automatically.
We collect data when you create or update your Behavioral Health Link account.
This will include user-identifiable information such as first name, last name, email address, phone number, postal address, and user passwords. Other information collected can include system or user region identifiable information.
We may request access or permission to collect location-based information. How much location information we collect, which can be either precise or imprecise, depends on the type and settings of the device you use to access the services. You may do so in your device’s settings if you wish to change our access or permissions. However, if you opt-out, you may not be able to use certain features or aspects of the services provided.
The collection of communication information includes messages between you and another user or group of users, including the message content and any attachments.
We retain information until it is determined that it is no longer needed for the processing purposes for which we collected or retained it or for legal compliance. We will retain information when necessary to comply with contractual and legal obligations when we have a legitimate business interest to do so (such as improving and developing the Platform and enhancing its safety, security, and stability), and for the exercise or defense of legal claims.
THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW HEALTH INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU MAY ACCESS THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.
If you have any questions about this Privacy Notice, please contact BHL’s Compliance Officer at the email listed below.
As you may know, each visit to a physician, hospital, or other health provider or service is documented in a health information record to support your service. This record usually contains your symptoms, any assessments or evaluations, test results, diagnoses, communications among health professionals who contribute to your care and treatment, and a treatment plan for the future. It describes the Behavioral Health Link (BHL) services and any referrals you received from BHL or any of its programs, serves as a data source for organizational planning and marketing, and helps Behavioral Health Link continually assess and improve services and outcomes.
Understanding what is in your record and how your health information is used helps to ensure the accuracy of your health information. It also helps you to make informed decisions concerning authorizing the disclosure of your health information to others and to understand who may access your health information, what information they may have access to, and under what circumstances your health information may be accessed. An authorization gives written permission for specific disclosures only. In circumstances other than those involving services and healthcare operations, a separate authorization will be required from you before the information is released. In addition, authorization will be required before the release of notes of conversations between you and a BHL-licensed clinical staff member during telephone conversations or any private individual, group, joint, or family counseling evaluation or session. These notes are given greater protection than other private health information.
Behavioral Health Link will compile a health information record that is the physical property of Behavioral Health Link; however, the information belongs to you. You have the right to:
request a paper copy of this Notice of Privacy Practices upon your request,
Revoke your authorization to use or disclose health information except when action has already been taken,
Review the information in your record (which may be denied under certain circumstances),
Request to amend your health record (which may be denied),
Request a restriction on certain uses and disclosures of your information, however, BHL is not required to agree to the restriction you request,
Obtain an accounting of disclosures of your health information and
Request communications concerning your health information by other means or locations.
A request for any of these modifications should be addressed in writing to the BHL Chief Compliance Officer using the contact information listed above.
Behavioral Health Link will protect your health information and provide you with a notice about our legal duties and privacy practices regarding the information we collect and maintain about you. BHL will abide by the terms of this notice and notify you if we cannot agree to a requested restriction or accommodate any requests you may have to communicate health information by other means or at other locations.
Behavioral Health Link reserves the right to change its privacy practices. If privacy practices change, a revised notice will be given to you at your request.
BHL is subject to the Health Insurance Portability Act of 1006 (known as “HIPAA”) as a business associate when BHL receives your health information. BHL complies with HIPAA and all other federal and state privacy laws, and the privacy provisions of its Business Associate Agreements and other contractual relationships with its customers and their other business associates.
Behavioral Health Link will not use or disclose your health information without authorization except as described in this notice or as otherwise authorized ed by HIPAA.
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with the Owners of Behavioral Health Link in writing using the contact information listed above or with the Secretary of Health and Human Services. There will be no retaliation for filing a complaint.
Your health information will be recorded in your record and used to determine the course of treatment that should work best for you. Copies of this record will be provided to a healthcare provider and/or facility to assist you once you are referred for treatment.
Your health information may be used to assess the services and outcomes in your case and others like it. This information will then be used to continually improve the quality and effectiveness of the services provided by Behavioral Health Link.
Child, Elder, Disabled, or Domestic Abuse—If there is reasonable cause to believe that a child, elderly person, or disabled adult has been abused, neglected, or exploited, a report will be filed with the proper authorities.
Threats to Health or Safety—If it is believed that you are a danger to yourself or someone else, your information may be disclosed to provide protection to you or the intended victim.
Legal Proceedings—If you are involved in a court proceeding and there is a question concerning your records or the services provided by BHL or any of its programs, that information will not be released without your written consent or a court order. If you are being evaluated for a third party or pursuant to a court order, you will be informed in advance, and the privilege of confidentiality is not applicable.
Correctional Institution—If you are an inmate of a correctional institution, BHL may disclose to the institution or its agents health information necessary for your health and the health and safety of other individuals.
Health Oversight—If any of the licensed clinical staff members is investigated by their respective Georgia licensing board, the disclosure of protected health information may be required.
Business Associates—Behavioral Health Link contracts with other Business Associates to provide certain services, such as physician services, such as the Behavioral Health Link Medical Director, or licensed clinical professionals who provide services through the Behavioral Health Link Mobile Crisis Team. When these services are contracted, we may disclose your health information to our Business Associate so they can perform the services they are contracted to Behavioral Health Link. The Business Associate is required to safeguard and protect your health information appropriately.
Worker’s Compensation—To comply with laws related to worker’s compensation, your protected health information may be disclosed as authorized by law to provide benefits for work-related injuries or illness.
For individuals who have received treatment, diagnosis, or referral for treatment from drug or alcohol abuse programs, the confidentiality of drug or alcohol abuse records is protected by federal and state laws and regulations. As a general rule, we may not tell a person outside the programs that you attend any of these programs or disclose any information identifying you as an alcohol or drug abuser unless:
You authorize the disclosure in writing; or
The disclosure is permitted by a court order; or
The disclosure is made to medical personnel in a medical emergency or to qualified
Personnel for research, audit, or program evaluation purposes; or
You threaten to commit a crime either at the drug abuse or alcohol program or against any person who works for our programs.
A violation by Behavioral Health Link of the federal law and regulations governing drug or alcohol abuse is a crime. Suspected violations may be reported to the United States Attorney in the district where the violation occurs. Federal law and regulations governing confidentiality of drug or alcohol abuse permit us to report suspected child abuse or neglect under state law to appropriate state or local authorities. (Reference: 42 U.S.C. § 290dd-2 for federal law and 42 C.F.R. Part 2 for federal regulations governing the confidentiality of alcohol and drug abuse patient records.)
Behavioral Health Link and its staff are prohibited by state law from intentionally or knowingly disclosing information regarding the HIV/AIDS status of a consumer. AIDS confidential information may be disclosed only under the following limited circumstances:
Disclosure may be made to a parent or guardian if the patient is a minor or is incompetent or
To persons designated by the consumer in writing.
Upon consultation among the BHL Directors, Medical Director, and the legal counsel for the organization, it may be considered appropriate under Georgia state privacy standards to disclose that a consumer is infected with HIV to a spouse, sexual partner, or child of the infected consumer if there is agreement among the BHL Directors, Medical Director, licensed clinician, any other health care providers with whom care is coordinated, and BHL legal counsel that this person is at risk of being infected and every attempt has been made to contact the infected consumer to discuss disclosure; or when the disclosure is authorized by other state or federal law. (Reference: Ga. Code Ann § 24-9-47 state regulations governing confidentiality of HIV/AIDS patient records.)