Privacy Policy

PRIVACY POLICY

NOTICE OF NON DISCRIMINATION

Livengrin complies with applicable Federal Civil Rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. Livengrin does not exclude people or treat them differently because of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. 

  • Livengrin provides free services to people with disabilities to communicate effectively with us:
    • Qualified sign language interpreters
    • Written information in other formats (large print, audio, accessible electronic format)
  • Livengrin provides free language services to people whose primary language is not English:
    • Qualified interpreters
    • Information written in other languages

If you believe that Livengrin has failed to provide these services or discriminated in another way on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex, you can file a grievance in person, by mail, fax, or email. If you need help filing a grievance, Compliance Officer, Angela Morley is available to assist you. Angela Morley, 4833 Hulmeville Rd, Bensalem, PA 19020 215-638-5200 x1207  

NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES This notice describes how patient medical information may be used and disclosed and how to access this information. For questions about this Notice of Privacy Practices, please contact: Angela Morley, V.P. of Compliance  4833 Hulmeville Road, Bensalem, PA 19020 (215) 638-5200 x1207 This Notice of Privacy Practices describes how Livengrin Foundation, Inc., hereinafter referred to as “Livengrin,” may use and disclose protected health information (PHI), as well as patient rights regarding PHI. Livengrin reserves the right to change the terms of this Notice at any time by posting a copy on our website www.livengrin.org or by posting a copy at our facilities.  You may request a copy of the Notice at any time. Livengrin must also comply with separate federal  and state laws that protect the confidentiality of alcohol and drug abuse patient records.  You may report a suspected violation to the appropriate authorities.   PRIVACY STATEMENT While in treatment, patient privacy is protected by strict state and federal regulations. No information can be given to any individual without the patient’s written permission. Exceptions will be made for legal court orders, Child Protective Services, and circumstances requiring mandatory reporting. These same laws prohibit patients from acknowledging other participants in the program to any outside sources including family members. To ensure confidentiality, no cell phones, recorders, cameras, video camcorders or any other taping devices are allowed in the facility. All such electronic devices must be secured in patient’s luggage. Visitors must secure electronic devices in vehicles. Taking pictures and/or video on Livengrin grounds or in the facility is prohibited. 

Health Information Use & Disclosure

Listed below are examples of the uses and disclosures Livengrin may make of PHI.  The disclosure may be made verbally, in writing, or electronically, such as by email or text message.

  • Treatment: PHI is used to provide and coordinate any related services including sharing information with others outside of Livengrin that we are consulting with or referring to for care, such as a specialist or laboratory.
  • Payment: Patient written consent is obtained upon admission to use PHI for payment of services. We may use or disclose PHI for such reasons as verifying insurance benefits, and if they will cover addiction treatment. PHI is used to process insurance claims, review services provided to determine medical necessity, or complete a utilization review.
  • Healthcare Operations: We may use or disclose your PHI, as needed, to coordinate our business activities and to share PHI with third parties that provide services to us such as billing or computer services, quality assessment activities, employee review activities, training of students, or other services who have entered into contract agreements that maintain the confidentiality of PHI.
  • Contact with Patients: Livengrin may use or disclose PHI for patient activities and follow up contact. We use a sign-in sheet at the registration desk where patients and visitors are asked to sign their name and indicate a counselor or staff representative. We may also contact patients by name in the waiting room when it is time to be seen. Livengrin may contact patients by phone or text for appointment reminders including leaving a voice message at the telephone number provide to us.  If patients select contact by text, texting charges may apply.  Patients can select a preferred method of contact or opt out of future contacts.  We may contact to provide information about treatment alternatives or other health-related benefits and services that may be of interest or regarding Livengrin’s fundraising activities.  Any fundraising material will explain how you can inform us that you do not want to be contacted in the future.  We will format any print mailing in a way that does not identify the patient as a substance abuse treatment client.

Information Disclosed Without Authorization

  • Required by Law: We may use or disclose your PHI if it is required by law. For example, we must make disclosures of your PHI to you upon your request and we must make disclosures to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services for the purpose of investigating or determining our Compliance with the Privacy Rule.  We may also disclose your PHI if a court issues a subpoena and appropriate order and follows required procedures.
  • Health Oversight: We may disclose PHI to a health oversight agency for activities authorized by law, such as audits, investigations, inspections, as well as licensure and accreditation purposes.
  • Medical Emergencies: We may use or disclose your PHI in a medical emergency to medical personnel only.
  • Child Abuse or Neglect: We may disclose your PHI to a state or local agency as authorized by law to receive reports of child abuse or neglect. We only disclose necessary information to make the initial mandated report.
  • Deceased Clients: We may disclose PHI of deceased clients for the purpose of determining the cause of death, in connection with laws requiring the collection of death or other vital statistics, or permitting inquiry into the cause of death.
  • Research: We may disclose PHI to researchers if (a) an Institutional Review Board reviews and approves the research and a waiver to the authorization requirement; (b) the researchers agree to maintain the security of PHI in accordance with applicable laws and regulations; and (c) the researchers agree not to re-disclose PHI except to Livengrin.
  • Court Order: We may disclose PHI if the court issues an appropriate order and follows required procedures.
  • Criminal Activity on Program Premises/Against Program Personnel: We may disclose PHI to law enforcement officials for a crime on program premises or against program personnel.
  • Public Health: We may use or disclose PHI in certain limited circumstances to a public health authority authorized by law to collect or receive such information for purposes of preventing or controlling disease, injury or disability.

Use & Disclosure With Authorization Other uses and disclosures of PHI will be made only with written authorization.  Examples of such situations include the disclosure of psychotherapy notes, marketing communication or situations where PHI may be transferred to another covered entity. Patients have the right to revoke consent for the release of information verbally or in writing at any time by notifying Medical Records.  Please understand that revocation of consents will not affect any action we took in reliance on the consent before Medical Records received revocation. Rights Regarding Your PHI

  • Inspect and Copy Your PHI: Patients can view and receive a copy of PHI that is contained in a designated record set for as long as we maintain the record.  A “designated record set” contains medical and billing records and any other records that Livengrin uses to make decisions about patient care. We charge a reasonable cost-based fee for copies and can provide an electronic copy upon request.  Livengrin reserves the right to deny access to PHI in certain circumstances.  In some of those cases, patients have a right to appeal the denial of access.
  • Amend Your PHI: Patients may request, in writing, an amendment of their PHI. Livengrin reserves the right to deny this request in certain cases.  If the request is denied, the patient has the right to file a statement of disagreement.  Livengrin will respond to the statement in writing and provide a copy to patient. 
  • Accounting of PHI Disclosures: You may request an accounting of disclosures for a period of up to six (6) years (excluding disclosures made to you, made for treatment purposes, made with your authorization, and certain other disclosures).  We may charge you a reasonable fee if you request more than one accounting in any 12-month period.
  • Copy of Notice:  Patients have the right to obtain a copy of this notice.
  • Restrictions on Disclosure and Use of PHI: Patients have the right to ask us not to use and/or disclose PHI for treatment, payment or health care operations or to family members. Livengrin is not required to agree to such restrictions.  Patients have the right to restrict disclosure of PHI to their health plan when they have paid for services out of pocket and in full.  As a convenience to our patients, at some locations we offer text message appointment reminders.  There are privacy risks to texting and text messages may be accessed by others.  Patients may opt out of receiving text messages at any time by notifying Medical Records.
  • Confidential Communications: Patients have the right to request to receive confidential communications from Livengrin by alternative means or at an alternative location.  We will accommodate reasonable, written requests. We may also condition this request by asking for information regarding how payment will be handled or specification of an alternative address or other method of contact.
  • Breach Notification: Livengrin will provide patients with notice in the event of a breach of their PHI.

  Complaints Any individual or organization with concern for the quality and/or safety of patient care delivered by Livengrin is encouraged to contact our Compliance Officer, Angela Morley: 215-638-5200 x1207. If the resolution does not meet your expectations, you may contact the Department of Drug & Alcohol Programs and/or Joint Commission. Livengrin demonstrates this commitment by taking no retaliatory or disciplinary action against individuals who report safety or quality of care concerns to D.D.A.P. or the Joint Commission. You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services:  Region III, Office for Civil Rights. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 150 S. Independence Mall West, Suite 372, Public Ledger Building, Philadelphia, PA 19106-9111.  Hotline (800) 368-1019, Phone (215) 861-4441, Fax (215) 861-4431, TDD (215) 861-4440, OCRComplaint@hhs.gov.