Information Handling
In our normal business operations, NECCO may receive protected health information (PHI) about you. PHI is and includes some indication of your medical condition. This information may be about you or your family members. The law requires that NECCO protect this information.

Circumstances where information
about you may be used or disclosed
NECCO is allowed to use this information and share it with others, if the protected health information is being used for your treatment, the payment of your medical expenses, or for health care operations. Examples of this include, providing this documentation to:

. doctors to obtain medical care;
. foster parents to obtain medical care or mental health services
. providers of mental health services
. obtain payment for medical services that you received
. insurance companies about paying claims or procuring insurance
. contracted providers to ensure payment
. hospitals for your treatment
. government authorities (such as the Department of Human Services) if we believe that you may be the victim of abuse, neglect, or domestic violence.
. legal guardians, biological family members or relatives as permitted by law
. immunizations records to foster parents, contracted providers, or other applicable individuals;
. the police or military as required by law
. law enforcement officials are permitted by law
. when permitted by law for activities that are recognized as national priorities (i.e. circumstances defined by the government whereby it is so important to disclose medical information that it is permissible to do so without the individual's permission). For example, we may disclose medical information about you if we believe it is necessary to prevent or lessen a serious threat to health or safety. For more examples of national priorities, please contact the organization's privacy officer.
. a court or an officer of the court (i.e. attorney) for court and/or administrative proceedings or if ordered to do so
. funeral directors or coroners;
. worker's compensation officials to comply with worker's compensation laws;
. for certain government functions, including but not limited to national security and intelligence activities. We may also use or disclose medical information about you to a correctional institution in some circumstances.
. Other than the examples listed NECCO, may not share any of your information without your written permission. You can allow NECCO to share as much of your information as you wish. You can also cancel your permission for NECCO to share that information.

NECCO will share information as required by law, subject to limited restrictions imposed by law. If both federal and state laws apply, whichever law is more restrictive is the one that will apply.

Individual rights with Respect to Protected Health Information/Description of how to Exercise those Rights
1. You have the right to request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures of protected health information as provided by Section 164.522(a) of the United States Code of Federal Regulations. NECCO is not required, however, to agree to a requested restriction.

2. You have the right to receive your information from NECCO privately. NECCO will provide it to whatever address you choose and in the form you choose.

3. You have the right to request confidential communications of protected health information as provided by section 164.522 of the United States Code of Federal Regulations as applicable.

4. You have the right to inspect and copy your personal health information in accordance with Section 164.524 of the United States Code of Federal Regulations. This right may be limited if the information contains notes taken by a mental health provider during treatment sessions.

5. You have the right to amend protected health information as provided by Section 164.526 of the United States Code of Federal Regulations. However, there are limitations on what information may be changed.

6. You have the right to receive a list of the parties outside NECCO that have received your information.

7. You have the right to receive an accounting of disclosures of protected health information as provided by Section 164.528 of the United States Code of Federal Regulations.

8. You also have the right to obtain a paper copy of this notice from NECCO upon request.

Individuals may complain to the covered entity and to the Secretary if they believe their privacy rights have been violated by contacting the privacy officer listed below. Individuals will not be retaliated against for filing a complaint.

Revised May 6, 2003