NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES 

A Notice of Privacy Practices, compliant with HIPAA, will be given to every individual receiving services from Lycoming-Clinton Joinder. 

Copies of prior versions of the Notice must be retained for six (6) years. 

The Notice of Privacy Practices is the official description of: 

1. How Lycoming-Clinton Joinder uses Protected Health Information (PHI);

2. When Lycoming-Clinton Joinder may disclose PHI;

3. The rights of individuals with respect to PHI; and Lycoming-Clinton Joinder’s legal duties with regard to PHI.

The Notice of Privacy Practices will reflect the requirements contained in the HIPAA Omnibus Final Rule, as well as other state and federal laws that impact Lycoming-Clinton Joinder’s privacy practices.

The Notice of Privacy Practices must contain a statement indicating that the following uses and disclosures will be made only with an individual’s written authorization:

1. Uses and disclosures of psychotherapy notes that are not for permitted treatment, payment or health care operations;

2. Uses and disclosures of PHI for marketing purposes; and

3. Disclosures that constitute a sale of PHI.

The Notice of Privacy Practices must contain a statement indicating that Lycoming-Clinton Joinder is required to notify the individual of any breach of his or her unsecured PHI.

If Lycoming-Clinton Joinder intends to send fundraising communications to the individual, the Notice of Privacy Practices must inform the individual of the same and that he/she has a right to opt out of such fundraising communications with each solicitation.

The Notice of Privacy Practices is approved by the Privacy Officer. The Privacy Officer is responsible for revising the Notice of Privacy Practices to reflect any changes in practices regarding PHI. The Notice shall be written in plain language.

Program leaders are responsible for ensuring that the Notice of Privacy Practices, or a summary of the same, is posted in a prominent location accessible to individuals. The complete Notice of Privacy Practices must be made readily available upon request to individuals. The Notice will also be available electronically through Lycoming-Clinton Joinder’s website(s).

Workforce Members must provide a copy of the Notice of Privacy Practices to individuals at the time of the first service delivery. If treatment is first rendered in an emergency, the Notice is given as soon as reasonably practicable after resolution of the emergency.

The Workforce Member giving the Notice shall ask the individual to sign a written acknowledgement of receipt. If the individual refuses or is unable to sign, the circumstances will be documented on the acknowledgement form. The acknowledgement form will be retained in the individual’s record for six (6) years.

The Notice will be promptly revised whenever there is a material change to uses or disclosures of information, the individual’s rights, Lycoming-Clinton Joinder’s legal duties or other privacy practices stated in the Notice. The revised Notice will be made available at each service delivery site for individuals to take with them upon request and will be posted on the organization’s website, if applicable.