Mental health professionals and medical specialists are bound by confidentiality laws. Treatment for addiction often involves not only mental health but also medical procedures, including detox. Federally aided addiction recovery facilities are bound by two pieces of legislation. Depending on the state, laws pertaining to privacy and confidentiality may be even stricter.
In the 1970’s, congress passed confidentiality laws to protect those admitted to alcoholism and substance abuse treatment facilities. The Confidentiality of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Patient Records Regulation mandates that substance abuse programs receiving federal assistance cannot disclose a patient’s participation in the program – revealing any health information without patient consent – nor whether they have sought treatment for substance abuse treatment in the first place. Exceptions to this regulation include situations involving child abuse, medical emergencies, criminal activity or medical research.
Confidentiality Of Alcohol And Drug Abuse Patients
Congress enacted the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act – commonly known as HIPAA – in 1996 in an effort to standardize patient privacy rights throughout U.S. healthcare. The Department of Health and Human Services, in accordance with this legislation, issued the Privacy Rule in the year 2000. Although the Privacy Rule is similar to areas outlined in the Confidentiality of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Patient Records Regulation act, it expanded the ability of substance abuse facilities to release patient information in regard to purposes of “treatment, payment and health care operations”. Patients attending our luxury rehab in New York State can expect our staff to abide by all legislation and privacy standards.
Both the Privacy Rule and the Confidentiality of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Patient Records Regulation act allow luxury addiction treatment centers to release information regarding patients without consent if it does not identify the patient as an addict or alcoholic. A luxury alcohol rehab facility that is part of a larger medical organization may report to public health departments in situations pertaining to serious diseases such as tuberculosis, so long as the facility identifies itself under the larger organization’s name.
When it comes to minors, the Privacy Rule allows mental health agencies to provide information to parents of an admitted patient, provided such information does not conflict with any state or federal laws. The Confidentiality of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Patient Records Regulation act would require a luxury addiction treatment program to obtain written patient consent prior to releasing any information to a legal guardian or parent. As such, treatment programs must abide by the latter law.
Patients attending The Dunes are afforded the highest level of care, security and confidentiality. Situated on a secluded, private estate, The Dunes provides patients the opportunity to escape distraction, while diving head first into the recovery process.
