Privacy and Confidentiality of Health Information
The Addiction Treatment Center of New England (ATCNE) is required by law to maintain the privacy and confidentiality of your health information, and to provide you with notice of its legal duties and privacy practices regarding that information. Please also respect the privacy of others you may encounter in treatment.
Medical Records and HIPAA Protections
The Addiction Treatment Center of New England collects health information about you and stores it in an electronic health record. This constitutes your medical record. While the medical record itself is the property of ATCNE, the information contained within it belongs to you. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requires ATCNE to safeguard the privacy of your medical record.
Moreover, HIPAA generally mandates that any uses or disclosures of information in your record be limited to the minimum necessary. HIPAA also grants you specific rights with respect to your health information, which are outlined below.
Federal Regulations and 42 CFR Part 2
Information relating to your treatment at the Addiction Treatment Center of New England is further protected by federal regulations specific to substance use disorder treatment, formally known as 42 CFR Part 2. These laws safeguard the confidentiality of any details connected to your identity, diagnosis, prognosis, or treatment in a substance use disorder program. ATCNE may not disclose treatment records without your written consent, except under very limited circumstances.
Under 42 CFR Part 2, written consent must outline the scope and type of information disclosed, the recipients of that information, the purpose of disclosure, and the duration of the consent. Importantly, you may revoke this consent verbally or in writing at any time.
Written Consent for Disclosure
The Addiction Treatment Center of New England may request your written consent to release treatment information for certain purposes, such as coordinating with your other medical providers, obtaining payment from insurance or other payors, or contacting your family for treatment-related reasons or in case of an emergency. Without your explicit consent, ATCNE will not disclose your treatment information for these purposes.
Disclosures Without Written Consent
There are limited situations where the Addiction Treatment Center of New England may disclose your treatment information without written consent, as permitted under 42 CFR Part 2. These may include:
- Treatment Purposes: The Addiction Treatment Center of New England may use or disclose treatment information internally and with entities under shared administrative control.
- Qualified Service Organizations: The Addiction Treatment Center of New England may share information with service partners who agree to maintain confidentiality.
- Regulatory and Research Needs: The Addiction Treatment Center of New England may disclose information to auditors, regulatory agencies, evaluators, or for approved research purposes.
- Emergencies and Safety: The Addiction Treatment Center of New England may release information in life-threatening medical emergencies, to report a crime on ATCNE premises, or crimes against personnel.
- Legal and State Mandates: The Addiction Treatment Center of New England may disclose information without consent if state law requires reporting child abuse or neglect, when reporting the cause of death, or when compelled by a valid court order with required findings.
Communication and Reminders
Additionally, the Addiction Treatment Center of New England may contact you to provide information about its treatment services or to send reminder notices regarding upcoming appointments related to your care. These communications will always respect your privacy and follow the confidentiality standards described above.
Contact Us
If you have questions or concerns regarding this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us:
Addiction Treatment Center of New England
77 F Warren Street
Boston, MA 02135
Phone: (617) 254-1271
Website: https://www.atcne.net/
