THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL AND DRUG AND ALCOHOL RELATED INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.

General Information
     Information regarding your health care, including payment for health care, is protected by two federal laws: the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 ("HIPAA") 42 U.S.C. § 1320d et seq., 45 C.F.R. Parts 160 & 164, and the Confidentiality Law, 42 U.S.C. § 290dd-2, 42 C.F.R. Part 2. Under these laws, Addiction Treatment Services, Inc. may not say to a person outside Addiction Treatment Services, Inc. that you attend the program, nor may Addiction Treatment Services, Inc. disclose any information identifying you as an alcohol or drug abuser, or disclose any other protected information except as permitted by federal law.
     Addiction Treatment Services, Inc. must obtain your written consent before it can disclose information about you for payment purposes. For example, Addiction Treatment Services, Inc. must obtain your written consent before it can disclose information to your health insurer in order to be paid for services. Generally, you must also sign a written consent before Addiction Treatment Services, Inc. can share information for treatment purposes or for health care operations. However, federal law permits Addiction Treatment Services, Inc. to disclose information without your written permission:

1. Pursuant to an agreement with a qualified service organization/business associate;
2. For research, audit or evaluations;
3. To report a crime committed on Addiction Treatment Services, Inc.'s premises or against Addiction Treatment Services personnel;
4. To medical personnel in a medical emergency;
5. To appropriate authorities to report suspected child abuse or neglect; and/or
6. As allowed by a court order.

     Before Addiction Treatment Services, Inc. can use or disclose any information about your health in a manner which is not described above, it must first obtain your specific written consent allowing it to make the disclosure. Any such written consent may be revoked by you in writing.

Your Rights
     Under HIPAA you have the right to request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures of your health information. Addiction Treatment Services, Inc. is not required to agree to any restrictions you request, but if it does agree then it is bound by that agreement and may not use or disclose any information which you have restricted except as necessary in a medical emergency.
     You have the right to request that we communicate with you by alternative means or at an alternative location. Addiction Treatment Services, Inc. will accommodate such requests that are reasonable and will not request an explanation from you. Under HIPAA you also have the right to inspect and copy your own health information maintained by Addiction Treatment Services, Inc., except to the extent that the information contains psychotherapy notes or information compiled for use in a civil, criminal or administrative proceeding or in other limited circumstances.
     Under HIPAA you also have the right, with some exceptions, to amend health care information maintained in Addiction Treatment Services, Inc.'s records, and to request and receive an accounting of disclosures or your health related information made by Addiction Treatment Services, Inc. during the six years prior to your request. You also have the right to receive a paper copy of this notice.

Addiction Treatment Services Inc.'s Duties
     Addiction Treatment Services is required by law to maintain the privacy of your health information and to provide you with notice of its legal duties and privacy practices with respect to your health information. Addiction Treatment Services, Inc. is required by law to abide by the terms of this notice. Addiction Treatment Services, Inc. reserves the right to change the terms of this notice and to make new notice provisions effective for all protected health information it maintains.You will receive the written change if it changes while you are a client of Addiction Treatment Services, Inc.

Complaints and Reporting Violations
     You may complain to Addiction Treatment Services, Inc.'s recipient rights officer and the secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services if you believe that your privacy rights have been violated under HIPAA. You will not be retaliated against for filing such a complaint.
     Violation of the Confidentiality Law by a program is a crime. Suspected violations of the Confidentiality Law may be reported to the United States Attorney in the district where the violation occurs and in accordance with federal law.

This notice is effective April 15, 2003.