ARC Voyagers will inform and provide all individuals the Notice of Privacy Practices at the onset of the delivery of service. A copy of the Notice will be made available upon request to all individuals as specified in this policy.
A. ARC Voyagers shall retain copies of the notices issued, including the original and subsequent revisions. Copies may be printed or electronic and shall be retained for at least six (6) years from the date the notice was created or was last in effect, whichever is later.
B. ARC Voyagers shall not use or disclose Protected Health Information (PHI) in a manner inconsistent with the Notice or those practices described in ARC Voyagers’ Privacy and Security Policies and Procedures.
C. ARC Voyagers shall promptly revise and distribute the Notice whenever there is a material change in a privacy practice as stated in the Notice. This could include a change to uses or disclosures, the individual’s rights, ARC Voyagers’ legal duties, or other privacy practices.
D. ARC Voyagers shall make the Notice available upon request to all individuals and/or their guardians.
E. ARC Voyagers will provide the Notice to all individuals and/or their guardians no later than the first date of service.
F. ARC Voyagers will make a good faith effort to obtain signed acknowledgment of receipt of the Notice. Such signed acknowledgement will be included in the individual’s file. If not obtained, the staff member responsible will document his or her good faith efforts to obtain signed acknowledgement and the reason why it was not obtained.
G. In an emergency treatment situation ARC Voyagers is not required to obtain written acknowledgement of receipt of the Notice.
H. ARC Voyagers shall post the Notice in a clear and prominent location where individuals seeking services can reasonably read the Notice.
I. Whenever the Notice is revised, the revised Notice shall be made available and posted as described in the policy.
J. The Notice will be provided to individuals and/or their guardians annually for review and will require an annual signature of understanding by the individual or their guardian.