Privacy Policy

NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES

If you have any questions about this notice, please contact The ACCESS Project at (425) 510-4073 or at [email protected]

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW INTAKE ASSESSMENT INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.

Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), The ACCESS Project is committed to protecting the privacy of your Protected Health Information (PHI). PHI includes any information we create or receive related to your physical, behavioral, or mental health, as well as payment for these services. This also encompasses your Intake Assessment information and personal details such as your name, Social Security number, address, and phone number.

In addition to HIPAA, The ACCESS Project complies with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA). FERPA protects the privacy of student educational records. The ACCESS Project is committed to protecting student-identifiable records.

We recognize that your Intake Assessment information and health details are deeply personal. This includes all gathered information regarding your physical, behavioral, or mental health. Safeguarding the privacy of your PHI is a priority for us.

As part of our commitment, we maintain a record of the care and services identified during your Intake Assessment. This record enables us to connect you with the most appropriate professional or community resource to meet your needs while ensuring compliance with legal requirements.

Washington State Law RCW 71.34.530

In accordance with Washington State Law RCW 71.34.530, youth who are 13 years of age or older have the right to seek mental health treatment without the need for parental consent.

Privacy and Information Use Notice

This notice explains how we may use and disclose your information, as well as your rights and our obligations regarding its use and protection.

The ACCESS Project collects only the information necessary to connect you with the most suitable professional or community organization to address your needs.

In accordance with federal law, we are required to:

Ensure that your Intake Assessment information is protected.
Notify you promptly in the event of a breach that may have compromised the privacy or security of your information.
Provide you with this notice outlining our legal duties and privacy practices regarding your Intake Assessment information.
Adhere to the terms of the notice currently in effect.

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Uses and Disclosures of Your Protected Health Information Without Authorization

The ACCESS Project may use and disclose your Protected Health Information (PHI) in certain situations without your authorization to facilitate your connection to care and treatment. Below are some examples:

Care Coordination: The ACCESS Project staff, including the Clinical Intake Specialist and part-time Case Manager, may use or disclose your PHI to coordinate your care. For example, if you are experiencing severe depressive disorder and are receiving psychiatric or crisis intervention services from a partner organization, we may share relevant information with the partner organization to ensure you receive appropriate support.
Crisis Intervention: To help prevent or respond to a crisis, we may share information with the Care Crisis Line or other emergency support services.
Legal Requirements: We may disclose your PHI when required by law, such as in cases of specific threats to harm others, self-harm, or property destruction.

Uses and Disclosures of Your Protected Health Information Without Authorization

We may use or disclose your Protected Health Information (PHI) without your authorization in the following circumstances:

Appointment Reminders

We may contact you to remind you of a missed appointment with a provider for treatment or community services.

Health Information and Resources

We may provide information about you or recommend you to a professional or community service organization for treatment options, services, or alternatives that may be beneficial to you.

Health-Related Benefits and Services

We may inform you about health-related benefits, services, or Intake Assessment information that may be of interest to you.

As Required by Law

We will disclose your PHI when required by federal, state, or local law.

Public Health Risks (Health and Safety Concerns)

We may disclose PHI to public health authorities when necessary to prevent a serious threat to your health and safety or the health and safety of others. This may include:

Reporting cases of abuse or neglect.
Notifying appropriate government authorities if we believe an individual has been a victim of physical abuse, sexual abuse, or domestic violence, as required or authorized by law.
Taking necessary action to avert a serious threat to the health and safety of an individual or the public.

Lawsuits and Disputes

If you are involved in a lawsuit or legal dispute, we may disclose Intake Assessment information about you in response to a court or administrative order. Additionally, we may disclose such information in response to a subpoena, discovery request, or other lawful process, provided we receive written authorization.

Law Enforcement.

We may disclose Intake Assessment information if asked to do so by a law enforcement official:

In response to a court order, subpoena, warrant, summons or similar process;
To identify or locate a suspect, fugitive, material witness, or missing person;
About the victim of a crime if, under certain limited circumstances, we are unable to obtain the person’s agreement;
About a death we believe may be the result of criminal conduct;
In emergency circumstances to report a crime; the location of the crime or victims; or the identity, description or location of the person who committed the crime.

Substance Use Disorder.

The confidentiality of alcohol and drug abuse information obtained during the Intake Assessment related to referral for treatment or service is protected by Federal law and regulations (42 U.S.C 290dd-3 and 42 U.S.C. 290ee-3) and regulation (42 C.F.R. part 2).

Generally, The ACCESS Project may not disclose to anyone outside The ACCESS Project that a youth who contacts The ACCESS Project staff is using alcohol or drugs or disclose any information identifying the youth unless:

The youth consents in writing, or
The disclosure is authorized by a court order, or
The disclosure made to Intake Assessment personnel in an Intake Assessment requires emergency treatment, or
The youth who contacts the ACCESS Project commits or threatens to commit a crime against anyone, including The ACCESS Project staff or volunteers.

YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING YOUR PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION

You have the following rights regarding Intake Assessment information we maintain about you:

Right to Inspect and Copy.

You have the right to inspect and copy Intake Assessment information that may be used to make decisions about your care. To request a viewing of your record and/or to receive copies of your Intake Assessment information, you must make your request in writing by contacting The ACCESS Project staff if you are a youth receiving current services.

If you request a copy of your information, we may charge you a fee for the costs of copying, mailing or other supplies associated with your request. If your request is granted, we will comply with the request within 10 business days of receiving the request. We may deny your request to inspect and copy in certain extremely limited circumstances. If you are denied access to Intake Assessment information, you may request that the denial be reviewed by a committee of The ACCESS Project Board of Directors.

Right to Amend

If you believe the Intake Assessment information we have about you is incorrect or incomplete, you have the right to request an amendment. You may request an amendment for as long as The ACCESS Project maintains the information.

To request an amendment, you must submit a written request to The ACCESS Project Office, including a reason supporting your request. We will respond within 20 business days.

We may deny your request if:

It is not submitted in writing or lacks a supporting reason.
The ACCESS Project did not create the information.
The information is not part of the Intake Assessment records.
The information is not subject to inspection and copying.
The information is already accurate and complete.

Right to Request Restrictions

You have the right to request restrictions on how we use or disclose your Intake Assessment information, including:

Limiting the information used to determine the professional or community services organization for referral.
Restricting disclosure of your information to someone involved in your care, such as a family member or friend.

We are not required to agree to your request

While we will consider your request, we are not required to agree to it.

If we do agree, we will comply with your request unless the information is needed for emergency treatment or if we terminate our agreement.

To request restrictions, you must submit a written request to the office where you are currently receiving services. Your request must specify:

The information you want to limit.
Whether you want to limit its use, disclosure, or both.
To whom the restriction should apply (e.g., disclosure to your spouse).
If you wish to terminate a previously requested restriction, you must submit a written request specifying the termination date.

Right to a Paper Copy of This Notice

You have the right to request a paper copy of this privacy notice at any time. To obtain a copy, submit a written request via The ACCESS Project website.

Other Uses of Intake Assessment Information

Any uses or disclosures of Intake Assessment information not covered by this notice or applicable laws will only be made with your written permission. If you grant written authorization for a specific use or disclosure, you may revoke it at any time in writing. Once revoked, we will no longer use or disclose your information for the previously authorized purpose.

Changes to This Notice

We reserve the right to modify this notice at any time. Any changes will apply to both existing and future Intake Assessment information. The most current version of this notice will be posted on our website, with the effective date displayed on the first page.

Questions or Complaints

If you have questions about this notice or need an additional copy, please send an email or letter to The ACCESS Project.