PRIVACY POLICY

The Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling is committed to protecting the privacy of medical information we created with you or obtain about you. This privacy policy has been compiled in the ways the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling uses and protects your Personal Health Information. It also described your rights and certain obligations we have regarding the use and disclosure of your medical information. We are required by law to: (i) make sure your medical information is protected; (ii) give you this Notice describing our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to your medical information; and (iii) follow the terms of the Notice that is currently in effect. This policy will also explain the process of opting out of any service or contact from the Recovery Path Program operated by the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling. Please read our privacy policy carefully to get a clear understanding of how we collect, use, protect or otherwise handle your Personal Health Information (PHI) in accordance with our website.

 

INFOMRATION COLLECTED AND HOW IT IS PROTECTED

Information Collected

We collect information from you when you register onto the web portal, sign into the web portal or participate in any type of assessment. When initially registering on our web portal, as appropriate, you may be asked to enter your name, email address, mailing address, phone number or other details to help you with your experience.

 

Protection of Information

Our website is scanned on a regular basis for potential security risks and known vulnerabilities in order to make your visit to our site as safe as possible. Your personal information is contained behind secured networks and is only accessible by a limited number of persons who have special access rights to such systems, and are required to keep the information confidential. In addition, all sensitive health information you supply is encrypted via Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology. We implement a variety of security measures when a client is entering information into the system, or accesses their information to maintain the safety of your personal health information.

 

Disclosure of Cookies Being Used

Cookies are small files that a site or its service provider transfers to your computer's hard drive through your Web browser (if you allow) that enables the site's or service provider's systems to recognize your browser and capture and remember certain information. You can choose to have your computer warn you each time a cookie is being sent, or you can choose to turn off all cookies. You do this through your browser (like Internet Explorer) settings. Each browser is a little different, so look at your browser's Help menu to learn the correct way to modify your cookies. If you disable cookies off, some features will be disabled.

 

Third Party Disclosure

We do not sell, trade, or otherwise transfer to outside parties your personally identifiable information. We also do not include or offer third party products or services via our web portal.

 

CAN SPAM Act

The CAN-SPAM Act is a law that sets the rules for commercial emails, establishes requirements for commercial messages, gives recipients the right to have emails stopped from being sent to them, and spells out tough penalties for violations.

 

We collect your email address in order to:

       Send information, respond to inquiries, and/or other requests or questions

       We may also send you additional information related to your product and/or service.

       Market to our mailing list or continue to send emails to our clients after the original transaction has occurred


To be in accordance with CANSPAM we agree to the following:

       NOT use false, or misleading subjects or email addresses

       Identify the message as an advertisement in some reasonable way

       Include the physical address of our business or site headquarters

       Monitor third party email marketing services for compliance, if one is used.

       Honor opt-out/unsubscribe requests quickly

       Allow users to unsubscribe by using the link at the bottom of each email


If at any time you would like to unsubscribe from receiving future emails, you can follow the instructions at the bottom of each email or text message and we will promptly remove you from ALL correspondence.


HOW WE MAY USE AND DISCLOSED MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU

For Treatment

We may use your disclosed medical information in an effort to more effectively provide you with medical treatment or services. We may also share medical information about you with other Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling staff, Recovery Path providers, and agencies in order to provide or coordinate the delivery of your treatment related needs.

 

For Payment

We may use and disclose medical information about you so that the treatment and services you receive from others may be billed.

 

Health Care Operations

We may use and disclosed medical information about you for Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling operations. These use and disclosures are made to enhance quality of care and for staff activities, Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling education and other teaching program, and general business activities. We may disclose information with Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling personnel for performance improvement and educational purposes.

 

Health Information Exchange

We may share information that we obtain or create about you with other health care providers such as your counselor or therapist. Exchange of health information can provide faster access, better coordination of care and assist providers and public health officials in make more information decisions.

 

Research and Related Activities

The Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling conducts research to improve the health of people who are affected by the issues of compulsive gambling in the state of Florida. All researched projects conducted by the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling must be approved through a special review process to protect patient safety, welfare and confidentiality. We may use and disclosed medical information about our clients for research purposes under specific rules determined by the confidentiality provisions of applicable law. In some instances, federal law allows us to use your medical information for research without your authorization, provided we get approval from a special board. These studies will not affect your treatment or welfare, and your medical information will continue to be protected.

 

Additional Use and Disclosures of Your Medical Information.

We may use or disclosed your medication information without your authorization (permission) to the following individuals, or for other purposes permitted or required by law, including:

To tell you about, or recommend, possible treatment alternatives

To inform you of benefits or services we may provide

In the event of a disaster, to organizations assisting in a disaster-relief effort so that your family can be notified of your condition and location

As required by state and federal law

To prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to your health and safety or the health and safety of the public or another person

To authorized federal official for intelligence, counterintelligence or other national security activities

To corners, medical examiners and funeral directors, as authorized or required by law as necessary for them to carry out their duties

To the military if you are a member of the armed forces and we are authorized or required to do so by law.

For workers’ compensation or similar programs providing benefits work-related injuries or illnesses

To authorized federal officials so they may conduct special investigations or provide protection to the U.S. President or other authorized persons

To governmental, licensing, auditing and accrediting agencies

To a correctional institution as authorized or required by law if you are an inmate or under the custody of law-enforcement officials

To third parties referred to as “business associates” that provide services on our behalf, such as billing, software maintenance and legal services

To courts and attorneys when we get a court order, subpoena or other lawful instructions from those courts or public bodies or to defend ourselves against a lawsuit brought against us

To law enforcement officials as authorized or required by law.

 

Other Uses of Medical Information

Other uses and disclosures of medical information not covered by this Notice will be made only with your written authorization. Most uses and disclosures of psychotherapy notes and most uses and disclosures for marketing purposes fall within this category and require your authorization before we may use your medical information for these purposes. Additionally, with certain limited exceptions, we are not allowed to sell or receive anything of value in exchange for your medical information without your written authorization. If you provide us authorization to use or disclose medical information about you, you may revoke (withdraw) that authorization, in writing, at any time. However, uses and disclosures made before your withdrawal are not affected by your action and we cannot take back any disclosures we may have already made with your authorization.


USER RIGHTS REGARDING PERSONAL MEDICAL INFORMATION

The records of your medical information are the property of The Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling. You have the following rights, however, regarding medical information we maintain about you:

 

Right to inspect and copy. With certain exceptions, you have the right to inspect and /or receive a copy of your medical and billing records or any other of our records that are used by us to make decisions about you. You have the right to request that we send a copy of your medical records to a third party. You are required to submit your request in writing to your caregiver or the appropriate medical records department. We may deny access, under certain circumstances. You may request that we designate a licensed health care professional to review the denial. We will comply with the outcome of the review.

 

Right to request an amendment. If you feel that medical information we have about you is incorrect or incomplete, you may ask us to amend the information. You have the right to request an amendment for as long as the information is kept by or for the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling in your medical and billing records or any other of our records that are used by us to make decisions about you.

 

You are required to submit your request in writing to the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling with an explanation as of why the amendment is needed. If we accept your request, we will tell you we agree and we will amend your records. We cannot change what is in the record. We add the supplemental information by an addendum. With your assistance, we will notify others who have the incorrect or incomplete medical information.

 

Right to request confidential communications. You have the right to request that we communicate with you about medical matters in a certain way or at a certain location. If you want us to communicate with you in a special way, you will need to give us information as to how billing will be handled. We will honor reasonable requests. However, if we are unable to contact you using the requested ways or locations, we may contact you using any information we have.

 

Right to be notified in the event of a breach. We will notify you if your medical information has been “breached,” which means that your medical information has been used or disclosed in a way that is inconsistent with law and results in it being compromised.

 

Right to a paper copy of this Notice. You have the right to a paper copy of this Notice and you may ask us to give you a copy of this Notice at any time.

 

WHO WILL FOLLOW THIS NOTICE

The privacy practices described in this Notice will be followed by all health care professionals, employees, medical staff, trainees, students and volunteers of the Florida Council of Compulsive Gambling.

 

Penalties for misuse of personal health information

There are serious penalties for violation of the confidentiality of health information. Please be advised on the following:

State Penalties. Various state laws impose criminal and civil penalties on individuals who misuse or disclose individually identified health information without explicit consent by the patient.

Federal Penalties. HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) is a piece of federal legislation that directly addresses the protection of confidential health information. HIPAA provides for civil money penalties up to $25,000 per person, per year for violations of patient confidentiality. HIPAA also provides for federal criminal penalties.

The Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling, Inc. Any employee who violates that privacy and confidentiality of patient health information, through disclosure or otherwise, may be subject to disciplinary action, including termination of his or her employment with The Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling.

 

CLIENT CONCERNS AND QUESTIONS

If there are any questions regarding this privacy policy, your care, or a complaint; you may contact us using the information below.

The Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling, Inc.

PO Box 2309

Sanford, Florida 32772 USA

1-888- ADMIT-IT (888-236-4848)


OUR RIGHT TO CHANGE THIS NOTICE

The Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling reserves the right to amend or make changes to the term of this notice and to make the revised or changed notice effective for medical information we already have about you as well as any information we receive in the future. We will post the current notice in the office with its effective date. You are entitled to a copy of the notice currently in effect. You may contact us to receive your current copy of your Notice of Privacy Practices or you may view a copy of the notice on the web portal.

Last Edited on 06/26/2017


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