This Online Privacy Policy (hereinafter referred to as the “Notice”) applies to this online interface (i.e., website or mobile application) owned and operated by Focused Addiction Recovery (FAR], its subsidiaries and affiliated entities (“Focused Addiction Recovery”)
This Notice describes how Sites may collect, use, and share information from or about you, and explains how information may be collected and used for advertising purposes. This Privacy Policy is intended to help you understand our online information security practices.
We may provide other online interfaces not covered by this Notice. If you visit or access your services from one of these sites, please review the online privacy practices of that site to understand how your online information may be collected, used and shared.
Protected Health Information: For information on how Focused Addiction Recovery handles your Protected Health Information, please visit our page on Notice of Privacy Practices.
Agreement to this Policy: By using this Site you consent to this Online Privacy Policy, including your consent to our use and disclosure of information about you in the manner described herein. By reading this Notice, you will learn how we use any personal information we collect about you when using the website. This includes:
- How we collect personal information
- How we use personal information
- How personal information is shared
- Other information/personal data we collect online
- Advertising
- Your choices and controls
- Other websites
- Other information about personal data collection
- Contact information
Registration and Other Information Provided to Us
When you visit Focused Addiction Recovery’s site, you may be asked to disclose personally identifiable information. You may also choose to submit personally identifiable information to us when you send us an email. You acknowledge and agree that we may use and store any such information about you in accordance with our Privacy Policy. We may also process and store your personally identifiable information on a server located outside of your jurisdiction.
By providing your personally identifiable information to us, you consent to the transfer of your information across national boundaries. If you do not consent to such transfer as well as the processing and storage of your personally identifiable information outside your jurisdiction, you should not provide such information to us.
Personal Information We Collect Online
We begin collecting Personal Information from you when you register or fill out the “Send Us a Message” fields on our “Contact Us” page. Personal Information means personally identifiable information such as information you provide via forms, surveys, applications, or other online fields including name, telephone, e-mail address and other information that you might voluntarily share about yourself or a loved one when you send us a message online. You share this information when you contact us through our Site requesting to be contacted. That enables us to contact you about our services and be prepared to address any specific matters you reference in your message.
How We Use Personal Information
- We collect Personal Information in the normal course of business in order to serve you better.
- Unless otherwise stated, we do not sell, trade or give away your Personal Information to anyone.
- Unless otherwise stated, we do not disclose your Personal Information to third parties.
We may also use Personal Information
- To respond to your inquiries and fulfill your requests
- To inform you about important information regarding the Site or services which may interest you or changes to terms, conditions, and policies and/or other administrative information
- To deliver marketing communications that we believe may be of interest to you, including, ads or offers tailored to you, including ads on other websites
- To personalize your experience on the Site
- To verify your identity and/or location (or the identity or location of your representative or agent) in order to allow access to your services, conduct online transactions and to maintain measures aimed at preventing fraud and protecting the security of your Personal Information
- To allow you to participate in surveys and other forms of market research
- To send you e-mails regarding system downtime and/or changes to this Privacy Policy or the Terms and Conditions of Use.
- For business purposes, including data analysis, audits, developing and improving services, enhancing the Site, identifying usage trends and determining the effectiveness of web pages
- For risk control, for fraud detection and prevention, to comply with laws and regulations, and to comply with other legal process and law enforcement requirements
How Personal Information is Shared
This Online Privacy Policy describes how Personal Information may be shared and how you may be able to limit certain types of sharing. Among the reasons for sharing information is for cross-marketing purposes with Focused Addiction Recovery’s subsidiaries and affiliates. We also share non-personally identifiable information about our user base with our advertising affiliates who drive traffic to our Site to help them identify and target our ideal visitor/patient.
Other Information/Personal Data We Collect Online
Other Information is any information other than Personal Information that does not reveal your specific identity or does not directly relate to an individual, such as browser information, information collected through cookies, pixel tags and other technologies, demographic information, and aggregated and de-identified data.
How We Collect and Use Other Information
We and our third-party service providers may collect and use other information in a variety of ways, including:
- Through your browser or device: Certain information is collected by most browsers and/or through your device, such as your Media Access Control (MAC) address, device type, screen resolution, operating system version and internet browser type and version. We use this information to ensure Sites function properly, for fraud detection and prevention, and security purposes.
- Using cookies: Cookies are pieces of information stored directly on the device you are using. Cookies we use do not contain or capture unencrypted Personal Information. Cookies allow us to collect information such as browser type, time spent on the Site, pages visited, language preferences, and your relationship with us. We use the information for security purposes, to facilitate navigation (i.e. to store your account information between sessions), to display information more effectively, to personalize and tailor your experience while engaging with us, and to recognize your device to allow your use of our online products and services.
We collect statistical information about the usage of the Site in order to continually improve the design and functionality, to monitor responses to our advertisements and content, to understand how visitors use the Site and to assist us with resolving questions regarding the Site. We also utilize cookies for advertising purposes. Please see the Advertising section below for more information.
How to opt-out of cookies: You can refuse to accept these cookies and most devices and browsers offer their own privacy settings for cookies. You will need to manage your cookie settings for each device and browser you use. However, if you do not accept these cookies, you may experience some inconvenience in your use of the Site and some online services. The site may not load or display properly. You also may not receive tailored advertising or other offers from us that may be relevant to your interests and needs.
To find out more about cookies, including how to see what cookies have been set and how to block and delete cookies, please visit http://www.aboutcookies.org/. - Other technologies including pixel tags, web beacons, and clear GIFs: These may be used in connection with some Site pages, downloadable mobile applications and HTML-formatted email messages to measure the effectiveness of our communications, the success of our marketing campaigns, to compile statistics about usage and response rates, for fraud detection and prevention, for security purposes, for advertising, and to assist us in resolving account holders’ questions regarding use of our Site. Please see our Advertising section below for more information regarding our use of other technologies.
- Google Analytics: We may use a tool called “Google Analytics” to collect information about use of this site. Google Analytics collects information such as how often users visit this site, what pages they visit when they do so, and what other sites they used prior to coming to this Site. We use the information we get from Google Analytics only to improve this Site.
Google Analytics collects only the IP address assigned to you on the date you visit this Site, rather than your name or other identifying information. We do not combine the information collected through the use of Google Analytics with personally identifiable information. Although Google Analytics plants a permanent cookie on your web browser to identify you as a unique user the next time you visit this Site, the cookie cannot be used by anyone but Google. Google’s ability to use and share information collected by Google Analytics about your visits to this Site is restricted by the Google Analytics Terms of Use and the Google Privacy Policy. You can prevent Google Analytics from recognizing you on return visits to this Site by disabling cookies on your browser. - IP Address: Your IP Address is a number that is automatically assigned to the device that you are using by your Internet Service Provider (ISP). An IP Address is identified and logged automatically in our server log files whenever a user visits the Site, along with the time of the visit and the page(s) that were visited. Collecting IP Addresses is standard practice on the internet and is done automatically by many websites. We use IP Addresses for purposes such as calculating Site usage levels, helping diagnose server problems, advertising, for compliance and security purposes and administering the Site. Please see the Advertising section below for more information.
- Aggregated and De-identified Data: Aggregated and De-identified Data is data that we may create or compile from various sources, including, but not limited to, accounts and transactions. This information, which does not identify individual account holders, may be used for our business purposes, which may include offering products or services, research, marketing or analyzing market trends, and other purposes consistent with applicable laws.
- Third-Party Web Beacons: We may use third-party web beacons from Yahoo! to help analyze where visitors go and what they do while visiting our Site. Yahoo! may also use anonymous information about your visits to this and other websites in order to improve its products and services and provide advertisements about goods and services of interest to you. If you would like more information about this practice and to know your choices about not having this information used by Yahoo, click here.
ADVERTISING
We may advertise online through Focused Addiction Recovery managed social media presences, and on other sites and mobile apps not affiliated with us and offline (e.g. through call centers, and direct marketing). In order to understand how advertising performs, we may collect certain information on our Sites and other sites and mobile apps through our advertising service providers using cookies, IP addresses, and other technologies. The collected information may include the number of page visits, pages viewed on our Sites, search engine referrals, browsing activities over time and across other sites following your visit to one of our Sites or apps, and responses to advertisements and promotions on the Sites and on sites and apps where we advertise.
We may use information described in this Notice to help advertise our services in a variety of ways. We use such information to:
- Present tailored ads to you including:
- Banner ads and splash ads and other mobility applications
- Email, postal mail, and telemarketing, and,
- On other sites and mobile apps not affiliated with us;
- Analyze the effectiveness of our ads; and
- Determine whether you might be interested in new products or services
User Choices and Controls
You may set your choices for advertising in the following ways:
Opting-out of online behavioral advertising: If you prefer that we not use information based on online Site behavior to provide online and offline tailored content and advertising, you may opt-out of online behavioral advertising by emailing us your request at [info@focusedaddictionrecovery.com].
Important reminder about opting-out
In order for online behavioral advertising opt-outs from our Sites and on other sites to work on your device, your browser must be set to accept cookies. If you delete cookies, buy a new device, access our Site or other sites from a different device, or change web browsers, you will need to opt-out again. If your browser has scripting disabled, you do not need to opt-out, as online behavioral advertising technology does not work when scripting is disabled. Please check your browser’s security settings to validate whether scripting is active or disabled.
Making sure your information is accurate
Keeping your information accurate and up to date is very important. If your information is incomplete, inaccurate or not current, please email or write to us at the appropriate address for changes listed on your service materials as provided by us.
Linking to Other Sites
We may provide links to third-party sites. If you follow links to sites not affiliated or controlled by us, you should review their privacy and security policies and other terms and conditions, as they may be different from those of our Sites. We do not guarantee and are not responsible for the privacy or security of these sites, including the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of their information.
SECURITY
To protect Personal Information from unauthorized access and use, we use security measures that comply with applicable federal and state laws. These measures may include device safeguards and secured files and buildings as well as oversight of our third-party service providers to ensure information remains confidential and secure.
While we follow accepted industry standards to protect the Personal Information submitted to us (both during and once we receive it), no method of transmission over the Internet, or method of electronic storage, is 100% secure. Therefore, while we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your Personal Information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.
If you have any questions about security on our Site, you can e-mail us at [info@focusedaddictionrecovery.com].
OTHER INFORMATION ABOUT PERSONAL DATA COLLECTION
Business Transitions
In the event that we go through a business transition, such as a merger, acquisition by another Focused Addiction Recovery, or sale of all or a portion of our assets, your personally identifiable information will likely be among the assets transferred. You will be notified via prominent notice on our Site of any such change in ownership or control of your Personal Information.
Do Not Track Disclosures
Q: How do we respond to Web browser “do not track” signals or other mechanisms that provide consumers the ability to exercise choice regarding the collection of personally identifiable information about an individual consumer’s online activities over time and across third-party websites or online services?
A: We currently do not respond to DNT signals in browsers because we do not track individual users across the web.
Notice to California Residents
In response to California law, we will automatically treat individuals with California addresses or telephone numbers (when disclosed to us) as if you requested us to not share your information with nonaffiliated third parties except as permitted by the applicable California law. We will also limit the sharing of information about you with our affiliates to comply with California privacy laws that apply to us.
Residents of the State of California may request a list of all third-parties to which this Site has disclosed certain information during the preceding year for those third-parties’ direct marketing purposes. If you are a California resident and want such a list, please contact us at [info@focusedaddictionrecovery.com].
For all requests, you must put the statement “California Shine the Light Privacy Request” in the body of your request, as well as your name, street address, city, state, and zip code. Please note that we are not responsible for requests that are not labeled or sent properly, or that do not have complete information.
Notice to Users Outside of the United States
This Online Privacy Policy is intended to cover collection of information on our Sites from residents of the United States. If you are visiting our Sites from outside the United States, please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored and processed in the United States where our servers are located, and our central database is operated. The data protection and laws of the United States and other countries might not be as comprehensive as those in your country. By using our services, you understand that your information may be transferred to our facilities and those third-parties with whom we share it as described in this Notice.
Protecting Children’s Privacy Online
The Site is not directed to individuals under the age of thirteen (13), and we request that these individuals do not provide Personal Information through the Site. We do not knowingly collect information from children under 13 without parental consent. Visit the Federal Trade Commission website for more information about the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).
If you believe that we have received information from a child or other person who is not of a majority age in their relevant jurisdiction, please contact us at our email or physical mailing address listed in the Contact Us section below and we will take all reasonable efforts to remove the information.
Updates to this Privacy Notice
This Online Privacy Notice is subject to change. Please review it periodically. If we make changes to the Privacy Notice, we will revise the “Last Updated” date at the top of this Notice. Any changes to this Notice will become effective when we post the revised Notice on the Site. Your use of the Site following these changes means that you accept the revised Notice.
CONTACT US
If you have any questions or suggestions regarding our privacy policy or have questions or request to opt-out or export personal data, please contact us at [info@focusedaddictionrecovery.com] or write us at:
Focused Addiction Recovery102 W Main Street
Wallace, NC 28466
Notice of Privacy Practices
This notice describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed, and how you can get access to this information. Please review it carefully.
It is the policy of Focused Addiction Recovery (hereafter referred to as FAR) to adhere to all federal and state guidelines regarding client confidentiality. FAR is mandated to follow the procedures outlined by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPPA”) of 1996 and Federal Regulation, 42 CFR Part 2, Confidentiality of Substance Use Disorder Patient Records, which protects client identifying information.
Procedures
Protected Health Information (PHI)
This section describes how your protected health Information (PHI) may be used and disclosed
and how you can access this information. Please review carefully – the privacy of your PHI is important to us.
All information contained in the client’s record that is individually identifiable health information is protected health information (PHI). PHI includes but is not limited to:
- Name
- Address
- Birthdate
- Social Security Number
- Contact Information
- Information about an individual’s physical or mental health
- Treatment services provided to the individual
- Billing records
- Claim information
- Referral authorization
- Research records
- Explanation of benefits forms
- Any other information that connects the individual to treatment at FAR
Client Consent
Upon admission, clients will be able to complete a Release of Information consent form which will dictate how the client authorizes FAR to release specific information from their clinical record. All consents and Releases of Information will be located in the client’s record.
To obtain a client’s consent, the following conditions must be met:
- The client is informed in a manner to assure his/her understanding of the specific types of information that has been requested, and the benefits and disadvantages of releasing the information.
- The client gives consent freely and voluntarily, and not under the influence of any illicit substance.
- The client is informed that treatment services are not contingent upon the client’s decision concerning the release of information.
42 CFR Part 2 establishes the following requirements for authorizations to disclose individually identifiable patient health information:
- The specific name or general designation of the program or person permitted to make the disclosure
- The name or title of the individual or the name of the organization to which disclosure is to be made
- Client name
- Purpose of disclosure
- How much and what kind of information is to be disclosed
- The signature of client or legal representative
- The date on which the release is signed
- A statement that the release is subject to revocation at any time
- The date, event, or condition upon which the release will expire if not revoked.
- In the event of the death of the patient, certain information may legally be provided to a coroner and/or other authorities, or otherwise with the permission of the estate executor.
The purpose of a release should never be as broad as “for all client care”. Blanket releases will not be accepted.
Subpoenas will not be honored for release of any client records unless signed by a judge. Court orders may permit release of records after the court has made the finding that a “good cause” exists. All court orders must be signed by a judge or they will not be accepted.
Treatment, payment, and health care operations: FAR uses and discloses your protected health information for treatment, payment, and health care operations. Some examples of when our office may use or disclose your health care information for these purposes include:
- Sharing test results with other health care providers for confirmation of a diagnosis;
- Providing your diagnosis or other information about your health to your insurance provider or our billing service to obtain payment for the health care services we provide;
- Reviewing information part of our quality improvement program.
FAR may also use or disclose your protected health information, in compliance with guidelines outlined by law, for the following purposes:
- Providing you with information related to your health;
- Contacting your regarding appointments, information about treatment alternatives, or other health related services;
- Incidental uses or disclosures (e.g., listing your name on a sign-in sheet, etc.); Compliance with all laws (including reports of suspected abuse, neglect or violence); Providing certain specified information to law enforcement or correctional institutions; Providing information to a coroner, medical examiner, funeral director or organ procurement organization;
- Public health activities when requested by a public health authority or the FDA. Responding to health oversight agencies;
- Responding to court or administrative tribunal orders, subpoenas, discovery requests or other lawful process;
- Research activities;
- When necessary to avert a serious threat to health or safety, either to you or others
- Military affairs, veteran’s affairs, national security, intelligence, Department of State, or presidential protective service activities;
- Providing information regarding your location, general condition or death to public or private disaster relief agencies; or
- Information a family member, other relative, or close friend when: Notification of your location, general condition or death;
- To assist in your health care (e.g. pick-up prescriptions or other documents, note follow-up care instructions, etc.)
- If required, in support of life saving measures in the event of an accident, injury, or illness
Authorization for other use:
- FAR will make other uses and disclosure of your protected health information only after obtaining your written authorization. If you authorize a use not contained in this notice, you may revoke your authorization at any time by notifying us in writing that you wish to revoke your authorization.
- Your rights regarding the privacy of your health information:
- Subject to limitations outlined by law, you have certain rights related to use and disclosure of your protected health information, including the right to:
- Requests restrictions on certain uses and disclosures; however, FAR is not obligated to agree to requested restrictions.
- Receive confidential communications or protected health information.
- Inspect and copy your protected health information with some limited exceptions,
- Amend your health information;
- Receive an accounting of disclosures of your health information;
Subject to limitations outlined by law. FAR has certain duties related to your protected health information, including:
- FAR is required by law to maintain the privacy of protected health information and to provide individuals with notice of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to protected health information.
- FAR is required to abide by the terms of the privacy notice that is currently in effect.
FAR reserves the right to change a privacy practice described in this notice and to make such change effective for all protected health information.Revised notices will be posted in our office and available upon request.
CONFIDENTIALITY
Clients are expected to respect the confidentiality of other clients and the confidentiality of the program. Anything discussed in a group session is not to be discussed outside of the program. Any sharing of client or group information outside of the program will result in dismissal from the program and, if applicable, be reported to the client’s referent.
OUR LEGAL DUTY
From this point forward on this document, FAR, shall henceforth be referenced to as “We”.
We are required by applicable federal and state laws to maintain the privacy of your protected health information. PHI is information that may identify you and that relates to your past, present, or future physical or mental health/condition and related health care services. We will not use or disclose PHI about you without your written authorization – except as described in this notice.
We are required to give this notice about privacy practices, our legal duties, and your rights concerning your PHI. We must follow the privacy practices that are described in this notice while it is in effect.
We reserve the right to change our privacy practices and the terms of this notice at any time – provided such changes are permitted by applicable law. In the event, we make a material change in our privacy practice, we will change this notice and provide it to you.
USES AND DISCLOSURES OF HEALTH INFORMATION
We use and disclose protected information about you for treatment, payment, and healthcare/program operations as follows:
If required by court-ordered services. Your revocation will not affect any use or disclosure permitted by your authorization while it was in effect. Unless you give us written authorization, we cannot use or disclose your PHI for any reason except those described in this notice.
PAYMENT
We may use or disclose your credit and/or payment information to obtain payment for services we provide to you. This may include such activities as verification of coverage and billing/collection activities and related data processing.
HEALTHCARE/PROGRAM OPERATIONS
We may use or disclose your PHI about our healthcare program operations. This may include such activities as quality assessment and improvement activities, reviewing the competence and/or qualifications of healthcare/program professionals, evaluating provider performance, conducting training programs, and accreditation, certification, licensing and/or credentialing activities.
REQUIRED BY LAW
We may use or disclose your PHI when we are required to do so by law – including judicial and administrative proceedings.
ABUSE OR NEGLECT
We may disclose your treatment plan to appropriate authorities if we reasonably believe that you are a possible victim of abuse, neglect or domestic violence or the possible victim of other crimes. We may also disclose your PHI to the extent necessary to avert a serious threat to your health or safety or the health or safety of others – including, if we have good reason to believe that you are engaging in child or elder abuse.
Contact Information and Privacy Rights Violation Concerns
To discuss your rights and decisions regarding Privacy, or to make a complaint, please contact us at the following. We will not retaliate against anyone requesting information or lodging a complaint.
Focused Addiction Recovery
Chuck Jackson, Chief Compliance Officer (CCO)
102 W Main Street
Wallace, NC 28466
Or call 910-788-4242
If you feel your Privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with:
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for privacy or breach of confidentiality matters: Toll Free: 1-877-696-6775
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline: 800-662-4357
- The Joint Commission (Health Care accreditation body)
