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Other Permitted Uses and Disclosures. In addition, BHC Alhambra Hospital may use or disclose PHI that does not identify you as a substance abuser or a patient of substance abuse services without your consent or authorization as follows:

• To an internal client advocate as necessary to fulfill his or her monitoring and advocacy functions;
• To disclose an advance instruction to a physician, psychologist or other qualified professional when such disclosure is necessary to give effect to or provide treatment in accordance with the advance instruction;
• To State or Federal government agencies, when there is reason to believe that you may be eligible for financial benefits through the government agency, to establish such financial benefits;
• To the State for certain purposes of research and evaluation, or for conducting general research or audits;
• For purposes of alerting others to an imminent danger to your, or another's, health or safety, or if there is a likelihood of the commission of a felony or violent misdemeanor, or to communicate with appropriate law enforcement in the event of your escape from BHC Alhambra Hospital;
• To an attorney, upon your request or the request of your legally responsible person;
• As required by law - for example, when a court orders disclosure or when child abuse or neglect is suspected;
• For purposes of filing a petition for involuntary commitment or a petition for an adjudication of incompetency and the appointment of a guardian;
• As required by State law when you are a defendant in a criminal case, or to the court and counsel involved in any commitment or other court hearings you face;
• To BHC Alhambra Hospital counsel or counsel for an employee of BHC Alhambra Hospital, if such information is relevant to litigation, to the operations of BHC Alhambra Hospital, or to the provision of services by BHC Alhambra Hospital;
• To the Department of Corrections, upon request, if the Department has determined that you are in need of treatment for mental illness or developmental disabilities;
• To disclose PHI regarding communicable diseases, as discussed below;
• As necessary to comply with other State or federal laws, including disclosure to the State and/or federal Department of Health and Human Services as necessary for a determination that BHC Alhambra Hospital is in compliance with the federal privacy standards.

ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE RECORDS

If you receive substance abuse services from BHC Alhambra Hospital, federal law generally requires that BHC Alhambra Hospital cannot disclose PHI that would identify you as a substance abuser or a patient of substance abuse services without your written consent. There are some exceptions to this requirement. BHC Alhambra Hospital may use or disclose PHI that would identify you as a substance abuser or a patient of substance abuse services without your consent or authorization as follows:

• Within BHC Alhambra Hospital for activities related to the provision of substance abuse diagnosis, treatment, or referral for treatment;
• As permitted by a court order;
• To medical personnel in a medical emergency;
• To qualified personnel for research, audit, or program evaluation;
• To comply with State law mandating the reporting of suspected child abuse or neglect;
• To communicate with law enforcement personnel about a crime or threatened crime on the premises of BHC Alhambra Hospital or against BHC Alhambra Hospital personnel;

COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

If you have one of several specific communicable diseases (for example, tuberculosis, syphilis, or HIV/AIDS), BHC Alhambra Hospital will treat PHI about your disease as confidential and will disclose such PHI without your written consent only in limited circumstances as permitted or required by law. BHC Alhambra Hospital may use or disclose PHI about your disease without your consent or authorization as follows:

• To health care personnel providing medical care to you;
• As necessary to protect the public health;
• As permitted by a subpoena or a court order;
• To local or State health directors, upon request;
• As otherwise permitted or required by laws specifically addressing the release of information or records related to HIV/AIDS.

BHC Alhambra Hospital may use and disclose PHI about you with your consent in the following circumstances:

Treatment. BHC Alhambra Hospital may use and disclose your PHI to provide, coordinate, or manage your health care and related services, including the disclosure of your PHI to health care providers outside of BHC Alhambra Hospital. For example, BHC Alhambra Hospital may use and disclose your PHI when referring you to another health care provider. BHC Alhambra Hospital also may disclose your PHI to individuals who may be involved in your medical care after you leave BHC Alhambra Hospital. For example, if you are referred to a counselor or psychiatrist for follow-up treatment, BHC Alhambra Hospital will disclose to that provider PHI concerning your treatment at BHC Alhambra Hospital.

Payment. BHC Alhambra Hospital may use and disclose your PHI to bill and collect payment for the treatment and services provided to you. For example, BHC Alhambra Hospital may share your PHI with your health plan(s) in order to request coverage and obtain payment approval prior to providing services to you (in non-emergency situations). BHC Alhambra Hospital may send a bill to you or to a third-party payor, and this bill may include PHI such as your diagnosis, treatment received, and list of supplies used. BHC Alhambra Hospital also may share portions of your PHI, as necessary, with billing departments, collection agencies, insurance companies, and other health care providers.

Health Care Operations. BHC Alhambra Hospital may use and disclose PHI to perform business activities - i.e., "health care operations." These health care operations enable BHC Alhambra Hospital to improve the quality of care that it provides. For example, members of BHC Alhambra Hospital's medical staff, its risk manager, and other team members may use PHI to assess the care and outcomes in your case, in an effort to continually improve the quality and effectiveness of health care services provided. BHC Alhambra Hospital also may use your PHI in order to provide training programs for its employees, resolve grievances within the organization, or review and evaluate the skills and qualifications of health care providers who are treating you.

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