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HIPAA Notice

Effective date: September 27, 2026

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.

This notice describes your rights concerning your health information, how Lighthouse Treatment Inc. may use or disclose that information, and how to file a privacy complaint. You may request a paper or electronic copy and discuss this notice with our Compliance Manager at (855) 934-1100 or info@lighthousetreatment.com.

Scope of this notice

This notice applies to health information maintained by Lighthouse Treatment Inc. in providing its services. Some substance use disorder treatment records receive additional protection under 42 CFR Part 2. When Part 2 or another applicable law imposes a greater restriction, that restriction governs.

Our internal policies and procedures guide how we carry out applicable privacy requirements. This notice describes the rights and practices that must be disclosed to you.

How we use and disclose health information

Treatment, payment, and health care operations. HIPAA generally permits us to use or disclose health information to provide and coordinate treatment, obtain payment, and operate our services. For example, we may use information to plan your care, provide information to a health plan for payment, or review the quality of our services.

Part 2 records. Disclosure of records protected by Part 2 for treatment, payment, or health care operations generally requires your written consent unless Part 2 permits the disclosure without consent. You may give a single consent covering future disclosures for those purposes. You may also revoke consent in writing as permitted by law. Revocation does not undo disclosures already made in reliance on your consent.

When a Part 2 record is disclosed under a qualifying consent to an organization subject to HIPAA, that recipient may further use or disclose it as HIPAA permits. The special restrictions on using Part 2 records in proceedings against you continue to apply.

Other disclosures permitted or required by law. Depending on the information involved and the conditions imposed by applicable law, we may use or disclose health information for purposes such as:

  • Public health activities; reporting suspected abuse or neglect; or preventing a serious threat to health or safety.

  • Health oversight, authorized audits and evaluations, and qualifying research.

  • Workers’ compensation matters, certain government functions, and disclosures required by law.

  • Requests involving a coroner, medical examiner, funeral director, or organ donation.

  • Legal proceedings and law enforcement requests when the applicable requirements for disclosure have been met.

Part 2 permits more limited disclosures without patient consent in specified circumstances. Examples include communications within the program, disclosures to qualified organizations that assist the program, bona fide medical emergencies, certain reports of suspected child abuse or crimes on program premises, qualifying research and audits, certain cause-of-death inquiries, and disclosures authorized by a Part 2 court order. Each disclosure remains subject to the conditions and limits that apply to it.

People involved in your care. You may tell us whether and how to share information with family members, friends, or others involved in your care or payment for your care. Additional consent requirements may apply to Part 2 records. We will evaluate a request under the law applicable to the information involved.

Uses requiring written permission. Written authorization or consent is required for uses or disclosures that applicable law does not otherwise permit, including most uses of psychotherapy notes, uses for marketing that require authorization under HIPAA, and a sale of protected health information. We will not use or disclose health information for a purpose outside this notice unless you authorize or consent to it in writing, or applicable law otherwise permits or requires it. You may revoke a written authorization or consent as permitted by law.

Special protection in proceedings against you

Part 2 records, and testimony describing them, cannot be used or disclosed in a civil, criminal, administrative, or legislative investigation or proceeding against you without your specific written consent or a court order that meets Part 2 requirements. Where required, you or the record holder must receive notice and an opportunity to be heard. A court order authorizing disclosure must also be accompanied by a subpoena or similar legal mandate compelling disclosure.

Your rights

You may exercise the following rights by contacting our Compliance Manager. We may verify your identity or a representative’s authority before acting on a request.

  • Access your records. You may request to inspect or obtain a paper or electronic copy of health information available to you under applicable law. Permitted fees and response periods are governed by law.

  • Request a correction. You may ask us to amend information you believe is incorrect or incomplete. If we deny the request, we will explain the decision as required by law.

  • Request confidential communications. You may ask us to contact you in a particular way or at a particular location. We will accommodate reasonable requests as required by law.

  • Request limits on disclosures. You may ask us to restrict certain uses or disclosures. We are not required to agree to every request. If you pay in full out of pocket for a service, you may request that information about that service not be disclosed to your health plan for payment or health care operations, unless disclosure is required by law.

  • Request an accounting. You may request an accounting of certain disclosures. The disclosures covered and the periods available depend on the applicable law. Additional rights concerning electronic Part 2 records and disclosures through an intermediary apply when and to the extent provided by law.

  • Request a copy of this notice. You may obtain a paper copy even if you have received an electronic copy.

  • Act through an authorized representative. A person legally authorized to act for you may exercise applicable rights on your behalf.

  • Decline fundraising communications involving Part 2 records. If such communications are undertaken, you have the right to a clear opportunity to elect not to receive them.

Our responsibilities and changes to this notice

We are required by law to protect the privacy and security of health information, provide notice of our privacy practices, notify affected individuals following a breach of unsecured information when required by law, and follow the terms of the notice currently in effect.

We may revise this notice and make its revised terms effective for information we already maintain, as permitted by law. A revised notice will be available on our website, at our service locations, and upon request, in accordance with applicable notice requirements.

Questions or complaints

You may contact Lighthouse Treatment Inc. with a question, request, or privacy complaint:

Compliance Manager
Lighthouse Treatment Inc.
30211 Avenida de las Banderas, Suite 200 #5988
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688
Phone: (855) 934-1100
Email: info@lighthousetreatment.com

You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights at hhs.gov/hipaa/filing-a-complaint. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.