MORC, Inc.

NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES

This Notice of Privacy Practices is applicable to all individuals receiving services from MORC, Inc. AND all MORC, Inc. employees. MORC, Inc. is committed to keep the information gathered about you private.  Any information that identifies you and pertains to your past, present, or future physical or mental health or condition and/or related services and payment is called Protected Health Information (PHI).  We are required by law to give you this notice about our privacy practices.  We must abide by these practices but may change them at any time.  Written notification will be mailed to you regarding any changes, and it will cover all PHI information we keep. 

PLEASE REVIEW THIS NOTICE CAREFULLY.  THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES: 

• THE TYPES OF MEDICAL INFORMATION OBTAINED
• HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU IS USED AND DISCLOSED (SHARED)
• HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION
• YOUR RIGHTS CONCERNING THIS INFORMATION  

TYPES OF MEDICAL INFORMATION OBTAINED

MORC, Inc. obtains information about you when you apply for or receive services.  We obtain personal information, such as your name, address, date of birth, social security number, and insurance information.  We also obtain and create medical and treatment information, reports on your progress, and other information necessary to carry out your treatment and receive payment for your services.   

MORC, Inc. obtains personal information about employees necessary to enroll in benefit plans to which they are entitled (e.g., health insurance, life insurance, flexible benefit programs).     

HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU IS USED AND DISCLOSED (SHARED)

MORC, Inc. is allowed to use and share medical information for treatment, payment, and health care operations. 

• Treatment:  We may use and share your medical information to provide, coordinate, or manage your care.  For example, we may share information with the Community Mental Health Board/Authority responsible for your treatment.   
• Payment:  We may use and share your information to obtain payment for your care services.  This may include information needed to make a determination of eligibility or coverage for insurance benefits, reviewing medical services provided, or undertaking utilization review activities. 
• Health Care Operations:  We may use or share your protected health information in order to support our business activities.  This may include quality assessment, employee reviews, training, state and local reporting requirements, agency accreditations, etc. 

MORC, Inc. is permitted or required by law to use and share medical information without your consent.  Examples include: 

• Public health activities, such as communicable disease monitoring.  
• Federal, state, or local agency responsible to review the activities of our agency.
• An agency responsible by law to investigate abuse, neglect, or domestic violence.
• Food and Drug Administration activities, such as product testing and monitoring.
• Legal proceedings, such as subpoenas or other court orders.
• Law enforcement purposes, such as investigation of criminal activities or in an attempt to prevent a serious threat to the health and safety of a person.
• Coroners, medical examiners, or funeral directors to perform their duties as required by law, such as identification and death certificates.
• Research.
• Correctional facilities, so they may provide care.
• To comply with other provisions of the law, such as military activity, national security, disaster relief, or the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to investigate or determine MORC, Inc.’s compliance with these requirements.
• Prosecuting attorney to participate in a proceeding governed by the MI Mental Health Code.
• To a person who has the legal authority to act on your behalf after your death.  

MORC, Inc. may share information with your written permission. 

With few exceptions, MORC, Inc. will share information with your written permission to anyone you wish.  If you change your mind, you must inform MORC, Inc.’s Privacy Officer in writing or by E-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  We cannot take back information we have already shared.   

MORC, Inc., as required by Federal and State law, will not release information concerning substance abuse treatment, psychotherapy, or HIV/AIDS/ARC without your permission. 

As a MORC, Inc. employee, your signature on a benefit application gives permission to share information for the purpose of enrollment and receipt of entitled benefits (e.g., health insurance, life insurance, flexible benefit programs).     

MORC, Inc. may also use your information for additional activities. 

You may choose not to participate in one or all of these activities by writing to the MORC, Inc. Privacy Officer or by E-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  We may use your information to:   

• Contact you to provide appointment reminders.
• Contact you to provide information about treatment alternatives.
• Contact you to provide other health benefits and services that may be of interest to you, including support and advocacy  entities, such as AMORC.
• Contact you about fund raising efforts by MORC, Inc., or on behalf of MORC, Inc., through The Futures Foundation.

HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION 

• You may look at and copy your records by submitting a written request to the MORC, Inc. Director of Medical Records. Under federal law you may not inspect or copy psychotherapy notes, information gathered for use in court proceedings or administrative hearings, or when the law states you may not see it.  

YOUR RIGHTS CONCERNING THIS INFORMATION 

You have the right to: 

• Request a change, if you feel there is a mistake in your records created by MORC, Inc.  You can do this by submitting your changes in writing to the MORC, Inc. Privacy Officer or by E-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . 
• Ask that we communicate with you in a certain place or a certain way, such as sending mail to a Post Office Box, instead of your home address.   
• Ask for restrictions on the use of your information by writing to the MORC, Inc. Privacy Officer or by E-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  We are not required to agree to your request. 
• Ask for a list of places we have shared your health information after April 14, 2003.  This list will not include the times we used your information for treatment, payment, health care operations, or information shared with your permission.   
• Receive another copy of this notice at any time.  If you need a copy of this notice or require additional information on your  privacy rights or the privacy practices of MORC, Inc., please contact our Ombudsman.  You may also find a copy of the Notice of Privacy Practices on our web site at www.morcinc.org. 
• File a complaint should you believe your privacy rights have been violated.  You may file a complaint in writing to MORC, Inc.  and/or the Federal Government.  

MORC, Inc. will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint. 

MORC, Inc.                                                                                                                                                              Attention: Ombudsman
16200 Nineteen Mile Road
P.O. Box 380710
Clinton Township, Michigan 48038
PHONE (586) 263-8700  TOLL FREE (866) 807-6940  FAX (586) 412-7889  TTY/TTD (586) 286-5036                                              E-MAIL at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

A complaint form is available for your convenience.  You may get a copy by contacting the MORC, Inc. Ombudsman or by going to our web site at www.morcinc.org. 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Region V, Office for Civil Rights
233 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 240
Chicago, Illinois 60601
PHONE (312) 886-2359  FAX (312) 886-1807  TTY/TDD (312) 353-5693                                                                                    E-MAIL at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

This notice was published and becomes effective on March 1, 2007.