Effective Date: 02/16/2026
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 explains how Brighton Bridge Hospice protects your health information, how we may use and share it, and how you can exercise your privacy rights. It applies to information we maintain in paper, electronic, and other forms.
Privacy contact: Privacy Officer, Brighton Bridge Hospice • 337-639-9200
Mail: Post Office Box 279, Oberlin, LA 70655
Office: 213B North 1st Street, Oberlin, LA 70655 • Fax: 337-639-3032
YOUR RIGHTS
To exercise any right below, contact our Privacy Officer at the telephone number or address above. We will explain the process and help you submit a request. We may ask you to put a request in writing and will verify identity and legal authority as appropriate.
See or receive your records. You may inspect or obtain a paper or electronic copy of health and billing information in the records used to make decisions about you. We will provide the requested format if readily producible or agree with you on an available format. We will provide copies within a reasonable time, no later than 15 days after receiving your request and any written authorization required by Louisiana law. A HIPAA authorization is not required for your own HIPAA access request. We will apply the more protective applicable law. Any fee will be reasonable, cost-based, and limited by applicable law; inspection is free. If access is lawfully denied, we will explain the reason in writing and any available review and complaint rights.
Ask for an amendment. You may ask us in writing to amend information you believe is incorrect or incomplete and explain why. We will act within 60 days. If the law permits an extension, we will notify you in writing of the reason and completion date; the extension will not exceed 30 additional days. If we deny your request, we will explain why and how you may submit a statement of disagreement.
Ask for confidential communications. You may ask us to contact you in a particular way or at a different location, such as using a different mailing address or telephone number. We will accommodate reasonable requests.
Ask us to limit information sharing. You may request limits on information used or shared for treatment, payment, health care operations, or with people involved in your care. We generally do not have to agree. However, when you or someone other than your health plan pays for an item or service in full, we must honor your request not to disclose information solely about that item or service to your health plan for payment or health care operations, unless disclosure is required by law. An agreed restriction may not prevent necessary emergency treatment.
YOUR RIGHTS CONTINUED
Receive an accounting of disclosures. You may request a list of certain disclosures made during the six years before your request, or a shorter period you specify. The list generally excludes disclosures for treatment, payment, health care operations, disclosures you authorized, and other exceptions allowed by law. We will respond within 60 days, with one additional 30-day extension if permitted and explained in writing. One accounting in any 12-month period is free. Before charging for another, we will tell you the fee and allow you to change or withdraw the request.
Receive this Notice. You may receive a paper copy promptly upon request, even if you previously agreed to electronic delivery.
Have an authorized representative act for you. A person with legal authority, such as an authorized health care agent or guardian, may exercise your rights within the scope of that authority. We will verify the authority before acting. Being a relative or caregiver does not by itself give unrestricted access to your records. Exceptions may apply when abuse, neglect, or endangerment is involved, as permitted by law.
Make a complaint without retaliation. You may complain to our Privacy Officer or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights. Contact information and filing instructions appear later in this Notice. We will investigate privacy complaints and will not retaliate, discriminate, or withhold care because you make a complaint or exercise a privacy right.
YOUR CHOICES AND WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION
Family, caregivers, and disaster relief. You may tell us whether to share information relevant to a family member’s, friend’s, or caregiver’s involvement in your care or payment for care. You may object to this sharing. We may also share limited information for disaster relief. If you cannot express a preference, we may share relevant information when professional judgment determines it is in your best interest and the law allows it. Additional protections for specially protected records still apply.
Uses requiring authorization. We obtain your written authorization for most uses and disclosures of psychotherapy notes, uses and disclosures for marketing that require authorization, and disclosures that constitute a sale of protected health information. Other uses and disclosures not described in this Notice will be made only with your written authorization. You may revoke an authorization by writing to our Privacy Officer, except to the extent we have already acted in reliance on it.
Fundraising. If we contact you for fundraising, you may opt out of further fundraising communications using the instructions provided or by contacting our Privacy Officer. Your choice will not affect treatment or payment. Before using Part 2 records for fundraising, we will give you a clear and conspicuous opportunity to choose not to receive those communications.
ADDITIONAL PRIVACY PROTECTIONS
When federal or Louisiana law provides greater privacy protection or requires consent, we follow that law. For example, Louisiana law restricts disclosure of confidential HIV test results, and additional rules may apply to mental health information and substance use disorder records. A general permission to disclose under HIPAA does not override these protections. We obtain written consent or authorization when required.
Louisiana hospice rules require written consent from you or your legally authorized representative before we release your information or records, unless the release is required by law. We obtain the required consent separately; signing the acknowledgment of this Notice only confirms receipt.
HOW WE MAY USE AND SHARE YOUR INFORMATION
The following uses and disclosures occur only when applicable law permits them and all required conditions are met. Additional consent and confidentiality rules described in this Notice may limit them.
Treatment. We use and share information to plan, provide, and coordinate hospice care. For example, your nurse may discuss symptoms with your physician, or we may send medication orders to a pharmacy. Information may be shared with hospice team members, hospitals, nursing facilities, therapists, medical equipment suppliers, and other providers involved in your care.
Payment. We use and share information to obtain payment for care. For example, we may submit information about your terminal illness and services to Medicare, Medicaid, or your insurer to support a claim or coverage review.
Health care operations. We use and share information to operate the hospice and improve care. Examples include quality assessment and performance improvement, staff training, credentialing, audits, compliance activities, and administrative services.
Business associates. Service providers, such as billing or electronic record vendors, may receive information needed to work on our behalf under agreements requiring appropriate protection and limiting use and disclosure.
Public health and safety. We may disclose information for legally authorized activities such as disease reporting, medication adverse-event reporting, product recalls, reporting suspected abuse or neglect, or preventing a serious and imminent threat to health or safety.
Health oversight and legal requirements. We disclose information when required by law, including to HHS for privacy compliance reviews. We may disclose information for authorized licensing, survey, audit, and other oversight activities.
Legal proceedings and law enforcement. We may disclose information in response to a legally valid court or administrative order or other lawful process, or for authorized law-enforcement purposes, only after applicable privacy requirements are met. A subpoena alone does not automatically authorize every disclosure. Part 2 records have the additional protections below.
Other authorized purposes. Subject to applicable safeguards, we may share information for workers’ compensation, authorized military or national-security functions, correctional purposes, organ or tissue donation, or approved research under applicable consent, waiver, or other legal requirements. We may disclose information to coroners, medical examiners, and funeral directors as authorized by law.
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER RECORDS
Certain substance use disorder records are protected by 42 CFR Part 2. A substance use disorder diagnosis or hospice prescription alone does not make every record a Part 2 record. When we receive or maintain protected Part 2 records, we follow the additional federal restrictions that apply to them.
Part 2 records, and testimony describing information in them, may not be used or disclosed in civil, criminal, administrative, or legislative investigations or proceedings against you without your specific written consent or a Part 2-compliant court order and a subpoena or other legal mandate compelling disclosure. Consent for those proceedings must be separate from consent for other purposes. General treatment, payment, or operations consent does not authorize use against you in such proceedings. Before a court authorizes use or disclosure in proceedings against you, you or the holder of the records must receive notice and an opportunity to be heard, as required by Part 2.
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER RECORDS CONTINUED
When Part 2 records are disclosed to us under your written consent for treatment, payment, or health care operations, HIPAA may permit further use and disclosure, subject to Part 2’s limits on proceedings against you and other applicable restrictions. Where Part 2 requires consent, we obtain it unless a specific legal exception applies, such as a qualifying medical emergency. You may revoke your consent in writing, subject to actions already taken in reliance on it.
OUR RESPONSIBILITIES
We are required by law to protect the privacy of your protected health information, provide this Notice of our legal duties and privacy practices, and follow the Notice currently in effect. We safeguard records against unauthorized access, use, disclosure, loss, and destruction. We will notify you following a breach of your unsecured protected health information as required by law.
We will use and disclose your information as described in this Notice. Other uses and disclosures not described in this Notice will be made only with your written authorization. When the minimum necessary standard applies, we limit information to what is reasonably needed for the purpose.
CHANGES TO THIS NOTICE
We may change this Notice and make the new terms apply to all information we maintain, including information created or received before the change. The revised Notice will show its effective date. You may obtain the current Notice at no charge by contacting our Privacy Officer. We will make it available at our office, post it prominently where required, and prominently post it on any website we maintain that describes our services or benefits.
QUESTIONS AND COMPLAINTS
For questions, privacy requests, or complaints, contact our Privacy Officer at 337-639-9200 or write to Brighton Bridge Hospice, Post Office Box 279, Oberlin, LA 70655. You may also speak with a staff member who will refer your concern to the Privacy Officer. Explain what happened, when it happened, and how we can reach you. We will help you submit your complaint.
You may file a privacy complaint directly with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights without first complaining to us:
Online: https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/filing-a-complaint/index.html
For help filing a complaint: 1-800-368-1019; TDD: 1-800-537-7697
Mail: Centralized Case Management Operations
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Room 509F HHH Bldg.
Washington, D.C. 20201
OCR complaints generally must be filed within 180 days after you knew of the alleged violation; OCR may extend this time for good cause. Filing a complaint will not affect your hospice care or services.
NOTICE DELIVERY
We provide this Notice no later than our first service delivery, except in an emergency, when we provide it as soon as reasonably practicable. We make a good-faith effort to obtain written acknowledgment of receipt when required. An acknowledgment confirms receipt; it is not consent to treatment, a hospice election, or authorization for disclosure. Refusal to sign does not prevent care or disclosures otherwise permitted by law.
BRIGHTON BRIDGE HOSPICE
LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE AND COMMUNICATION AIDS
Free language assistance and appropriate communication aids and services are available to you. These include qualified interpreters, sign language interpreting, and information in accessible formats. Call 337-639-9200 or ask a hospice staff member for help.
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Spanish / Español ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. También están disponibles de forma gratuita ayuda y servicios auxiliares apropiados para proporcionar información en formatos accesibles. Llame al 337‑639‑9200 o hable con su proveedor. French / Français ATTENTION : Si vous parlez Français, des services d’assistance linguistique gratuits sont à votre disposition. Des aides et services auxiliaires appropriés pour fournir des informations dans des formats accessibles sont également disponibles gratuitement. Appelez le 337‑639‑9200 ou parlez à votre fournisseur. Vietnamese / Tiếng Việt LƯU Ý: Nếu bạn nói tiếng Việt, chúng tôi cung cấp miễn phí các dịch vụ hỗ trợ ngôn ngữ. Các hỗ trợ dịch vụ phù hợp để cung cấp thông tin theo các định dạng dễ tiếp cận cũng được cung cấp miễn phí. Vui lòng gọi theo số 337‑639‑9200 hoặc trao đổi với người cung cấp dịch vụ của bạn. Chinese / 中文 注意：如果您说中文，我们将免费为您提供语言协助服务。我们还免费提供适当的辅助工具和服务，以无障碍格式提供信息。致电 337‑639‑9200 或咨询您的服务提供商。 |
Arabic / العربية تنبيه: إذا كنت تتحدث اللغة العربية، فستتوفر لك خدمات المساعدة اللغوية المجانية. كما تتوفر وسائل مساعدة وخدمات مناسبة لتوفير المعلومات بتنسيقات يمكن الوصول إليها مجانًا. اتصل على الرقم 337‑639‑9200 أو تحدث إلى مقدم الخدمة. Tagalog / Tagalog PAALALA: Kung nagsasalita ka ng Tagalog, magagamit mo ang mga libreng serbisyong tulong sa wika. Magagamit din nang libre ang mga naaangkop na auxiliary na tulong at serbisyo upang magbigay ng impormasyon sa mga naa-access na format. Tumawag sa 337‑639‑9200 o makipag-usap sa iyong provider. Korean / 한국어 주의: 한국어를 사용하시는 경우 무료 언어 지원 서비스를 이용하실 수 있습니다. 이용 가능한 형식으로 정보를 제공하는 적절한 보조 기구 및 서비스도 무료로 제공됩니다. 337‑639‑9200번으로 전화하거나 서비스 제공업체에 문의하십시오. Portuguese / Português ATENÇÃO: Se você fala português, serviços gratuitos de assistência linguística estão disponíveis para você. Auxílios e serviços auxiliares apropriados para fornecer informações em formatos acessíveis também estão disponíveis gratuitamente. Ligue para 337‑639‑9200 ou fale com seu provedor. |
BRIGHTON BRIDGE HOSPICE
LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE AND COMMUNICATION AIDS
Free assistance is available. Call 337-639-9200 or ask hospice staff.
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Lao / ລາວ ເຊີນຊາບ: ຖ້າທ່ານເວົ້າພາສາລາວ, ຈະມີບໍລິການຊ່ວຍດ້ານພາສາແບບບໍ່ເສຍຄ່າໃຫ້ທ່ານ. ມີເຄື່ອງຊ່ວຍ ແລະ ການບໍລິການແບບບໍ່ເສຍຄ່າທີ່ເໝາະສົມເພື່ອໃຫ້ຂໍ້ມູນໃນຮູບແບບທີ່ສາມາດເຂົ້າເຖິງໄດ້. ໂທຫາເບີ 337‑639‑9200 ຫຼືລົມກັບຜູ້ໃຫ້ບໍລິການຂອງທ່ານ. Japanese / 日本語 注：日本語を話される場合、無料の言語支援サービスをご利用いただけます。アクセシブル（誰もが利用できるよう配慮された）な形式で情報を提供するための適切な補助支援やサービスも無料でご利用いただけます。337‑639‑9200までお電話ください。または、ご利用の事業者にご相談ください。 Urdu / اردو توجہ دیں: اگر آپ اردو بولتے ہیں، تو آپ کے لیے زبان کی مفت مدد کی خدمات دستیاب ہیں۔ قابل رسائی فارمیٹس میں معلومات فراہم کرنے کے لیے مناسب معاون امداد اور خدمات بھی مفت دستیاب ہیں۔ 337‑639‑9200 پر کال کریں یا اپنے فراہم کنندہ سے بات کریں۔ German / Deutsch ACHTUNG: Wenn Sie Deutsch sprechen, stehen Ihnen kostenlose Sprachassistenzdienste zur Verfügung. Entsprechende Hilfsmittel und Dienste zur Bereitstellung von Informationen in barrierefreien Formaten stehen ebenfalls kostenlos zur Verfügung. Rufen Sie 337‑639‑9200 an oder sprechen Sie mit Ihrem Provider. |
Persian / فارسی توجه: اگر فارسی صحبت میکنید، خدمات پشتیبانی زبان رایگان در دسترس شما قرار دارد. همچنین کمکها و خدمات پشتیبانی مناسب برای ارائه اطلاعات در قالبهای قابل دسترس، بهطور رایگان موجود میباشند. با شماره 337‑639‑9200 تماس بگیرید یا با ارائهدهنده خود صحبت کنید. Russian / Русский ВНИМАНИЕ: Если вы говорите на русский, вам доступны бесплатные услуги языковой поддержки. Соответствующие вспомогательные средства и услуги по предоставлению информации в доступных форматах также предоставляются бесплатно. Позвоните по телефону 337‑639‑9200 или обратитесь к своему поставщику услуг. Thai / ไทย หมายเหตุ: หากคุณใช้ภาษาไทย เรามีบริการความช่วยเหลือด้านภาษาฟรี นอกจากนี้ยังมีเครื่องมือและบริการช่วยเหลือเพื่อให้ข้อมูลในรูปแบบที่เข้าถึงได้โดยไม่เสียค่าใช้จ่าย โปรดโทรติดต่อ 337‑639‑9200 หรือปรึกษาผู้ให้บริการของคุณ |