Privacy Policy

MHAT Mental Health - Addiction Treatment Assistance & Rehabilitation Helpline ("MHAT Treatment," "we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting the privacy and security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard information when you visit our website (mhattreatment.com), contact our facility, or receive treatment at our San Marcos, California treatment center.

1. Information We Collect

Information You Provide to Us

We may collect personal information that you voluntarily provide when you:

• Contact us by phone, email, or through our website
• Request information about our addiction treatment programs
• Complete an admissions inquiry or assessment
• Provide insurance information for verification
• Enroll in treatment at our San Marcos facility
• Participate in our alumni programs

This information may include your name, phone number, email address, mailing address, date of birth, insurance details, and other information relevant to treatment inquiries.

Protected Health Information (PHI)

If you become a patient at MHAT Treatment, we collect and maintain Protected Health Information (PHI) as defined by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). PHI includes medical records, treatment plans, diagnoses, substance use history, and other health-related information necessary for your care. The handling of PHI is governed by our separate HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices, which is provided to all patients upon admission.

Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our website, we may automatically collect certain technical information, including:

• IP address and approximate geographic location
• Browser type and version
• Device type and operating system
• Pages visited, time spent on pages, and navigation patterns
• Referring website or search terms that led you to our site

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• Responding to inquiries about our treatment programs and services
• Conducting insurance verification and admissions processes
• Providing and coordinating addiction treatment and clinical services
• Communicating with you about your treatment or inquiries
• Improving our website, services, and patient experience
• Complying with legal obligations and regulatory requirements
• Protecting the safety and security of our patients, staff, and facility

3. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties. We may share information in the following limited circumstances:

• Treatment Coordination: With healthcare providers involved in your care, as permitted by HIPAA and applicable state laws
• Insurance and Payment: With insurance companies for coverage verification and claims processing
• Legal Requirements: When required by law, court order, or governmental regulation
• Safety: When necessary to prevent serious harm to you or others
• Service Providers: With trusted third-party vendors who assist in operating our website and services, subject to confidentiality obligations

4. 42 CFR Part 2 — Substance Use Disorder Records

Records relating to substance use disorder treatment at MHAT Treatment are protected by federal confidentiality rules (42 CFR Part 2). These regulations generally restrict the disclosure and use of substance use disorder patient records. Except in limited circumstances permitted by 42 CFR Part 2, we cannot disclose substance use disorder treatment records without your written consent.

A violation of federal regulations by a program is a crime. Suspected violations may be reported to the appropriate authorities in accordance with federal regulations.

5. HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices

As a healthcare provider, MHAT Treatment is required to maintain the privacy of your Protected Health Information and provide you with notice of our legal duties and privacy practices. Key patient rights under HIPAA include:

• Right to Access: You have the right to inspect and obtain a copy of your health records
• Right to Amendment: You may request corrections to your health records
• Right to an Accounting of Disclosures: You may request a list of disclosures of your PHI
• Right to Request Restrictions: You may request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures of your PHI
• Right to Confidential Communications: You may request that we communicate with you in a specific way
• Right to a Paper Copy: You may request a paper copy of our Notice of Privacy Practices

A complete copy of our HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices is available at our San Marcos facility and may be requested by contacting our Privacy Officer.

6. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website may use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your browsing experience. Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit a website. We may use:

• Essential Cookies: Required for website functionality
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how visitors use our website to improve content and navigation
• Preference Cookies: Remember your settings and preferences for future visits

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect certain website functionality.

7. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical, administrative, and physical safeguards to protect your personal information and PHI against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:

• Encrypted data transmission (SSL/TLS) on our website
• Secure electronic health record systems
• Staff training on HIPAA compliance and data privacy
• Physical security measures at our San Marcos facility
• Access controls limiting information access to authorized personnel

While we strive to protect your information, no method of electronic transmission or storage is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of your data.

8. Your Rights

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information, including:

• The right to access your personal information
• The right to correct inaccurate information
• The right to request deletion of your personal information (subject to legal requirements)
• The right to opt out of certain data processing activities
• The right to data portability

California residents may have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA).

9. Children's Privacy

Our website is not directed to individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have inadvertently collected information from a minor, please contact us immediately so we can take appropriate action.

10. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites or services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those third-party sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any external websites you visit.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices, services, or legal requirements. The "Last Updated" date at the top of this page indicates when the policy was most recently revised. We encourage you to review this policy regularly.

12. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, wish to exercise your privacy rights, or need to contact our Privacy Officer, please reach us at:

MHAT Mental Health - Addiction Treatment Assistance & Rehabilitation Helpline
Attn: Privacy Officer
191 Woodland Pkwy
San Marcos, CA 92069
Phone: (209) 439-0037
Email: [email protected]