Notice of Privacy Practices

Options Clinic 

This notice describes how medical information about you may be used 

and disclosed and how you can get access to this information.

Please review this notice carefully.

If you have any questions about this notice, please contact:

Options Clinic

1005 Partridge Place, Suite 1, Helena, MT  59602

Phone: 406-422-1011

OUR COMMITMENT TO YOUR PRIVACY

Options Clinic is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of your protected health information ("PHI"). We are required by law to maintain the privacy of your health information, provide you with this Notice of our legal duties and privacy practices, and notify you following a breach of unsecured protected health information when required by law.

 This Notice applies to all records regarding your care maintained by Options Clinic, whether in paper, electronic, verbal, visual, or other form.

HOW WE MAY USE AND DISCLOSE YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION

We may use and disclose your health information without your written authorization for the following purposes:

Treatment

We may use and disclose your health information to provide, coordinate, or manage your healthcare and related services.

 Examples include:

  • Sharing information with physicians, nurses, counselors, and other healthcare professionals involved in your care

  • Referring you to specialists or other healthcare providers

  • Coordinating care with pharmacies, laboratories, hospitals, or imaging facilities

Healthcare Operations

We may use and disclose health information for clinic operations including:

  • Quality assessment and improvement activities

  • Staff training and education

  • Accreditation and certification activities

  • AAAHC surveys and compliance reviews

  • Risk management

  • Patient safety initiatives

  • Licensing and credentialing reviews

  • Business planning and administration

Appointment Reminders and Care Communications

We may contact you regarding:

  • Appointment reminders

  • Follow-up care

  • Treatment recommendations

  • Health-related services

Communications may occur by:

  • Telephone

  • Voicemail

  • Postal mail

  • Secure email

  • Patient portal

  • Text message (SMS), when you have consented or where permitted by law

Business Associates

We may share health information with vendors and service providers who perform services on our behalf.

These organizations are required by law and contract to protect your information.

Examples include:

  • Electronic medical record providers

  • IT service providers

  • Accreditation consultants

  • Secure messaging vendors

As Required by Law

We may disclose information when required by federal, state, or local law.

Public Health Activities

We may disclose information for public health purposes, including:

  • Reporting communicable diseases 

  • FDA reporting activities

  • Preventing or controlling disease, injury, or disability

Victims of Abuse, Neglect, or Domestic Violence

We may disclose information when required or authorized by law to appropriate authorities.

Health Oversight Activities

We may disclose information to government agencies for:

  • Audits

  • Investigations

  • Inspections

  • Licensing reviews

  • Accreditation-related oversight

Judicial and Administrative Proceedings

We may disclose information in response to:

  • Court orders

  • Subpoenas

  • Administrative proceedings as permitted by law.

Law Enforcement

We may disclose information to law enforcement officials under circumstances authorized by law.

Serious Threat to Health or Safety

We may disclose information to prevent or lessen a serious threat to health or safety.

Research

Research uses of health information generally require your authorization unless otherwise permitted by law and approved through appropriate review processes.

Workers' Compensation

Information may be disclosed as authorized by workers' compensation laws.

SPECIAL PROTECTION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION

Certain records receive additional protections under federal or state law, including:

  • Substance use disorder treatment records

  • HIV/AIDS information

  • Genetic information

  • Mental health records where applicable

  • Reproductive healthcare information as protected by law

Additional authorization may be required before these records are disclosed.

YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION

You have the right to:

Access Your Records

Request inspection or copies of your health records.

Request Amendments

Request corrections to information you believe is inaccurate or incomplete.

Request Restrictions

Request restrictions on certain uses or disclosures of your information.

While we are not always required to agree, we will comply when required by law.

Request Confidential Communications

Request communications by alternative means or at alternative locations.

Receive an Accounting of Disclosures

Request a list of certain disclosures made by the clinic.

Receive a Paper Copy of This Notice

You may request a paper copy at any time.

Choose Someone to Act for You

If you have given another person medical power of attorney or if someone is your legal guardian, that person may exercise your rights when authorized by law.

File a Complaint

You may file a complaint without fear of retaliation.

Contact:

Options Clinic
1005 Partridge Place, Suite 1
Helena, MT 59602

You may also file a complaint with:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Office for Civil Rights: https://www.hhs.gov/ocr

OUR RESPONSIBILITIES

Options Clinic is required to:

  • Maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information

  • Provide this Notice of Privacy Practices

  • Follow the terms of this Notice

  • Notify you if a breach compromises your information

  • Comply with federal and state privacy laws

  • Support patient rights and confidentiality standards consistent with AAAHC accreditation requirements

CHANGES TO THIS NOTICE

We reserve the right to revise this Notice. Any revised Notice will apply to all information maintained by Options Clinic and will be posted in our facility and on our website.

ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS NOTICE

Options Clinic may offer communications through email, patient portals, or text messaging. While we use reasonable safeguards, electronic communications may carry inherent risks.

Patients may opt out of non-essential electronic communications by contacting the clinic.

Effective Date: June 1, 2009

SMS TERMS & CONDITIONS AND MOBILE PRIVACY PRACTICE 

OUR COMMITMENT TO PRIVACY

Options Clinic is committed to protecting the privacy, confidentiality, and security of information entrusted to us. This Privacy Practice describes how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard information obtained through our website, online services, electronic communications, and text messaging programs.

This Privacy Practice applies to information collected through:

  • Our website

  • Online forms and appointment requests

  • Email communications

  • Text messaging (SMS) communications

  • Patient communication systems integrated with our Electronic Health Record (EHR)

  • Other electronic services operated by Options Clinic

Protected Health Information (PHI) is also governed by our separate Notice of Privacy Practices, which is available upon request and on our website.

INFORMATION WE COLLECT

Depending on how you interact with us, we may collect:

Personal Information

  • Name

  • Address

  • Email address

  • Telephone number

  • Date of birth

  • Insurance information

  • Appointment requests

  • Communication preferences

Health Information

When you become a patient, we may collect information necessary to provide healthcare services, including information that constitutes Protected Health Information (PHI) under HIPAA.

Website Usage Information

Our website may automatically collect:

  • IP address

  • Browser type

  • Device information

  • Operating system

  • Website usage data

  • Cookies and analytics information

HOW WE USE INFORMATION

We may use information to:

  • Provide healthcare services

  • Schedule appointments

  • Communicate with patients

  • Respond to inquiries

  • Improve our website and services

  • Meet legal and regulatory requirements

  • Maintain accreditation and quality assurance programs

  • Protect the security of our systems

HIPAA-COMPLIANT ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS

Options Clinic utilizes a HIPAA-compliant Electronic Health Record (EHR) system and HIPAA-compliant communication technologies.

Our communication systems may be integrated directly with our EHR to facilitate:

  • Appointment reminders

  • Appointment confirmations

  • Care coordination

  • Follow-up instructions

  • Treatment communications

  • Patient education

  • Secure patient communications

Information exchanged through these systems may become part of your medical record when appropriate.

SMS COMMUNICATIONS

Consent to Receive Text Messages

By providing your mobile phone number and opting into SMS communications, you consent to receive text messages from Options Clinic regarding healthcare services and clinic operations.

Consent is voluntary and is not a condition of receiving healthcare services.

Types of SMS Messages

Messages may include:

  • Appointment reminders

  • Appointment confirmations

  • Scheduling notifications

  • Follow-up care communications

  • Prescription reminders

  • Billing notifications

  • Patient service announcements

  • Healthcare-related communications

Message Frequency

Message frequency varies depending on your healthcare needs and interactions with the clinic.

Message and Data Rates

Message and data rates may apply according to your wireless carrier plan.

Opt-Out Instructions

You may opt out at any time by replying: STOP

You may request assistance by replying: HELP

Or by contacting Options Clinic: 406-422-1011

MOBILE PRIVACY PRACTICES

HIPAA-Compliant Text Messaging

Options Clinic uses a HIPAA-compliant messaging platform integrated with our Electronic Health Record (EHR).

The platform includes safeguards designed to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and security of patient information.

Text messages may contain information related to your healthcare services when permitted by law and necessary to facilitate your care.

MOBILE INFORMATION SHARING

No mobile information will be shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes.

Text messaging originator opt-in data, consent records, and mobile contact information will not be sold, rented, or shared with third parties for marketing purposes.

Information may be shared only with authorized service providers, vendors, contractors, and business associates who assist us in providing healthcare services or communication systems and who are required to protect the confidentiality and security of information.

COOKIES AND ANALYTICS

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to:

  • Improve website performance

  • Understand website usage

  • Enhance user experience

  • Maintain website security

You may disable cookies through your browser settings; however, some website functions may not operate properly.

THIRD-PARTY SERVICE PROVIDERS

Options Clinic may use third-party service providers to support:

  • Website hosting

  • Electronic Health Records

  • Appointment scheduling

  • Payment processing

  • Analytics

  • HIPAA-compliant messaging services

  • Information technology services

Where required, these vendors operate under contractual obligations designed to protect information and comply with applicable privacy and security laws.

PROTECTION OF REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH INFORMATION

Options Clinic recognizes the sensitive nature of reproductive healthcare information.

We maintain safeguards to protect reproductive health information and comply with applicable federal and state privacy requirements governing the collection, use, disclosure, and protection of such information.

DATA SECURITY

Options Clinic maintains administrative, physical, and technical safeguards designed to protect information from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, alteration, or destruction.

Security measures may include:

  • Access controls

  • Encryption technologies

  • Secure data storage

  • Workforce training

  • Audit monitoring

  • HIPAA compliance programs

  • Vendor oversight and Business Associate Agreements

While no system can guarantee absolute security, we take reasonable steps to protect information in our possession.

YOUR PRIVACY RIGHTS

You may have the right to:

  • Access certain information about yourself

  • Correct inaccurate information

  • Request alternative communication methods

  • Opt out of SMS communications

  • Request information regarding our privacy practices

  • File a privacy complaint

Patients also have additional rights under HIPAA as described in our Notice of Privacy Practices.

CHILDREN’S PRIVACY

Our website is not intended to collect personal information from children without appropriate legal authorization or parental involvement where required by law.

CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

Options Clinic may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any updates will be posted on our website and become effective upon posting.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Options Clinic
1005 Partridge Place, Suite 1
Helena, MT 59602
Phone: 406-422-1011
Website: www.OptionsHelena.org
Email: info@OptionsHelena.org

Effective Date: June 3, 2026