Doctor with Patient

Client Handbook

Regional Health Systems is committed to making every client’s experience as comfortable and effective as possible. This handbook is designed to help you learn more about the services that are available to you and how we can help you. Download the client handbook or click through the links below.

Regional Health Systems Client Handbook

Client Handbook Sections

Locations

Contact Us

Patient Portal

Client Rights

Confidentiality

Privacy Practices

Client Responsibilities

Discount Fee Scale

Accreditation & Lincensure

Client Rights

Regional Health Systems is dedicated to ensuring that your treatment here meets the highest standards of quality care. The following rights ensure your personal privacy and dignity while in our care. Regardless of race, religion, gender, ethnicity, age, or disability, you have the right:

  • To receive adequate, humane, and individualized care in the least restrictive environment.
  • To make informed decisions regarding your care, including the right to be informed of your health status, to be involved in care planning and treatment, and to be able to request or refuse treatment. For minors, parents or guardians have the right to be included in the treatment planning process and the creation of an individualized treatment plan.
  • To request and receive information about alternative treatment procedures and about the risks and side effects of any treatment that is recommended.
  • To see your medical record in a reasonable period of time in the presence of your physician or clinician, provided that you submit a written request to do so. All information contained in the record is confidential and can only be released with your consent or as necessary to prevent injury to you or others, or pursuant to law.
  • To be informed of your rights in a language you and/or your family understand.
  • To be informed of all fees charged for services.
  • To present complaints concerning quality of care either on your own behalf or as presented by family members or legal guardians.
  • To request consideration of a clinical staff transfer throughout the treatment process.
  • To refuse services, to withdraw from treatment (including medications), to the extent permitted by law, to be informed of the consequences of such a withdrawal, and to receive appropriate referrals.
  • To receive an appropriate screening or assessment and referral for or provision of management of pain.
  • To practice the religion of your choice.
  • To obtain a second opinion regarding your recommended plan of treatment. You are responsible for any expense associated with a second opinion.
  • To refuse to participate in a research project and not to be denied appropriate services as a result of that refusal.
  • To be informed about and to contact or consult with, at your own expense, available advocacy services such as the Legal Aid Program, Mental Health America, and the appeals process of other human service agencies.

Regional Health Systems provides a grievance process for clients who are dissatisfied with treatment, who feel their rights have been violated, or who have allegations of professional misconduct or ethical concerns to report. You should discuss your complaint with your primary clinician first, then the clinician’s supervisor or the program director. If you feel your concern is still unresolved, then contact the client advocate at 219-769-4005.

If you have compliments, questions, concerns, or complaints about services, treatment, procedures, safety issues, rights or policies, you can contact any of the following:

 

Confidentiality 

Your medical information is personal, and we are committed to protecting it. We maintain an electronic medical record for all individuals in our care. Only authorized staff have access to your record. Your medical record can be released to other individuals or organizations only with your written consent or as mandated by law or court order.

Your insurance company may require release of information for billing. If you wish for your insurance company to be billed, you will be asked to sign a consent form.

In some situations, a clinician may be legally obligated to take actions which the clinician deems necessary to attempt to protect an individual or others from harm. Some treatment information may be revealed. If such a situation arises, your therapist will make every effort to fully discuss it with you before taking action and will limit disclosure to what is necessary. All disclosures will be made in accordance with our “Notice of Privacy Practices.”

Records of alcohol and drug abuse are confidential and protected by federal law (42 CFR part 2). No information about attendance in substance use programming is permitted without a written consent, court order, a medical emergency or to qualified personnel conducting research for an audit. Federal laws do not protect any information about a crime committed at the program or about suspected child abuse or neglect.

Certain information may be disclosed to the Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction (DMHA). If you are enrolled in the Hoosier Assurance Plan for financial assistance, DMHA requires that Regional submit certain demographic and service data to DMHA without name or identification information attached. DMHA conducts consumer satisfaction survey annually. Participation in the survey is your choice. 

Privacy Practices

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

Federal regulations require that Regional Health Systems (RHS) provide you with a copy of our Notice of Privacy Practices. This Notice of Privacy Practice outlines your basic rights under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), as well as our responsibilities. The following is a brief summary of the information contained in the Notice of Privacy Practices.

This information can and will be used to:

  • Conduct, plan, and direct your treatment and follow-up among multiple healthcare providers who may be involved in your treatment directly or indirectly.
  • Obtain payment from third party payers.
  • Conduct normal healthcare operations such as quality assessments and physicians certifications.

Regional Health Systems has the right to change its Notice of Privacy Practices from time to time. You may contact us at any time to obtain a current copy of Notice of Privacy Practices. You may also request in writing that we restrict how your private health information is used or disclosed to carry out treatment, payment, or healthcare operations. We are not required to agree with your restrictions, but if we do agree, then we are bound by such restrictions.

If you have any questions regarding these rights, please discuss them with your primary clinician or case manager at any time during your course of treatment with us.

Homeless Management Information System Notice of Privacy Practices

The Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) requires certain entities to post the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) Notice of Privacy Practices. HMIS is used by many agencies in Indiana that provide services to individuals and families in need. The information collected by HMIS reduces duplicate intakes, documents need for services and more. To read the privacy notice and the type of information collected, click the button below.

HMIS Notice of Privacy Practices

Client Responsibilities

Clients receiving services from Regional Health Systems have certain responsibilities. As a client you have the responsibility:

  • To participate in developing your individualized care plan. The individualized care plan will be reviewed periodically with your health care provider to assess and plan for appropriate changes.
  • To actively participate in your care and work cooperatively with your care providers.
  • To keep appointments or to cancel at least 24 hours in advance.
  • To pay for fees in accordance with the fee agreement you entered into with Regional Health Systems. This will include providing information to determine your fee, such as family size and income, approximately every 6 months.

Discount Sliding Fee Scale

Regional Health Systems operates a community mental health center and a federally qualified health center to ensure that quality health care is available for all clients regardless of their inability to pay. Qualifications for the discount sliding fee scale for medical and dental services are determined by proof of income, household size, and living status. Recertification is required annually.

Payment options include cash, debit, Medicaid, Medicare, commercial health plans, underinsured and uninsured discount self-pay option. To learn more about this service or other insurance options, please ask our front desk staff.

Accreditation, Licensure, Certification, Membership