Notice of Privacy Practices

Who follows this Notice

This Notice applies to Mission Neighborhood Health Center (MNHC), all of its sites (Shotwell Clinic, Excelsior Clinic, Mission Neighborhood Resource Center, Latino Prevention Center, John O'Connell School-Based Teen Clinic), and all employees, staff, volunteers, students, and other personnel involved in your care.

Our duties to you

Federal law (HIPAA, 45 CFR Parts 160 & 164) and California law (the Confidentiality of Medical Information Act, Civil Code §§ 56–56.37) require us to:

• Keep your protected health information private.
• Give you this Notice of our legal duties and privacy practices.
• Follow the terms of the Notice currently in effect.
• Notify you if a breach of your unsecured protected health information occurs.

How we may use and share your information

We may use and share your protected health information for treatment, payment, and health care operations — for example, with the providers caring for you, your insurance plan, or for quality reviews. Other permitted uses include public health activities, required reporting (such as suspected abuse), and as required by law.

California gives you stronger protections in some areas, including mental health, HIV/AIDS, and reproductive and sexual health (including services minors age 12+ may consent to under California Family Code §§ 6920–6929). For these categories we will generally not share your information without your written authorization, except as specifically allowed by law.

Substance use disorder records are protected by 42 CFR Part 2 in addition to HIPAA and California law. Under the 2024 Part 2 final rule (effective February 16, 2024; compliance required by February 16, 2026), we generally need your written consent before sharing information about substance use disorder evaluation or treatment, with limited exceptions for medical emergencies, audits, and as required by law. Once obtained, a single consent may permit further treatment, payment, and health-care-operations uses by recipients covered by HIPAA.

Your rights

You have the right to:

• Inspect and obtain a copy of your medical record (paper or electronic).
• Request that we correct information you believe is wrong or incomplete.
• Request a list of certain disclosures we have made of your information.
• Request restrictions on how we use or disclose your information.
• Request that we contact you in a specific way (for example, by phone only at a particular number).
• Receive a paper copy of this Notice, even if you have agreed to receive it electronically.
• File a complaint, without retaliation, if you believe your privacy rights have been violated.

How to file a complaint

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with us or with the federal government. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

You may also file with the California Attorney General's Office or the California Department of Public Health (Office of Health Information Integrity).

Changes to this Notice

We may change the terms of this Notice at any time. The new Notice will be effective for all health information we maintain. The current Notice is posted at each MNHC site and on this page; copies are available from any MNHC front desk.