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1st Choice Detox Treatment Center

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Patient Privacy

Notice of Privacy Practices

1st Choice Detox Treatment Center

11651 Woodley Avenue, Granada Hills, California
Phone: +1 (844) 944-3139  ·  Email: info@1stchoicedetoxtreatmentcenter.com

Effective Date: [July 30th, 2026]

FEDERAL LAW PROTECTS THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER PATIENT RECORDS.

This notice describes:

  • How health information about you may be used and disclosed
  • Your rights with respect to your health information
  • How to file a complaint concerning a violation of the privacy or security of your health information, or of your rights concerning your information

Please review this notice carefully.

You have a right to a copy of this notice, in paper or electronic form, and to discuss it with Hayko Savtalyan, Program Director, at +1 (844) 944-3139 or info@1stchoicedetoxtreatmentcenter.com, if you have any questions.

1st Choice Detox Treatment Center is a licensed substance use disorder treatment provider. Your records are protected under both the federal HIPAA Privacy Rule (45 CFR Parts 160 and 164) and the federal substance use disorder confidentiality regulations at 42 USC § 290dd-2 and 42 CFR Part 2, as well as applicable California law. Where these laws differ, we follow the standard that gives you the greater protection.

On This Page

SECTION I

Uses and Disclosures of Your Records

A. Uses and disclosures that do not require your written consent

We may use or disclose your records without your written consent only in the limited circumstances permitted or required by law, including:

  • Medical emergencies. To medical personnel to the extent necessary to meet a bona fide medical emergency in which your prior written consent cannot be obtained.
  • Reports of suspected child abuse or neglect. As required by California law to the appropriate state or local authorities. This exception applies to the initial report; your treatment records remain protected and require consent or a court order for any further disclosure.
  • Reports of suspected elder or dependent adult abuse. As required by California law.
  • Threats of serious harm. Where California law requires a warning to a reasonably identifiable victim or to law enforcement regarding a serious threat of physical violence. California law is more protective in this area than federal law, and we follow the more protective standard.
  • Crimes on our premises or against our staff. To law enforcement, limited to the circumstances of the incident, the status of the individual as a patient, and the individual’s name, address, and last known whereabouts.
  • Deaths. To public health authorities where reporting is required by law.
  • Audit and evaluation. To qualified personnel conducting an audit or evaluation of our program, who are prohibited from redisclosing your information.
  • Research. To qualified researchers under the conditions and protections required by 42 CFR Part 2 and HIPAA.
  • Court orders. Pursuant to a court order that meets the requirements of 42 CFR Part 2, as described in Section I.G below.
  • Business associates and qualified service organizations. To contractors and service organizations that perform functions on our behalf and that have signed agreements requiring them to protect your records under the same standards we follow. These currently include our third-party billing and revenue cycle management company and our clinical laboratory and toxicology provider. Each has signed an agreement requiring it to protect your records under the same standards we follow, and none may redisclose your records except as permitted by law.
  • To the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. As necessary to investigate or determine our compliance with federal privacy requirements.

B. Uses and disclosures that require your written consent

Most uses and disclosures of your records require your written consent. Examples include, but are not limited to:

  • Disclosing your records to your health insurance plan to verify benefits, obtain authorization for treatment, or bill for services
  • Disclosing your records to a referring provider, primary care physician, or outside clinician involved in your care
  • Disclosing your records to a family member, spouse, employer, attorney, or any other person you designate
  • Disclosing your records to a court, probation officer, parole officer, prosecutor, drug court, or other element of the criminal legal system
  • Disclosing your records to another treatment program, sober living residence, or aftercare provider
 

Important — redisclosure by recipients. Records that we disclose to a Part 2 program, a HIPAA covered entity, or a business associate pursuant to your written consent for treatment, payment, and health care operations may be further disclosed by that recipient, without your written consent, to the extent the HIPAA regulations permit such disclosure. We will inform you of this at the time you sign a consent.

C. Single consent for treatment, payment, and health care operations

You may provide a single written consent covering all future uses and disclosures of your records for treatment, payment, and health care operations purposes. You are not required to sign a separate consent each time. You may also choose to limit your consent to specific recipients or specific purposes.

D. Insurance verification

When you submit an insurance verification request through our website or by phone, you are authorizing us to use the information you provide to verify your insurance benefits, determine your eligibility for treatment, coordinate a possible admission, and bill and collect payment from your insurer or other payer. Submitting a verification request does not create a patient-provider relationship and does not guarantee admission, insurance coverage, or payment of benefits.

E. Alumni program, community events, and fundraising

1st Choice Detox Treatment Center operates an alumni program and hosts alumni and community events.

We may contact you about alumni activities using only your name, contact information, and dates of service. We will not disclose your diagnosis, treatment details, or clinical information in connection with any alumni or fundraising activity.

You have the right to elect not to receive fundraising communications from us. Every fundraising communication we send will include a clear and conspicuous opportunity to opt out, and opting out will not affect your treatment or your access to care in any way. You may also opt out at any time by contacting Hayko Savtalyan at +1 (844) 944-3139 or info@1stchoicedetoxtreatmentcenter.com.

Participation in the alumni program is entirely voluntary. If you choose to share your story publicly — in a testimonial, photograph, video, or social media post — we will obtain a separate written media release from you first. You may decline, and you may withdraw that release at any time going forward.

F. Court-mandated and criminal legal system clients

We accept clients who are mandated to treatment through the criminal legal system, including drug court, probation, and parole.

If you were mandated to treatment through the criminal legal system and you sign a consent authorizing disclosures to elements of the criminal legal system — such as the court, probation officers, parole officers, prosecutors, or other law enforcement — your right to revoke that consent may be more limited. The specific limits will be clearly explained on the consent form you sign, including how long the consent lasts and what conditions must be met before it can be revoked. Please ask us any questions before signing.

G. Protection in legal proceedings

Your records, or testimony relaying the content of your records, shall not be used or disclosed in any civil, administrative, criminal, or legislative proceeding against you unless based on your specific written consent or a court order. Records shall only be used or disclosed based on a court order after notice and an opportunity to be heard is provided to you and/or the holder of the record, where required by 42 USC § 290dd-2 and 42 CFR Part 2. A court order authorizing use or disclosure must be accompanied by a subpoena or other similar legal mandate compelling disclosure before the record is used or disclosed.

A subpoena alone is not enough. We will not release your records in response to a subpoena that is not accompanied by a qualifying court order or your written consent.

H. Our commitment

1st Choice Detox Treatment Center will only use and disclose your protected information as described in this notice, or with your written consent.

I. Revoking your consent

You may revoke your consent at any time, except to the extent that 1st Choice Detox Treatment Center has already acted in reliance upon it. Revocation will not affect any use or disclosure that has already occurred based on your prior consent.

To revoke a consent, submit a request in writing to:

Hayko Savtalyan

Program Director · Privacy Officer & Security Officer

1st Choice Detox Treatment Center
11651 Woodley Avenue, Granada Hills, California
Phone: +1 (844) 944-3139
Email: info@1stchoicedetoxtreatmentcenter.com

If a written request is not workable for you, you may request a reasonable accommodation for an alternative revocation process by contacting Hayko Savtalyan at the phone number or email above.

SECTION II

Your Rights

A. Right to request restrictions

You have the right to request restrictions on disclosures of your records for treatment, payment, and health care operations purposes, including where you have previously provided written consent. Submit your request in writing to Hayko Savtalyan at the address or email above. We will review your request and respond in writing. We are not required to agree to every requested restriction, but if we do agree, we will abide by it.

B. Right to restrict disclosures to your health plan for self-paid services

You have the right to request and obtain a restriction on disclosures to your health plan for those services you have paid for in full out of pocket. We are required to honor this request. Tell us at or before the time of service that you wish to pay in full and restrict disclosure to your plan, and submit your request to Hayko Savtalyan at the contact information above.

C. Right to an accounting of disclosures

You have the right to receive an accounting of disclosures of your records for the preceding three years, including who received your records, the date of each disclosure, and a brief description of the information disclosed. Submit your request in writing to Hayko Savtalyan at the contact information above. We will respond within the timeframes required by law, and the first accounting in any 12-month period is provided free of charge.

D. Right to access and obtain a copy of your records

You have the right to inspect and obtain a copy of your records, in paper or electronic form. Submit your request to Hayko Savtalyan at the contact information above.

E. Right to request an amendment

You have the right to request that we amend your records if you believe they are incorrect or incomplete. Submit your request in writing to Hayko Savtalyan, explaining why the amendment is needed. We will respond in writing.

F. Right to a copy of this notice

You have the right to obtain a copy of this notice from 1st Choice Detox Treatment Center upon request, in paper or electronic form, at any time.

G. Right to discuss this notice

You have the right to discuss this notice with Hayko Savtalyan, Program Director, at +1 (844) 944-3139 or info@1stchoicedetoxtreatmentcenter.com.

H. Right to opt out of fundraising communications

You have the right to discuss this notice with Hayko Savtalyan, Program Director, at +1 (844) 944-3139 or info@1stchoicedetoxtreatmentcenter.com.

I. Right to breach notification

You have the right to be notified if a breach of your unsecured records occurs.

J. Right to request confidential communications

You have the right to request that we communicate with you in a specific way or at a specific location — for example, by email only, or at a particular phone number. Submit your request to Hayko Savtalyan at the contact information above. We will accommodate reasonable requests.

SECTION III

Our Duties

1st Choice Detox Treatment Center is required by law to:

  • Maintain the privacy and security of your records
  • Provide you with this notice of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to your records
  • Notify affected patients following a breach of unsecured records
  • Abide by the terms of the notice currently in effect

We reserve the right to change the terms of this notice and to make the new notice provisions effective for all records that we maintain. If we make a material change to this notice, we will post the revised notice on this page and make paper copies available at our facility. Current patients will be provided with the revised notice at their next visit or by mail or email.

SECTION III

Complaints

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you have the right to file a complaint.

Filing a complaint with 1st Choice Detox Treatment Center

Contact Hayko Savtalyan, Program Director:

You may file your complaint verbally or in writing. We will acknowledge your complaint within 3 business days and provide a written response within 15 days. You may file a complaint anonymously, and you may ask someone else to file on your behalf.

Filing a complaint with the federal government

You may file a complaint with the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services by contacting the HHS Office for Civil Rights or by visiting hhs.gov/hipaa/filing-a-complaint.

You are not required to report an alleged violation to either the Secretary or to 1st Choice Detox Treatment Center. You may report to either, or both.

Filing a complaint with the State of California

You may also file a complaint with the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), Licensing and Certification Division, which licenses substance use disorder treatment facilities in California. You do not need to contact us first.

No retaliation

1st Choice Detox Treatment Center will not retaliate against you in any way for filing a complaint. Filing a complaint will not affect your treatment, your discharge status, or your ability to receive care from us in the future.

For Additional Information, Contact

Hayko Savtalyan

Program Director · Privacy Officer & Security Officer

1st Choice Detox Treatment Center
11651 Woodley Avenue, Granada Hills, California
Phone: +1 (844) 944-3139
Email: info@1stchoicedetoxtreatmentcenter.com

Effective Date: July 30th, 2026