Consumers & Families

Life Alliance is committed to providing quality services to all consumers in the communities that we serve. It is our priority to ensure all individuals with special needs have the support and assistance needed in order to be recognized as contributing members of the community and valued for those contributions. Life Alliance will protect the rights of our consumers and will ensure that all consumers involved in our organization have contributions to his/her success to independent living.

Client Rights

Basic Rights

Consumers of our services have natural human rights. Among these rights are:

To be aware of their rights.
To be free from abuse, neglect and exploitation.
To choose services and service providers.
To have notice and explanation for service termination.
To own and maintain personal property.
To be informed about the rules of the provider agency and the details of the service provision including any benefit or risk.
To socialize with persons of their choice.
To be free from Corporal Punishment.
To make complaints without fear of negative consequences.
To move freely without restriction.
To dignity, privacy, humane care.
To live as normally as possible while receiving care and treatment.
To treatment, including access to medical care and habilitation, regardless of age or degree of mental illness, developmental disabilities, or substance abuse.
To an individualized written treatment or habilitation plan setting forth a program to maximize the development or restoration of his capabilities.

These basic rights are to be afforded to all consumers of services through Life Alliance except as limited by guardian wishes or court decisions limiting rights. We take our client's rights seriously and will at all times make every effort to be respectful of our consumers and their rights.

Client Rights

The Right to Grievances

If at any time a consumer of services feels that their rights have been violated they may file a grievance in writing or verbally to the Qualified Professional or the CEO of Life Alliance. A complaint may be made to any employee of Life Alliance but should be discussed with the QP or CEO if resolution can't be achieved. Our clients also have the right to complain to their Case Manager, the Lead Agency or the Governor's Council for Persons with Disabilities at 1-800-821-6922.

The Right to Confidentiality

Confidentiality will be strictly observed. No confidential information will be released without your written consent, a court order or in accordance with federal or state law. Disclosure of confidential information may be made without the express written consent of the client in such cases as determined by the Qualified Professional as being necessary in the interest of the consumer in accordance with GS 122C 52-56.

Release without Consent

Confidential information may be disclosed without the consent of the consumer in the following instances:

When a consumer poses an immediate danger to themselves or others
In cases of Emergency Medical Treatment where the consumer may be unable to make sound decisions for themselves
In cases of a court order
In cases of suspected abuse and/or neglect of themselves or others and exploitation

The Right to Understand and Receive a Copy

I have read and understand these rights as having been explained to me and have received a copy of the form explaining my rights. I further understand my right to complain if I feel these rights have been violated without fear of negative consequences.

Access to Services

If you are a consumer who has been diagnosed with an Intellectual or Developmental disability and are not currently receiving any services or not sure how to access services, please see the following information below.

How to Access Services

Consumers and families can access services by calling any Life Alliance office or one of the LME/MCO organizations.

NC Department of Health and Human Services
http://www.ncdhhs.gov/

NC Medicaid
http://www.ncdhhs.gov/dma/medicaid/

Developmental Disabilities Institute
http://www.ddiny.org/

Autism Society
http://www.autism-society.org/

Epilepsy Foundation
http://www.epilepsy.com/

American Red Cross
http://www.redcross.org/

Centers for Disease Control/Developmental Disabilities
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/developmentaldisabilities/index.html

Traumatic Brain Injury
http://www.traumaticbraininjury.com/

United Cerebral Palsy
http://ucp.org/

Down Syndrome
http://www.globaldownsyndrome.org/

Travel for Individuals with Disabilities
http://www.disabledtravelers.com/adventure_travel.htm

Privacy Practices

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY!

Notice of Privacy Practices

Life Alliance shall maintain our consumers' right to privacy and confidentiality of information at all times. Information known or contained in the consumer's clinical record (known as protected health information) shall be treated as confidential and will be released only under circumstances allowed by all applicable law, including but not limited to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA, 45CFR 160 & 164) and NC GS 122C.

Life Alliance will only share consumer protected health information under the following circumstances:

Upon request to the consumer or consumer's legally responsible person as outlined in policy 6007
With the consumer's (or legally responsible person) written consent (example: all consumer's sign a consent allowing Life Alliance to share information with their LME/MCO)
When subpoenaed by a court of law
In case of medical emergency, but limited to the information necessary to meet the emergency as determined by the responsible professional (example: paramedic on scene of a suspected allergic reaction asks direct care staff if consumer has any known allergies)
As required by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (example: DHHS requires all provider agencies who receive Medicaid payments to report patient information to a portal such as Health Information Exchange, CCNC, etc)

In cases of disclosure where federal law and state law conflict, Life Alliance follows the more stringent law.

Life Alliance staff are trained on our confidentiality and privacy policies upon hire and at regular intervals throughout their employment. All potential breaches of confidentiality are reviewed by the Life Alliance Leadership Committee and swift, appropriate action is taken as required by applicable law.