Privacy

How is my information kept confidential?

At LSSI, all records and communications must be kept confidential. Your privacy is protected by the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 or HIPAA (more information about is linked here: HIPPA Privacy Rule).

We also have additional confidentiality and privacy regulations such as the Illinois Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act (IMHDDCA) and the federal Confidentiality Of Substance Use Disorder Patient Records known as ‘Part 2’ along with several other regulations, which offer additional protections for clients in our mental health, development disabilities and substance use programs.

Would my employer find out I was seeking treatment?

LSSI and your insurance company cannot and will not share that you are in our care and receiving treatment with your employer without your consent.

Could my family and friends call and ask if I was getting services at LSSI?

Just like communicating with your employer, LSSI cannot and will not share information about you receiving any services with family or friends unless we have written consent from you as the client. Your information remains protected.

Would there ever be a time where LSSI would break confidentiality?

Yes, but it is for safety reasons only. If you were to say that you were going to harm yourself or others, we would need to connect you to the right services to get you immediate help. This means talking to emergency services, law enforcement or medical professionals to get you the help that you need in that moment.

LSSI values your privacy and the confidentiality of your services. We want you to feel safe and comfortable in our care knowing that we will not share or sell your information. If you have further questions about the LSSI privacy and confidentiality policies, please contact us via email at privacy@lssi.org or via mail at:

Lutheran Social Services of Illinois
Privacy Officer
Quality, Compliance and Data
1001 E. Touhy Avenue, Suite #50
Des Plaines, Illinois 60018