When people are seeking help with alcohol and drug problems, they usually prefer to deal with it in private. They will sometimes enlist the help of friends and family to choose a program, but seldom wish to announce it to their employers, ex-spouses, insurance companies and government agencies. However, when they go to an alcoholism or drug addiction treatment program, that may be exactly what happens.
Medical Facilities
Alcoholism and drug addiction treatment centers operate with the understanding that there is a medical condition or psychological reason that the patient has a problem. As a result, it is considered medical treatment. Patients are often told they need therapy to overcome these problems. Medical treatment, therapeutic or psychiatric facilities are required by law to keep records of all patients. As a result, there are digital and/or paper records of every person admitted to the facility.
Confidentiality
Although some of these facilities claim full confidentiality, this is not exactly true. Some programs accept government assistance and insurance payments; some don't. When entering a program that receives government funding or is paid for with insurance, their personal problems with drugs and alcohol are not confidential. The government agencies have access to the information if it is covered by a municipal program. When it is not paid for by grants or funding, it may be paid for by insurance. As a result, these records are also readily available to insurance agencies, third-party payers, underwriters and other personnel.
All of these financial records are accessible by subpoena. In certain cases, medical records are susceptible to subpoena, as well. For those involved in custody disputes, unpleasant divorce cases or other legal battles, the attendance at drug or alcohol rehab can be dragged into the spotlight. Items discussed during a hearing or admitted as exhibits in court may be accessible to the public in transcripts or files if it is a court of record.
Insurance
When insurance companies pay for any type of medical treatment, they keep track of the name of the facility, what types of services are rendered and how much it costs. When a patient uses insurance at what is referred to as an alcohol or drug rehab program, this is considered medical treatment and will be recorded under the patient's insurance policy.
True Confidentiality
One way for someone to find assistance with drug and alcohol problems is to attend a program through a facility that does not consider it a medical, psychological or therapeutic issue. As such, there are no medical records. The program will not receive government funding or grant money, so they are not susceptible to providing information to municipal agencies or by subpoena. Since there is no medical issue involved, health insurance does not cover these social education programs. As a result, they are not susceptible to third-party records exchanges. Social education program facilities are not required to provide proof of enrollment, so participation is completely confidential.
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