New Jersey Administrative Code
Title 13 - LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY
Chapter 34C - ALCOHOL AND DRUG COUNSELOR COMMITTEE
Subchapter 7 - TELEMEDICINE AND TELEHEALTH
Section 13:34C-7.8 - Privacy and notice to clients
Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 18, September 16, 2024
(a) Licensees who communicate with clients by electronic communications other than telephone or facsimile shall establish written privacy practices that are consistent with Federal standards pursuant to 45 CFR 160 and 164, which are incorporated herein by reference, relating to privacy of individually identifiable health information.
(b) Written privacy practices pursuant to (a) above shall include privacy and security measures that assure confidentiality and integrity of client-identifiable information. Transmissions, including client email, prescriptions, and laboratory results must be password protected, encrypted, or protected through substantially equivalent authentication techniques.
(c) A licensee who becomes aware of a breach in confidentiality of client information, as defined at 45 CFR 164.402, shall comply with the reporting requirements of 45 CFR 164.
(d) Licensees, or their authorized representatives, shall provide a client, prior to evaluation or treatment, with copies of written privacy practices and shall obtain the client's written acknowledgement of receipt of the notice.
(e) Licensees who provide services through telemedicine or telehealth, or their authorized representatives, shall, prior to providing services, give clients notice regarding telemedicine and telehealth, including the risks and benefits of being treated through telemedicine or telehealth and how to receive follow-up care or assistance in the event of an adverse reaction to the counseling or treatment recommendations, or in the event of an inability to communicate as a result of a technological or equipment failure. A licensee shall obtain a signed and dated statement indicating that the client received this notice.
(f) When telemedicine or telehealth is unable to provide all pertinent clinical information that a licensee exercising ordinary skill and care would deem reasonably necessary to provide care to a client, the licensee shall inform the client of this prior to the conclusion of the provision of care through telemedicine or telehealth and shall advise the client regarding the need for the client to obtain an additional in-person mental health or medical evaluation reasonably able to meet the client's needs.
