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Notice of Privacy Practices

Effective Date: July 28, 2026

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN ACCESS THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.

Tortu Ventures, LLC, doing business as Serenus Outpatient Detox (“Serenus,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of your health information.

This Notice of Privacy Practices explains how we may use and disclose your protected health information, including records relating to substance use disorder treatment, and describes your rights regarding that information.

Serenus is required to comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, commonly known as HIPAA. Certain records related to substance use disorder diagnosis, treatment, or referral for treatment may also be protected by federal confidentiality law under 42 CFR Part 2.

Your Rights

You have rights concerning your health information. This section explains those rights and some of our responsibilities.

Get a Copy of Your Medical Record

You may ask to inspect or receive an electronic or paper copy of your medical record and other health information we maintain about you.

We will generally provide a copy or summary within 30 days of receiving your request. We may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee when permitted by law.

In limited circumstances, we may deny access to certain information. If we deny your request, we will explain the reason and tell you whether the decision may be reviewed.

Ask Us to Correct Your Medical Record

You may ask us to correct health information that you believe is inaccurate or incomplete.

We may deny the request in certain circumstances, such as when the information was not created by Serenus or when we believe the existing record is accurate and complete. If we deny the request, we will explain the reason in writing.

Request Confidential Communications

You may ask us to contact you in a particular way or at a specific location. For example, you may ask that we call a particular telephone number or send mail to a different address.

We will accommodate reasonable requests.

Ask Us to Limit What We Use or Disclose

You may ask us not to use or disclose certain health information for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations.

We are not always required to agree to your request. We may deny a request when limiting the information could affect your care or our ability to provide services.

If you pay for a healthcare service completely out of pocket, you may ask us not to disclose information about that service to your health plan for payment or healthcare operations. We will honor that request unless disclosure is required by law.

Receive an Accounting of Disclosures

You may request a list of certain disclosures we made of your health information during the six years before your request.

The accounting will not include every disclosure. For example, it generally will not include disclosures made for treatment, payment, healthcare operations, disclosures you authorized, or certain other disclosures excluded by law.

We will provide one accounting during any 12-month period without charge. We may charge a reasonable fee for additional requests during the same period.

Receive a Copy of This Notice

You may request a paper copy of this notice at any time, even if you previously agreed to receive it electronically.

Choose Someone to Act for You

If you have given someone medical power of attorney, or if someone is otherwise legally authorized to act as your personal representative, that person may exercise your rights and make choices about your health information.

We will verify the person’s authority before taking action.

Withdraw an Authorization or Consent

If you authorize or consent to a use or disclosure of your health information, you may revoke that authorization or consent in writing at any time.

Your revocation will not affect information already used or disclosed based on your previous authorization or consent.

File a Privacy Complaint

You may file a complaint if you believe your privacy rights have been violated.

You may submit a complaint to:

Compliance Officer
Tortu Ventures, LLC
d/b/a Serenus Outpatient Detox
11555 Central Parkway, Suite 202
Jacksonville, Florida 32224

Email: operations@serenusoutpatien-5801r5321k.live-website.com
Phone: 904-890-1442

You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights by:

  • Visiting the HHS Office for Civil Rights complaint portal
  • Calling 1-877-696-6775
  • Writing to 200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20201

Serenus will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

Your Choices

In certain situations, you may tell us how you want your health information used or disclosed.

Family Members and Others Involved in Your Care

With your permission, we may disclose relevant information to a family member, close friend, personal representative, or another person involved in your care or payment for your care.

If you are unable to tell us your preference, such as during an emergency, we may disclose limited information when we believe it is in your best interest and the disclosure is permitted by law.

Additional restrictions may apply when the information identifies you as having received substance use disorder services.

Disaster Relief

When permitted by law, we may disclose limited information to an organization assisting with disaster-relief efforts so that your family or others responsible for your care can be notified about your condition or location.

Marketing

We will not use or disclose your protected health information for marketing purposes when written authorization is required unless you give us written permission.

General communications about our services, treatment alternatives, care coordination, health-related programs, or benefits available to you may not be considered marketing under HIPAA.

Sale of Health Information

Serenus does not sell protected health information.

Psychotherapy Notes

Most uses and disclosures of psychotherapy notes require your written authorization when Serenus maintains such notes separately from the rest of your medical record.

Fundraising

Serenus does not currently use patient health information for fundraising.

If this practice changes, we will provide any notice and choices required by law before using protected health information or Part 2 information for fundraising communications.

How We May Use and Disclose Your Health Information

Treatment

We may use your health information to provide, coordinate, and manage your care.

For example, members of your treatment team may share relevant information with one another when developing or carrying out your treatment plan.

When your records are protected by 42 CFR Part 2, your consent may be required before we disclose identifying substance use disorder information to outside healthcare providers, except when a specific legal exception applies.

Payment

We may use and disclose health information to bill for services and obtain payment from you, an insurance plan, or another responsible party.

For example, we may provide information needed to verify insurance benefits, obtain authorization, submit a claim, or respond to a health plan’s request regarding payment.

Part 2 records may require your consent before they are used or disclosed for payment purposes.

Healthcare Operations

We may use and disclose health information to operate Serenus and improve the quality of our services.

Healthcare operations may include:

  • Quality assessment and improvement
  • Staff training and supervision
  • Care coordination
  • Credentialing and licensing activities
  • Compliance reviews
  • Auditing
  • Business planning and administration
  • Patient-safety activities

Part 2 records may require your consent before they are used or disclosed for healthcare operations.

Appointment Reminders and Treatment Communications

We may contact you about appointments, treatment instructions, follow-up care, medications, insurance matters, available services, or other matters related to your care.

You may request that we communicate with you using a particular telephone number, address, or other reasonable method.

Business Associates and Qualified Service Organizations

We may disclose health information to companies and individuals that provide services on our behalf, such as billing, legal, accounting, technology, records management, consulting, or administrative services.

When required, these parties must sign agreements requiring them to protect your information and use it only for authorized purposes.

Medical Emergencies

We may disclose information to healthcare personnel when necessary to address a genuine medical emergency.

When Part 2 information is disclosed during an emergency, we will document the disclosure as required by law.

Serious Threat to Health or Safety

When permitted by law and applicable confidentiality rules, we may use or disclose limited information when necessary to prevent or reduce a serious and imminent threat to the health or safety of a person or the public.

Public Health Activities

We may disclose health information for legally authorized public-health purposes, which may include:

  • Preventing or controlling disease
  • Reporting adverse reactions to medications
  • Assisting with product recalls
  • Reporting certain injuries or conditions required by law
  • Reporting suspected abuse, neglect, or domestic violence when authorized or required

Part 2 records remain subject to additional restrictions.

Reporting Child Abuse or Neglect

We may report suspected child abuse or neglect as required or permitted by law. We will limit any disclosure to the information legally required.

Health Oversight, Audits, and Program Evaluations

We may disclose information to authorized oversight agencies for activities such as licensing, accreditation, audits, inspections, investigations, and program evaluations.

Special safeguards apply when an audit or evaluation involves Part 2 records.

Research

We may use or disclose health information for research only when the research satisfies applicable legal requirements, has received any required approval, or you have provided written authorization.

Researchers may not identify you in published reports unless you have provided appropriate written permission.

Workers’ Compensation

We may disclose health information as authorized by and necessary to comply with workers’ compensation laws or similar programs.

Part 2 restrictions may limit the information that can be disclosed without your consent.

Military, National Security, and Government Functions

When legally authorized, we may disclose health information for certain military, national security, correctional, protective-service, or other government functions.

Any disclosure of Part 2 information must also comply with Part 2.

Coroners, Medical Examiners, and Funeral Directors

We may disclose health information about a deceased person to a coroner, medical examiner, or funeral director when authorized or required by law.

Legal Requirements

We will use or disclose health information when federal or state law requires us to do so.

We may also disclose information to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services when it is reviewing our compliance with federal privacy laws.

Lawsuits, Legal Proceedings, and Law Enforcement

HIPAA may allow certain disclosures in response to a court order, subpoena, administrative request, law-enforcement request, or other legal process.

Substance use disorder records protected by 42 CFR Part 2 receive stronger protections.

We will not use or disclose Part 2 records or provide testimony about those records in a civil, criminal, administrative, or legislative investigation or proceeding against you unless:

  • You provide written consent; or
  • A court issues an order that meets the requirements of Part 2 and the order is accompanied by a subpoena or similar legal requirement.

A general subpoena, warrant, or court order may not be sufficient by itself to authorize disclosure of Part 2 records.

Crimes on Serenus Premises or Against Serenus Personnel

We may report limited information to law enforcement when a person commits or threatens to commit a crime on Serenus premises or against Serenus personnel.

Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs

When permitted or required by law, information about prescribed controlled substances may be reported to an authorized prescription drug monitoring program.

Special Protections for Substance Use Disorder Records

Federal law provides additional confidentiality protections for records that identify a person as having applied for, received, or been referred for substance use disorder diagnosis, treatment, or referral services from a federally assisted program.

In most circumstances, Serenus may not disclose information that identifies you as having a substance use disorder or receiving substance use disorder services unless:

  • You provide written consent;
  • The disclosure is specifically permitted by 42 CFR Part 2; or
  • A court issues an order that meets the requirements of Part 2.

Consent for Treatment, Payment, and Healthcare Operations

You may provide a single written consent that permits future uses and disclosures of your Part 2 records for treatment, payment, and healthcare operations.

You may also request a more limited consent. A limited consent could affect our ability to coordinate care, obtain payment, or provide certain services.

You may revoke your consent in writing at any time, except to the extent that action has already been taken based on your consent.

Redisclosure of Part 2 Records

When you consent to disclosure of Part 2 records for treatment, payment, and healthcare operations, a recipient that is subject to HIPAA may redisclose those records as permitted by HIPAA.

Even after lawful redisclosure, Part 2 records generally may not be used in a legal proceeding against you without your written consent or a Part 2-compliant court order and subpoena.

Disclosure Without Consent

Part 2 permits limited disclosures without patient consent in certain circumstances, including:

  • Communications within the program
  • Services performed by qualified contractors
  • Genuine medical emergencies
  • Properly conducted audits or evaluations
  • Approved research
  • Reports of suspected child abuse or neglect
  • Reports of crimes or threats on program premises or against program personnel
  • Certain cause-of-death inquiries
  • Court orders that meet Part 2 requirements

When one of these exceptions applies, we will disclose only the information authorized by law.

Our Responsibilities

Serenus is required to:

  • Maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information
  • Follow the duties and privacy practices described in this notice
  • Provide you with a copy of this notice
  • Notify you promptly if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your information
  • Obtain your written authorization or consent when required
  • Honor additional protections applicable to substance use disorder records
  • Refrain from retaliating against you for exercising your privacy rights or filing a complaint

We will not use or disclose your information in a way that is not described in this notice unless you authorize or consent to the use or disclosure in writing or the law otherwise permits or requires it.

State and Federal Law

Serenus will comply with applicable federal and Florida privacy and confidentiality laws.

When another law provides greater privacy protection than HIPAA, we will follow the more protective law when it applies.

Substance use disorder treatment records may be subject to protections that are more restrictive than the general HIPAA Privacy Rule.

Changes to This Notice

We may change the terms of this notice and apply the revised notice to all health information we maintain, including information created or received before the change.

If we make a material change, the revised notice will be available:

  • On our website
  • At our facility
  • Upon request

Questions or Complaints

For questions about this notice, to exercise a privacy right, or to submit a complaint, contact:

Compliance Officer
Tortu Ventures, LLC
d/b/a Serenus Outpatient Detox
11555 Central Parkway, Suite 202
Jacksonville, Florida 32224

Email: operations@serenusoutpatien-5801r5321k.live-website.com
Phone: 904-890-1442

Please do not use ordinary email to send Social Security numbers, insurance identification numbers, detailed medical records, or urgent treatment information.