THE RIDGE 

NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU

• MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED 
• YOUR RIGHT WITH RESPECT TO YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION 
• HOW TO FILE A COMPLAINT CONCERNING A VIOLATION OF THE PRIVACY OR SECURITY OF YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION, OR OF YOUR RIGHTS CONCERNING YOUR INFORMATION  
• HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION

PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY

Effective Date: 2/16/2026

You have the right to a copy of this notice in paper or electronic form. If you have any questions about this notice, please contact The Ridge Ohio Privacy Officer at (513) 748-3720.

WHO WILL FOLLOW THIS NOTICE

This notice describes the practices of:

• The Ridge Ohio, which is an organized health care arrangement (“OHCA”) comprised of Healthcare Venture Partners, LLC, and its subsidiaries, Ridge for Life, LLC, Aftercare, LLC, Ridge Outpatient Services, LLC, and The Ridge HVP, LLC (collectively, “The Ridge Ohio”)
• Any health care professional authorized to enter information into your medical record maintained by The Ridge Ohio, including your physician and members of The Ridge Ohio’s clinical staff, including nurses and social workers
• All departments and units of The Ridge Ohio that have access to your medical record

All these persons, entities, sites, and locations follow the terms of this notice. In addition, these persons, entities, sites, and locations may share medical information with each other for treatment, payment, or health care operations purposes and other purposes described in this notice.

OUR PLEDGE REGARDING MEDICAL INFORMATION

We understand that medical information about you and your health is personal. We are committed to protecting medical information about you. We create a record of the care and services you receive from The Ridge Ohio. We need this record to provide you with quality care and to comply with certain legal requirements. This notice applies to all of the records of your care and billing for that care that are generated or maintained by The Ridge Ohio, whether made by The Ridge Ohio personnel or other health care providers. Other health care providers may have different policies or notices about confidentiality and disclosure that apply to your medical information that is created in their offices or at locations other than The Ridge Ohio.

This notice will tell you about the ways in which we may use and disclose medical information about you. We also describe your rights and certain obligations we have regarding the use and disclosure of your medical information.

We are required by law to:

• Make sure that medical information that identifies you is kept private
• Give you this notice of our legal duties and privacy practices at The Ridge Ohio, and your legal rights, with respect to medical information about you
• Follow the terms of the notice that is currently in effect

HOW WE MAY USE AND DISCLOSE MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU WITHOUT YOUR CONSENT

The following categories describe different ways that we may use and disclose medical information. For each category of uses or disclosures, we will explain what we mean and try to give some examples. Not every use or disclosure in a category will be listed. However, all of the ways we are permitted to use and disclose information will fall within one of these categories.

• For Treatment. We may use medical information about you to provide you with medical treatment or services provided by doctors, nurses, technicians, medical students, volunteers, or other personnel who are involved in taking care of you at The Ridge Ohio. 
• Research. Under certain circumstances, we may use and disclose medical information about you for research purposes. For example, a research project may involve comparing the health and recovery of all residents who received one medication to those who received another for the same condition. Medical information about you that has had identifying information removed may be used for research without your consent. We also may disclose medical information about you to people preparing to conduct a research project (for example, to help them look for residents with specific medical needs), so long as the medical information they review does not leave The Ridge Ohio. If the researcher will have information about your substance use disorder treatment that reveals who you are, we will seek your consent before disclosing that information to the researcher. Unless we notify you in advance and you give us written permission, we will not receive any money or other thing of value in connection for using or disclosing your medical information for research purposes except for money to cover the costs of preparing and sending the medical information to the researcher.

• As Required or Permitted By Law. We may disclose medical information about you when required or permitted to do so by federal, state, or local law.
• To Avert a Serious Threat to Health or Safety. We may use and disclose medical information about you in the event of an emergency and when it appears necessary to prevent a serious threat to your health and safety or the health and safety of the public or another person. Any disclosure would be to someone who appears able to help prevent the threat and will be limited to the information needed.
• Public Health Risks. We may disclose without your consent medical information about you for public health activities, only if the information has been de-identified as that term is defined under HIPAA. These activities generally include but are not limited to the following:

• To report, prevent or control disease, injury, or disability;
• To report births, deaths, and certain injuries or illnesses;
• To report reactions to medications or problems with products; 
• To notify people of recalls of products they may be using;
• To notify a person who may have been exposed to a disease or may be at risk for contracting or spreading a disease or condition; and
• To report suspected abuse or neglect as required by law.

• Health Oversight Activities. We may disclose without your consent medical information to a health oversight agency for activities authorized by law. These oversight activities include, for example, audits, investigations, inspections, accreditations, and licensure. The government uses these activities to monitor the health care system, government programs, and compliance with civil rights laws.
• Lawsuits and Disputes. If you are involved in a lawsuit or a dispute, we must disclose medical information about you in response to a court or administrative order. We also may be asked to disclose medical information about you in response to a subpoena or other lawful process from someone involved in a civil dispute. However, absent your written consent, your records will only be used or disclosed based on a court order after notice and an opportunity to be heard is provided to you and the holder of the record. A court order authorizing use or disclosure of your records must be accompanied by a subpoena or other similar legal mandate compelling disclosure before we disclose the record. We are also restricted from using your Records in any civil, criminal, administrative, or legislative proceedings against you. This restriction also applies to any recipients of your Records. 
• Law Enforcement. We may release medical information without your consent to a law enforcement official:

• In response to a court order, warrant, summons, grand jury demand, or similar process that provides you with notice and opportunity to be heard;
• To comply with physicians’ mandatory reporting requirements for violent injuries, such as gunshot wounds, stab wounds, and poisonings;
• To report suspected criminal conduct, or threat of criminal conduct, committed at The Ridge Ohio or against The Ridge Ohio personnel, but we may only disclose information about the circumstances of the incident, including your status, name, and last known whereabouts.

We are restricted from using or disclosing any Records that would identify you as having or having had a substance use disorder to initiate or substantiate any criminal charges against you or to conduct any criminal investigation of you.

• Coroners and Medical Examiners. We may disclose Records relating to the cause of death of a patient under laws requiring the collection of death or other vital statistics or permitting inquiry into the cause of death. Any other use or disclosure of Records or information related to Records identifying a deceased patient as having a substance use disorder not otherwise permitted in this Notice requires the Consent of the personal representative.
• Prevention of Multiple Enrollments. We may disclose limited information from Records to an organization or program involved in withdrawal management or maintenance treatment involving medications designed to support remission of substance use disorder-related symptoms to prevent multiple enrollments in such organizations or programs located within 200 miles of the Ridge Ohio location at which substance use disorder treatment is provided.
• Fundraising Activities. We do not fundraise and so will not use your medical information to raise money for The Ridge of Ohio.  We may send you Alumni event newsletters utilizing the email address you provide unless you inform us in writing that you do not wish to receive such information.  In the event our fundraising practice changes, we will provide you with the opportunity to opt-out of receiving any fundraising efforts that require consideration of your medical information.

USES AND DISCLOSURES THAT REQUIRE A WRITTEN CONSENT

The Ridge of Ohio will require your consent to use or disclose your information:

• For Treatment. To disclose medical information about you to doctors, nurses, technicians, medical students, volunteers, or other personnel who are involved in taking care of you outside of The Ridge Ohio or to friends, family members, or employees or medical staff members of any hospital to which you are transferred or subsequently admitted.
• For Payment. To use and disclose medical information about you so that the treatment and services you receive from The Ridge Ohio may be billed by The Ridge Ohio and payment may be collected from you, an insurance company, or a third party.
• For Health Care Operations. To use and disclose medical information about you for health care operations necessary to run The Ridge Ohio and make sure that all of our residents receive quality care. 
• For Use and Disclosure of Psychotherapy Notes and Substance Use Disorder Counseling Notes. Regardless of the other parts of this Notice, psychotherapy notes and substance use disorder counseling notes will not be disclosed outside The Ridge Ohio except as authorized pursuant to a court order or as required by law. Psychotherapy Notes and Substance Use Disorder Counseling Notes about you will not be disclosed to personnel working within The Ridge Ohio, except  (i) for treatment of you by the creator of the notes; (ii) for training by us and our providers; or (iii) to defend a legal action brought against The Ridge Ohio, unless you have properly authorized such disclosure in writing.

YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU

You have the following rights regarding medical information we maintain about you:

• Consents. You may provide a single consent for all future uses or disclosures related to treatment, payment, and health care operations. Records that are disclosed to a Part 2 program, covered entity, or business associate pursuant to your written consent for treatment, payment, and health care operations may be further disclosed by that Part 2 program, covered entity, or business associate, without your written consent, to the extent permitted by law.

A separate consent will be necessary to permit use and disclosure of your psychotherapy notes and substance use disorder counseling notes.

• Right to Inspect and Copy. We may provide you with access to your records, including the opportunity to inspect and receive a copy of your medical record unless your licensed health care professional determines that certain information in that record, if disclosed to you, would cause substantial harm to or endanger the health or physical safety of you or another person.  If we deny your request to inspect and receive a copy of your medical information on this basis, you may request that the denial be reviewed. Another licensed health care professional chosen by The Ridge Ohio will review your request and the denial. The person conducting the review will not be the person who denied your request. We will do what this reviewer decides.

If we have all or any portion of your medical information in an electronic format, you may request an electronic copy of those records or request that we send an electronic copy to any person or entity you designate in writing.

Your medical information is contained in records that are the property of The Ridge Ohio. To inspect or receive a copy of medical information that may be used to make decisions about you, you must submit your request in writing to The Ridge Ohio’s Privacy Officer. If you request a copy of the information, we may charge a fee for the costs of copying, mailing, or other supplies associated with your request, and we may collect the fee before providing the copy to you. If you agree, we may provide you with a summary of the information instead of providing you with access to it, or with an explanation of the information instead of a copy. Before providing you with such a summary or explanation, we first will obtain your agreement to pay and will collect the fees, if any, for preparing the summary or explanation.

• Right to an Accounting of Disclosures. You have the right to request a list of certain disclosures we have made of medical information about you.

To request this list or accounting of disclosures, submit your request in writing to The Ridge Ohio’s Privacy Officer and state whether you want the list on paper or electronically. Your request must state a time period that may not be longer than six years. The first list you request within a 12-month period will be free. For additional lists, we may charge you for the cost of providing the list. We will notify you of the cost involved, and you may choose to withdraw or modify your request at that time before any costs are incurred. We may collect the fee before providing the list to you.

• Right to Request Restrictions. Except where we are required to disclose the information by law, you have the right to request a restriction or limitation on the medical information we use or disclose about you. For example, you could revoke any and all authorizations you previously gave us relating to disclosure of your medical information.

We are not required to agree to your request, with the exception of restrictions on disclosures for fundraising purposes, or to your health plan, as described below. If we do agree, we will comply with your request unless the information is needed to provide you with emergency treatment. To request restrictions, make your request in writing to The Ridge Ohio’s Privacy Officer. In your request, you must tell us (1) what information you want to limit; (2) whether you want to limit our use, disclosure, or both; and (3) to whom you want the limits to apply, for example, disclosures to your spouse. 

You may request that we not disclose your medical information to your health insurance plan for some or all of the services you receive during a visit to any The Ridge Ohio location. If you pay the charges for those services you do not want disclosed in full at the time of such service, we are required to agree to your request. “In full” means the amount we charge for the service, not your copay, coinsurance, or deductible responsibility when your insurer pays for your care. Please note that once information about a service has been submitted to your health plan, we cannot agree to your request. If you think you may wish to restrict the disclosure of your medical information for a certain service, please let us know as early in your program as possible.

• Right to a Paper Copy of This Notice. You have the right to a paper copy of this notice or any revised notice. You may ask us to give you a copy of this notice at any time. Even if you have agreed to receive this notice electronically, you are still entitled to a paper copy of this notice.

To obtain a paper copy of this notice, request a copy from The Ridge Ohio’s Privacy Officer in writing. 

CHANGES TO THIS NOTICE

We reserve the right to change this notice. We reserve the right to make the revised or changed notice effective for medical information we already have about you as well as any information we receive in the future. We will post a copy of the current notice at The Ridge Ohio’s office. The notice will contain the effective date on the first page, in the top right-hand corner. If the notice changes, a copy will be available to you upon request.

INVESTIGATIONS OF BREACHES OF PRIVACY

We will investigate any discovered unauthorized use or disclosure of your medical information to determine if it constitutes a breach of the federal privacy or security regulations addressing such information. If we determine that such a breach has occurred, we will provide you with notice of the breach and advise you what we intend to do to mitigate the damage (if any) caused by the breach, and about the steps you should take to protect yourself from potential harm resulting from the breach.

COMPLAINTS

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with The Ridge Ohio or with the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. To file a complaint with The Ridge Ohio, contact The Ridge Ohio’s Privacy Officer by mail at 25 Whitney Drive, Suite 120 Milford, OH 45150. All complaints must be submitted in writing.

You may also file a complaint with the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201
Phone: 877-696-6775
Website: https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/filing-a-complaint/index.html

For complaints specifically related to the confidentiality of substance use disorder records under 42 CFR Part 2, you may also contact:

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Office of the Chief Medical Officer
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, MD 20857
Phone: 240-276-2000
Website: https://www.samhsa.gov/about-us/contact-us

You will not be penalized for filing a complaint.

OTHER USES OF MEDICAL INFORMATION

Other uses and disclosures of medical information not covered by this notice may be made only with your written authorization or as required by law. If you authorize us to use or disclose medical information about you, you may revoke that authorization, in writing, at any time. Your revocation will be effective as of the end of the day on which you provide it in writing to The Ridge Ohio’s Privacy Officer. If you revoke your permission, we will no longer use or disclose medical information about you for the purposes that you previously had authorized in writing. You understand that we are unable to take back any disclosures we have already made with your permission, and that we are required to retain our records of the care that we provided to you.

Notice to Accompany Consent. Any records disclosed pursuant to your consent must be accompanied by a notice that includes a statement required under Part 2 that states “42 CFR Part 2 prohibits unauthorized use or disclosure of these records.”