ABOUT US

Dr. AMARILIS LAFONTAINE
Founder, President and CEO

Dear BBH family, the Dalai Lama has shared this message with us: 
"I am fortunate to be alive. 
I have a precious human life. 
I am not going to waste it." 

BBH family, my message to you is to value life, redefine who we are, and reaffirm our commitment to the community we serve. On a daily basis, our team of specialists practice the best of their professional skills by providing services to our community regardless race, sexual orientation, spiritual, or religious preferences, political ideologies, age, physical appearance, color, or educational level, etc. We always keep in mind what Wayne Dyer once said “Real magic in relationships means an absence of judgment of others.” 

Who we are: 
We are a small outpatient mental and behavioral health provider with a BIG collective mission in mind. Our mission is to help people to recover in their own way and according to their own resources.

Here is how it works: 
Your recovery process will begin as soon as you make the first appointment with us  
-You will be evaluated by one of our behavioral health specialists  
-A psychiatrist will confirm diagnosis and prescribe medication if necessary 
-You will be assigned to a professional team to begin your individualized recovery journey under strict medical and clinical supervision. 

THAT'S IT! .....A very simple process! 
Here at BBH we know that your recovery journey may be a very difficult, challenging and at some point, frustrating process. Therefore, it is our commitment to make your recovery process as easy as it can be, with tons of support, compassion, and understanding. Our motto is "always help someone. You might be the only one who does." 

Please, feel free to join us for your personalized treatment. Call us today for the first day of your happy and free life. Remember that our values can be summarized as "I CARE":
I  nnovation: We search for creative solutions and manage resources wisely.  
C ollaboration: We use teamwork to achieve common goals and solve problems.  
A ccountability: We perform treatment with integrity and respect.  
R esponsiveness: We achieve our mission by serving our clients/members, and engaging professional partners so we can provide the best available behavioral health treatment as a holistic approach to your wellness and challenges.  
E xcellence: We promote quality outcomes through learning and continuous performance improvement planning. 

The Best Behavioral Healthcare’s family welcome everyone to a collaborative and appropriate Recovery-Oriented Environment.

Founder, President and CEO

Dr. Amarilis LaFontaine,Psy.D. LPC, CCDP-D, CCBT

Ms.Lafontaine is currently the president and CEO of BBH located in the Frankford section of Philadelphia. Her mission is to promote mental health by empowering individuals and offering services that support people in finding the hope and dignity needed to live more meaningful and enriched lives, and to help stop the pain caused by psychological disorders. Under her supervision, Best Behavioral Health, serves a broad client population, from those experiencing situational crisis or adjustment difficulty, to those with serious emotional disturbance. She promotes the equitable and fair treatment of all segments of society, including underrepresented groups. 

Civil Rights Compliance

Best Behavioral Healthcare, Inc. complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. 
Best Behavioral Healthcare, Inc.  will not exclude or discriminate any person or people on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, any form of lived experience, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, family/parental status, military status, or political beliefs, in any of its activities or operations. 

Best Behavioral Healthcare, Inc is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Best Behavioral Healthcare, Inc provides free aids and services to people with disabilities to communicate effectively with us, such as:
Qualified sign language interpreters
Written information in other formats (large print, audio, accessible electronic formats, other formats).

Best Behavioral Healthcare, Inc. provides free language services to people whose primary language is not English, such as:
Qualified interpreters

Information written in other languages.
If you need these services, contact Best Behavioral Healthcare, Inc at 215-744-4343.
Community Behavioral Health at 1-888-545-2600

If you believe that BBH has failed to provide these services or discriminated in another way on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex, you can file a Complaint with:
1. Best Behavioral Healthcare, Inc. at 5043 Frankford Ave. Philadelphia Pa 19124.
Phone number 215-744-4343
2. Community Behavioral Health
801 Market Street, 7th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19107
phone number 
215-413-7132.
The Bureau of Equal Opportunity
Health and Welfare Building, 
Room 223
P.O. Box 2675
Harrisburg, PA 17105
Phone: (717) 787-1127
TTY (800) 654-5484
Fax: (717) 772-4366
mail to: 
[email protected]

You can file a Complaint in person or by mail, fax, or email. 
If you need help filing a Complaint, please contact:
-Best Behavioral Healthcare, Inc 
-Community Behavioral Health and the 
Bureau of Equal Opportunity are available to help you.
You can also file a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights electronically through the Office for Civil Rights Complaint Portal (https://ocrportal.hhs.gov/ocr/smartscreen/main.jsf), 
or by  mail or phone at:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue SW Room 509F, HHH Building Washington, DC 20201.
1-800-868-1019

1-800-537-7697 (TDD)
Complaint forms are also available here. (https://www.hhs.gov/ocr/complaints/index.html)

Notice of Privacy Practices 

Effective Date: September 8, 2023 

This Notice describes how your medical information may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information. Please review it carefully. 

View and download a PDF version of the Notice here: English | Spanish 

BBH is required by law to provide you with this Notice so that you will understand how we may use or share your information. Your information includes financial and health information and is referred to in this Notice as “Protected Health Information” (“PHI”) or simply “health information.” We are required to adhere to the terms outlined in this Notice. 

When It Comes To Your PHI, You Have Certain Rights 

Although your health record is the property of BBH, the information belongs to you. You have the following rights regarding your health information: 

Right to Inspect and Copy. 

With some exceptions, you have the right to review and copy your health information. 

• BBH maintains the following Health Information about its Members: 

• Eligibility 

• Claims 

• Authorizations 

• Clinical information in the BBH electronic health record system and paper health records maintain onsite and offsite 

• Records that BBH relied upon or used to make an approval or denial decision for treatment services 

• Please note that BBH business records and Provider business records are not available to Member under the rights to inspect and copy. 

Right to Amend. 

If you feel that health information in your record is incorrect or incomplete, you may ask us to amend the information. 

We may deny your request for an amendment if it is not in writing or does not include a reason to support the request. In addition, we may deny your request if you ask us to amend information that: 

• Was not created by us, unless the person or entity that created the information is no longer available to make the amendment; 

• Is not part of the health information kept by BBH; or 

• Is accurate and complete. 

Right to an Accounting of Disclosures. 

You have the right to request an “accounting of disclosures”. This is a list of certain disclosures we made of your health information, other than those made for purposes such as treatment, payment, or health care operations. 

Right to Request Restrictions. 

You have the right to request a restriction or limitation on the health information we use or disclose about you. For example, you may request that we limit the health information we disclose to someone who is involved in your care or the payment for your care. You could ask that we not use or disclose information about a surgery you had to a family member or friend. 

We are not required to agree to your request. If we do agree, we will comply with your request unless the information is needed to provide you with emergency treatment. 

Right to Request Alternate Communications. 

You have the right to request that we communicate with you about medical matters in a confidential manner or at a specific location. For example, you may ask that we only contact you via mail to a post office box. 
Right to a Paper Copy of This Notice. You have the right to a paper copy of this Notice of Privacy Practices even if you have agreed to receive the Notice electronically. You may ask us to give you a copy of this Notice at any time. 

Choose someone to act for you. 

If you have given someone medical power of attorney or if someone is your legal guardian, that person can exercise your rights and make choices about your health information. We will make sure the person has this authority and can act for you before we take any action. 

How We May Use And Disclose Your PHI 

The following categories describe the ways that we use and disclose health information. Not every use or disclosure in a category will be listed. However, all the ways we are permitted to use and disclose information will fall into one of the categories. 

For Managing Your Treatment. 

We may use or disclose health information about you to doctors, nurses, therapists, or other individuals who are involved in your treatment. Different departments within BBH also may share health information about you to coordinate your care. We may also disclose health information about you for treatment activities of a Health Care Provider. 

Example: A doctor treating you for a condition asks another doctor about your overall health. 

For Payment. 

We may use and disclose health information about you so that we are able to pay for the treatment and services you receive. 

Example: Health Care Providers may share information about you with BBH so we can be paid for your services. 

For Health Care Operations. 

We may use and disclose health information about you for our day-to-day healthcare operations. This is necessary to ensure that all Members receive quality care. 

Example: BBH may use health information for quality improvement activities and for professional review, performance evaluation, and training programs. Other aspects of healthcare operations that may require the use and disclosure of your health information include accreditation, certification, licensing and credentialing activities, review, and auditing, including compliance reviews, medical reviews, legal services, and compliance programs. 

Other Allowable Uses Of Your PHI 

Business Associates. 

There are some services provided at BBH through contracts with business associates. When these services are contracted, we may disclose your health information so that they can perform the job we’ve asked them to do. To protect your health information, however, we require business associates to appropriately safeguard your information. 

Providers. 

Many services provided to you, as part of your care under BBH, are offered by Providers in the CBH network. These Providers include a variety of physicians, psychologists, therapists, LCSWs, and others. 

Individuals Involved in Your Care or Payment for Your Care. 

Unless you object, we may disclose health information about you to a friend or family member who is involved in your care. We may also give information to someone who helps pay for your care. In addition, we may disclose health information about you to an entity assisting in a disaster relief effort so that your family can be notified about your condition, status, and location. 

As Required by Law. 

We will disclose health information about you when required to do so by federal, state, or local law, including with the Department of Health and Human Services if it wants to see that we’re complying with federal privacy law. 

To the County Administrator. 

We are permitted to share your health information with the County Administrator or their designee who is responsible for overseeing mental health services and must receive information regarding the City’s mental health operations to carry out his or her responsibilities. 

To Help with Public Health and Safety. 

We may use and disclose health information about you to prevent a serious threat to your health and safety or the health and safety of the public or another person. We may also share information about you to help prevent disease, help with product recalls, and report adverse reactions to medication. 

Organ and Tissue Donation, and Work with a Medical Examiner or Funeral Director. 

If you are an organ donor, we may disclose health information to organizations that handle organ procurement to facilitate donation and transplantation. We may also disclose medical information to a coroner or medical examiner. This may be necessary to identify a deceased person or determine the cause of death. We may also disclose medical information to funeral directors as necessary to carry out their duties. 
Research. Under certain circumstances, we may use and disclose health information about you for research purposes to people preparing to conduct a research project so long as the health information they review does not leave BBH. 

Workers’ Compensation. 

We may disclose health information about you for workers’ compensation or similar programs. These programs provide benefits for work-related injuries or illnesses. 

Reporting. 

Reporting federal and state laws may require or permit BBH to disclose certain health information related to the following: 

• Health Oversight Activities. These oversight activities may include audits, investigations, inspections, and licensure. These activities are necessary for the government to monitor the health care system, government programs, and compliance with civil rights laws. 

• Judicial and Administrative Proceedings: We may disclose health information about you in response to a court or administrative order, a subpoena, or a discovery request, but we will make efforts to tell you about the request. 

• Reporting Abuse, Neglect, or Domestic Violence: Notifying the appropriate government agency if we believe a Member has been the victim of abuse, neglect, or domestic violence. 

Law Enforcement. 

We may disclose health information when requested by a law enforcement official: 

• In response to a court order, subpoena, warrant, summons, or similar process; 

• To identify or locate a suspect, fugitive, material witness, or missing person; 

• About you, the victim of a crime if, under certain limited circumstances, we are unable to obtain your agreement; 

• About a death we believe may be the result of criminal conduct; 

• About criminal conduct within BBH; and 

• In emergency circumstances to report a crime; the location of the crime or victims; or the identity, description, or location of the person who committed the crime. 

Correctional Institution: 

We may disclose health information necessary for your health and the health and safety of others to a correctional institution or its agents should you become incarcerated. 

Other Uses of Health Information 

BBH might get and maintain information related to your race, ethnicity, language preferences, gender identity, and sexual orientation as part of your BBH enrollment or over the course of managing your care. BBH will only use this information to help you get the services you need, let your providers know about any language access needs, and help BBH create health education materials and programs to improve health outcomes. 

BBH participates with one or more secure health information organization networks (each, an “HIO”), including an HIO called “HealthShare Exchange of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Inc., (“HSX”), which makes it possible for BBH to share your Health Information electronically through a securely connected network. 

BBH may share or disclose your Health Information to HSX and other secure HIOs, including HIOs, contracted with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and even HIOs in other states. Other healthcare providers, including physicians, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities, that are also connected to the same HIO network as BBH can access your Health Information for treatment, payment, and other authorized purposes, to the extent permitted by law. 

You have the right to “opt out” or decline to participate in having BBH share your Health Information through networked HIOs. If you choose to opt out of data sharing through HIOs, BBH will no longer share your Health Information through an HIO network. However, your opt-out will only apply to data sharing through HIOs. It will not prevent how your information is otherwise typically accessed and released to authorized individuals in accordance with the law, including being transmitted through other secure mechanisms (i.e., by fax or equivalent technology). 

Other uses and disclosures of health information not covered by this Notice or the laws that apply to us will be made only with your written permission. If you provide us permission to use or disclose health information about you, you may revoke that permission, in writing, at any time. If you revoke your permission, we will no longer use or disclose health information about you for the reasons covered by your written authorization. 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. 

Impermissible Uses of Health Information 

BBH will never share your information for marketing purposes and will not sell your protected health information to any party. BBH does not use PHI, including your race, ethnicity, language information, gender identity, or sexual orientation for underwriting, rate setting, or benefit determinations. BBH will not use protected health information to discriminate against members for any reason. 

Changes to This Notice 

We will post a copy of the current Notice inside BBH and on the BBH website (linked above). We may change the terms of this Notice, and the changes will apply to all information we have about you. The new Notice will be available upon request, on our website, and we will mail a copy to you. 

Complaints 

If you are concerned that we have violated your privacy rights, or if you have a complaint related to BBH’s compliance with the privacy rule, you may contact BBH’s Compliance Officer. You may also send a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint. 

Compliance Officer 
Best Behavioral Healthcare 
5043 Frankford Avenue  
Philadelphia, PA 19124 
(215) 744-4343 

Office for Civil Rights, HHS 
801 Market Street, Suite 9300 
Philadelphia PA 19107 
(215) 861-4441 
(215) 861-4440 (TDD) 
(215) 861-4431 (Fax) 

For copies of this notice or questions about BBH’s confidentiality policy as it relates to protected health information, or to exercise any of your rights as listed in this notice, please contact the BBH Compliance Officer as indicated above. 

Our Responsibilities 

We are required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information. We will let you know promptly if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your information.