MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
Between
Healthy Habits Recovery Bridge Program / Healthy Habits Healing Home
Fiscal Sponsor: Positive Zone Foundation
and
______________________________
("Referral Partner")
Effective Date: _
Term: ______________________
I. Purpose
This Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") establishes a collaborative relationship between Healthy Habits Recovery Bridge Program ("Healthy Habits") and the Referral Partner for the purpose of improving the continuum of care for individuals recovering from substance use disorders.
The parties intend to work together to facilitate appropriate referrals for individuals who have completed medical detoxification or another appropriate level of care and would benefit from a structured recovery-oriented living environment while awaiting admission to residential treatment or another long-term recovery program.
This MOU is intended to promote patient safety, continuity of care, recovery support, and coordination among healthcare and community providers.
II. Roles and Responsibilities
A. Healthy Habits Recovery Bridge Program agrees to:

Maintain a safe, substance-free recovery environment.
Provide structured recovery programming and peer support.
Conduct intake assessments to determine program eligibility.
Communicate admission decisions promptly.
Coordinate with referral partners regarding participant transitions.
Maintain policies consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws.
Maintain required licenses, permits, certifications, and insurance as applicable.
Notify the Referral Partner of significant program changes that may affect referrals.

B. Referral Partner agrees to:

Refer individuals who meet Healthy Habits admission criteria.
Provide appropriate clinical and discharge documentation, subject to patient authorization.
Ensure individuals are medically stable before referral.
Inform Healthy Habits of known medical, behavioral health, or safety concerns relevant to placement.
Continue providing clinical care that remains under the Referral Partner's responsibility unless otherwise agreed.

III. Referral Procedures
The parties agree to utilize the following referral process:

Referral Partner identifies an individual appropriate for the program.
Referral Partner obtains any required patient authorizations for release of information.
Referral documentation is transmitted securely to Healthy Habits.
Healthy Habits reviews the referral and determines eligibility.
Healthy Habits communicates acceptance, denial, or requests for additional information within a mutually agreed-upon timeframe whenever possible.
Upon acceptance, both parties coordinate transportation, admission timing, medications, and any follow-up appointments.
Healthy Habits communicates participant admission and discharge information, as authorized.

IV. Information Sharing and Confidentiality
The parties acknowledge that confidential information may be exchanged to facilitate appropriate patient care.
Each party agrees to:

Comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and all other applicable federal and state privacy laws.
Obtain appropriate written patient authorization before releasing protected health information unless disclosure is otherwise permitted or required by law.
Use secure methods of communication when transmitting confidential information.
Limit information sharing to the minimum necessary to accomplish the intended purpose.
Maintain administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect confidential information.

Nothing in this MOU authorizes either party to disclose protected health information except as permitted by law or authorized by the patient.
V. Communication
Each organization shall designate a primary contact person.

Healthy Habits Contact:
Name: ____________
Title:
Phone: _
Email: _

Referral Partner Contact:
Name:
Title:
Phone: _
Email: _____________
The parties agree to communicate regarding:

Referral status
Admission decisions
Participant transitions
Safety concerns
Program updates
Opportunities for collaboration

The parties may meet periodically, as mutually agreed, to review referral processes and strengthen collaboration.
VI. Quality Improvement and Outcome Reporting
The parties recognize the importance of continuous quality improvement.
Healthy Habits intends to monitor program outcomes including, when feasible:

Number of referrals received
Number of accepted referrals
Average length of stay
Successful transition to residential treatment
Successful completion of the Recovery Bridge Program
Participant satisfaction
Emergency department utilization during participation
Hospital readmissions, when data are available
Other mutually agreed-upon performance indicators

Aggregate, de-identified data may be shared with the Referral Partner to evaluate program effectiveness and identify opportunities for improvement.
VII. Liability and Insurance
Each party shall remain solely responsible for its own employees, agents, contractors, operations, and professional services.
Nothing in this MOU creates:

an agency relationship;
a joint venture;
a partnership;
employment between the parties; or
financial responsibility for the obligations of the other party.

Each party agrees to maintain commercially reasonable insurance coverage appropriate to its operations, including general liability and, where applicable, professional liability insurance.
Each organization shall remain responsible for compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, accreditation requirements, and licensing standards.
VIII. Term, Renewal, and Termination
This MOU shall become effective upon the date of the final signature.
Unless otherwise agreed, this MOU shall remain in effect for one (1) year.
The MOU may be renewed by mutual written agreement.
Either party may terminate this MOU without cause by providing thirty (30) days written notice.
Either party may terminate this MOU immediately if continued participation would violate applicable law or create a significant risk to patient safety.
Termination of this MOU shall not affect obligations regarding confidentiality or protection of protected health information.
IX. Non-Binding Agreement
This Memorandum of Understanding reflects the parties' intent to collaborate in good faith.
Except for provisions relating to confidentiality and any obligations expressly stated by law, this MOU does not create legally enforceable financial obligations between the parties.
Any future agreements involving payment, reimbursement, or contracted services shall be addressed through separate written agreements.

X. Signatures
Healthy Habits Recovery Bridge Program
Authorized Representative:
Title:
Signature:
Date:
Referral Partner
Organization:
Authorized Representative:
Title:
Signature:
Date:

Maintain a safe, substance-free recovery environment.

Provide structured recovery programming and peer support.

Conduct intake assessments to determine program eligibility.

Communicate admission decisions promptly.

Coordinate with referral partners regarding participant transitions.

Maintain policies consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Maintain required licenses, permits, certifications, and insurance as applicable.

Notify the Referral Partner of significant program changes that may affect referrals.

B. Referral Partner agrees to:

Refer individuals who meet Healthy Habits admission criteria.

Provide appropriate clinical and discharge documentation, subject to patient authorization.

Ensure individuals are medically stable before referral.

Inform Healthy Habits of known medical, behavioral health, or safety concerns relevant to placement.

Continue providing clinical care that remains under the Referral Partner's responsibility unless otherwise agreed.

III. Referral Procedures The parties agree to utilize the following referral process:

Referral Partner identifies an individual appropriate for the program.

Referral Partner obtains any required patient authorizations for release of information.

Referral documentation is transmitted securely to Healthy Habits.

Healthy Habits reviews the referral and determines eligibility.

Healthy Habits communicates acceptance, denial, or requests for additional information within a mutually agreed-upon timeframe whenever possible.

Upon acceptance, both parties coordinate transportation, admission timing, medications, and any follow-up appointments.

Healthy Habits communicates participant admission and discharge information, as authorized.

IV. Information Sharing and Confidentiality The parties acknowledge that confidential information may be exchanged to facilitate appropriate patient care. Each party agrees to:

Comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and all other applicable federal and state privacy laws.

Obtain appropriate written patient authorization before releasing protected health information unless disclosure is otherwise permitted or required by law.

Use secure methods of communication when transmitting confidential information.

Limit information sharing to the minimum necessary to accomplish the intended purpose.

Maintain administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect confidential information.

Referral status

Admission decisions

Participant transitions

Safety concerns

Program updates

Opportunities for collaboration

Number of referrals received

Number of accepted referrals

Average length of stay

Successful transition to residential treatment

Successful completion of the Recovery Bridge Program

Participant satisfaction

Emergency department utilization during participation

Hospital readmissions, when data are available

Other mutually agreed-upon performance indicators

an agency relationship;

a joint venture;

a partnership;

employment between the parties; or

financial responsibility for the obligations of the other party.

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III. Referral Procedures
The parties agree to utilize the following referral process:

IV. Information Sharing and Confidentiality
The parties acknowledge that confidential information may be exchanged to facilitate appropriate patient care.
Each party agrees to: