AltaPointe’s Purchasing Department is charged with managing the relationships with our vendors, assuring them of a full and fair hearing, and maintaining a level playing field with respect to bids, proposals, agreements and contracts.

The Purchasing Department staff are held to a high ethical standard in our relationships with all vendors of AltaPointe.  We believe it is important for you, as a prime trading partner, to understand our vendor policies regarding vendor relationships and our responsibility to enforce those policies.

In addition to being bound by the overall AltaPointe code of conduct and its guidance on gifts and amenities from vendors, Purchasing Department staff cannot accept gifts or amenities from vendors under any circumstances. Please ask your representatives who interact with the AltaPointe Purchasing Department not to offer any gifts or amenities of any value and to avoid placing any of our staff in any situation that could affect their employment with AltaPointe.

At AltaPointe, our goal is to make sure you get the quality mental health care you need. In order for you to get good care, there should be trust and respect between the patient and those who give that care.

Contacts that can assist with questions about your rights

If you feel that any of your rights have been violated or if you want further information, you may contact the following:

Alabama Department of Mental Health Advocacy Office
(800) 367-0955
Alabama Department of Human Resources
(251) 450-7000 | (334) 242-1310 | Contact – Alabama Department of Human Resources
Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program
(800) 826-1675
AltaPointe Health Patient Relations Department
(251) 450-4303
You may contact the Joint Commission’s Office of Quality Monitoring to report any concerns or register complaints about AltaPointe Health either by calling (800) 994-6610 or e-mailing complaint@jointcommission.org.

You may also call Elder Care at Alabama Department of Public Health in Montgomery/Division of Health Care Facilities to report a complaint and/or to ask questions about your Advance Directive at (800) 356-9596, Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Facts about your care. You have the right to:

• Be told what your illness is and what the doctor thinks is the best way to treat it.
• Be told how long your treatment will last.
• Be told the cost of your treatment and what part your insurance will pay, and if there are any limits on your treatment.
• Be told the rules about behavior in the program.

Facts about your medicine. You have the right to:

• Take medicine only if ordered by a doctor.
• Be told about your medicine, including information about any side effects you may expect and how the medicine will help you.
• Refuse to take any medicine, unless your care and treatment has been ordered by the court.

Getting help from others. You have the right to:

• Get a second opinion, at your expense.
• File a complaint and get an answer to your complaint about services or treatment.
• Talk to an attorney.
• Have contact with the court system.
• Talk to a pastor or minister and to worship in the faith of your choice.
• Access protective services.
• Pray if you want.
• Get proper, healthy meals.
• Have your personal belongings and clothing to wear.
• Have visitors, to send or get mail and phone calls in private.
• Not be put into isolation or restrained or put on drugs unless as a part of your treatment.
• Refuse to do any work that would financially benefit AltaPointe Health.
• Get a free public education if you are of school age.
• See a doctor or dentist and get the health care you need (at your own expense).
• Formulate or have your Advanced Directive honored.

Making decisions about your care. You have the right to:

• Have a treatment plan set up for your needs and to have it reviewed on a regular basis.
• Help plan your treatment and have your family participate if you want.
• Get your treatment in the place that is the least restrictive for you.
• Refuse any treatment unless it has been ordered by a court.

When you are a patient at AltaPointe you have the right to:

• Be treated with respect, dignity and privacy.
• Be treated in a safe and humane place.
• Know the facts about your care, which has been designed just for you.
• Know the facts about your medicine.
• Be told where to get help if you have pain or other medical problems.
• Get help from others.
• Give your written consent for treatment.

You have duties too. You should:

• Respect other people.
• Talk to our staff.
• Not touch other people in the wrong way.
• Not run away.
• Not break things.
• Take your medicine.
• Follow the rules.
• Join in activities.
• Do your chores.
• Not hurt other people or fight.

Contracting Policy

• Relationships with vendors are managed only through the Purchasing Department.
• Contract/agreement negotiations are only conducted by the Purchasing Department.
• No disbursements will be issued without the approval of the Purchasing Department through properly executed Purchase Orders issued prior to the delivery of goods or the performance of services.
• AltaPointe divisions, programs and locations will obtain the appropriate departmental authorization and contact the Purchasing Department prior to contacting vendors.
• Contract signing authority is limited to the designated AltaPointe Corporate Officers only.
• Vendors will adhere to AltaPointe terms & conditions. Any exceptions will need to be reviewed and may promote delays.

Price Parity Policy

• Vendors will provide pricing consistency across all AltaPointe divisions, programs and locations.
• Contracts facilitated by the Purchasing Department are applicable to all AltaPointe divisions, programs and locations.

Routine Order Form Policy

• The Purchasing Department is solely responsible for the addition, deletion, or changes to items on the routine order forms for office and janitorial supplies.
• The Purchasing Department will not add items where acceptable alternatives are currently in the AltaPointe Purchasing Department order guides.
• The Purchasing Department will not add items without the additional approval of the upper leadership when additional costs will be incurred.

Vendor Access Policy

• All vendors must follow each AltaPointe divisions, programs and locations; local access plan, which may include being escorted by AltaPointe staff.
• Local access plans should include a requirement for the vendor to stipulate the purpose of the visit and whether an advance appointment has been made.
• The AltaPointe Purchasing Department will assist managers of divisions, programs and locations to insure compliance with their vendor access plans.

No PO – No Pay Policy

• To ensure AltaPointe pay only for goods and services which have been properly ordered and authorized, invoices must contain a valid PO number for non-routine purchases.
• The vendor will receive a Purchase Order number from the Purchasing Department prior to any commitment made.
• Routine purchases for items such as office and janitorial supplies do not require a PO number.

Vendors who wish to do business with AltaPointe must follow the appropriate steps to be considered and approved. To expedite the process and insure fair practices, we ask vendors to adhere to the procedures. To begin the process, visit the Vendor Forms and Information page.