Notice of Privacy Practices

1. Our Legal Duty

We are required by applicable federal and state law, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), to maintain the privacy and security of your Protected Health Information (PHI). We are also required to give you this Notice about our privacy practices, our legal duties, and your rights concerning your health information, and to notify you following a breach of unsecured PHI.

2. Uses and Disclosures of Health Information

We use and disclose PHI for treatment, payment, and healthcare operations. Examples include:

• Treatment: Providing comprehensive eye exams, fitting contact lenses, managing ocular conditions, and coordinating care with specialist providers or primary care physicians.
• Payment: Billing and collecting payment from you, your health insurance provider, vision benefit plan (e.g., EyeMed, VSP), or third-party payers for services rendered.
• Healthcare Operations: Quality assessment, practice administrative activities, staff evaluations, and maintaining clinic compliance.
• As Required by Law: Disclosing information when required by state or federal law, court orders, or public health tracking regulations.

3. Your Patient Rights

You have the following rights regarding your health information:

• Inspect and Copy: The right to inspect and obtain a copy of your clinical records and billing statements.
• Request Restrictions: The right to request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures of your health information. (We are not required to agree, except if you request that we not disclose PHI to a health plan for services paid out-of-pocket in full.)
• Amend Records: The right to request an amendment to your health records if you feel the information is inaccurate or incomplete.
• Accounting of Disclosures: The right to receive an accounting of disclosures of your health information made by us for reasons other than treatment, payment, or operations.
• Paper Copy: The right to obtain a physical paper copy of this notice upon request at our office at any time.

4. Contact & Complaints

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, or if you have questions regarding our privacy practices, you may contact our Privacy Officer:

You may also file a complaint with the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.