THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY. THIS NOTICE IS EFFECTIVE 4/1/08 UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
Right to Notice
As a patient, you have the right to adequate notice of the uses and
disclosures of your protected health information. Under the Health
Insurance Portability and Accessibility Act (HIPAA), Hands On EyeCare
can use your protected health information for treatment, payment and
health care operations. a) Treatment - We may use or disclose your
health information to a physician or other healthcare provider providing
treatment to you. b) Payment - We may use and disclose your health
information to obtain payment for services we provide you. c) Health
care operations - We may use and disclose your health information in
connection with our healthcare operations. Healthcare operations include
quality assessment and improvement activities, reviewing the competency
or qualifications of healthcare professionals, evaluating provider
performance, conducting training programs, accreditation, certification,
licensing or credentialing activities.
Your Authorization
Most uses and disclosures that do not fall under treatment, payment,
health care operations will require your written authorization. Upon
signing, you may revoke your authorization (in writing) through our
practice at any time.
Emergency Situations
In the event of your incapacity or an emergency situation, we will
disclose health information to a family member, or another person
responsible for your care, using our professional judgment. We will only
disclose health information that is directly relevant to the person's
involvement in your healthcare.
Marketing
We will not use your health information for marketing communications without your written authorization.
Required by Law
We may also use or disclose your health information when we are required to do so by law.
Abuse or Neglect
We may disclose your health information to appropriate authorities if we
reasonably believe that you are a possible victim of abuse, neglect, or
domestic violence or the victim of other crimes. We may disclose your
health information to the extent necessary to avert a serious threat to
your or other people's health or safety.
National Security
We may disclose the health information of Armed Forces personnel to
military authorities under certain circumstances. We may disclose health
information to authorized federal officials required for lawful
intelligence, counterintelligence and other national security
activities. We may disclose health information of inmates or patients to
the appropriate authorities under certain circumstances.
Appointment Reminders
We may use or disclose your health information to provide you with appointment reminders via phone, e-mail or letter.
Your Rights as a Patient
You have the right to restrict the disclosure of your protected health
information (in writing). The request for restriction may be denied if
the information is required for treatment, payment or health care
operations. -You have the right to receive confidential communications
regarding your protected health information. -You have the right to
inspect and copy your protected health information. -You have the right
to amend your protected health information. -You have the right to
receive an account of disclosures of your protected health information.
-You have the right to a paper copy of this notice of privacy practices.
Legal Requirements
Hands On EyeCare is required by law to maintain the privacy of your
protected health information. We are required to abide by the terms of
this notice as it is currently stated, and reserve the right to change
this notice. The policies in any new notice will not be in effect until
they are posted to this site, or are available within our office.
Complaints
If you have complaints regarding the way your protected health
information was handled, you may submit a complaint in writing to our
office. You will not be retaliated against in any manner for a
complaint.
Contact Information
For further information about Hands On EyeCare's privacy policies,
please contact Spencer Obie, O.D. at the following address or phone
number:
Hands On EyeCare, 12200 NW Freeway, Ste 360, Houston, TX 77092
