Privacy

Privacy Notice for the office of Benny Shao, O.D., FCOVD, Optometric Corp.

THIS NOTICE EXPLAINS THE USE AND DISCLOSURE OF YOUR MEDICAL INFORMATION AND HOW YOU CAN ACCESS IT. PLEASE REVIEW CAREFULLY.

We acknowledge our legal responsibility to maintain the confidentiality of health information that identifies you. It is our legal obligation to inform you about our privacy practices. This notice outlines how we safeguard your health information and explains your rights concerning it.

TREATMENT, PAYMENT, AND HEALTHCARE OPERATIONS

The primary reasons for using or disclosing your health information include treatment, payment, and healthcare operations. Examples of these purposes include scheduling appointments, conducting eye examinations, administering vision therapy sessions, prescribing eyewear or medications, and referring you to other professionals if necessary. For payment, we may inquire about your health or vision care plans, prepare and submit claims, and address unpaid amounts. Healthcare operations encompass administrative and managerial functions essential for running our office, such as legal defense, business planning, and record storage.

We routinely utilize your health information within our office for these purposes without specific permission. If external disclosure is required, we will seek written permission as needed.

USES AND DISCLOSURES WITHOUT PERMISSION

Certain situations, as allowed or mandated by law, permit us to use or disclose your health information without seeking your permission. These situations include reporting health information as required by state or federal law, addressing public health concerns, disclosing information to government authorities regarding abuse, neglect, or domestic violence, and other specified purposes such as health oversight activities, judicial proceedings, law enforcement, and more.

Unless you object, we may share relevant information about your care with family or friends assisting you with your eye care.

APPOINTMENT REMINDERS

We may contact you through calls, emails, or texts to remind you of scheduled appointments or to suggest additional treatments or services. Unless specified otherwise, we will send appointment reminders via text, email, or leave a voicemail message.

OTHER USES AND DISCLOSURES

Any additional uses or disclosures of your health information require your written authorization, as determined by federal law. You have the right to refuse to sign an authorization form, and you may revoke it at any time unless we have already acted based on it.

YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION

The law grants you various rights concerning your health information. You can:

1. Request restrictions on uses and disclosures for treatment, payment, or health care operations.
2. Ask for confidential communication methods.
3. Access or request photocopies of your health information.
4. Request amendments to your health information if deemed incorrect or incomplete.
5. Obtain a list of disclosures made of your health information in the past six years.
6. Receive additional paper copies of this Privacy Notice upon request.

OUR NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES

We are obligated to adhere to the terms of this Privacy Notice. We reserve the right to change this notice, and any modifications will apply to both existing and future health information. Updated notices will be posted in our office and on our website.

COMPLAINTS

If you believe that your privacy rights have not been respected, you can file a complaint with us or the US Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights. We assure you that there will be no retaliation for making a complaint. Complaints can be submitted in writing to the office address or fax shown at the beginning of this notice. Alternatively, you may discuss your complaint in person or by phone.