HIPPA Policy

In compliance with the Federal Government regarding HIPPA’s Privacy, this notice describes how your medical information may be used, disclosed, and how to obtain this information for yourself. SMS policy is also listed. 

Directing of care
Most commonly we will use your health information for treatment or business operations. We may use it without specific request but you may request to opt out. We routinely use your data internally for:
Contacting you via phone, text, email; leaving messages via texting, email, voicemail; calling your name out to greet you or to confirm your identity; for prescriptions for glasses, contact lens or pharmaceutical; using this information with our suppliers, insurances as requested via phone, fax or web form; referring you to different providers; leaving you messages via text, email, phone or voicemail for appointment reminders, appointment confirmations, glasses orders, contact lens orders; responding to your requests with text, email, or phone; with a written or emailed request, a copy of your medical records will be provided. 

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Obtaining payment
We will ask for any information pertinent for insurance or self payment. This includes any required information requested from insurance or payment vendors for the services rendered to you. Sending notices of payment to the responsible party with fee explanations for the services and goods provided by our office. Collecting unpaid balances through ourselves, collection agency, or attorney. 

Healthcare operations
Internally we might use your data for financial audits, vision or medical insurance participation; defense or legal matters; research; practice building; compliance with government authorities, licensing our providers, Medicare and Medicaid audits; providing vision information to Department of Public safety, school nurse, agency for disability, co-managing providers, your healthcare providers. 

USES AND DISCLOSURES FOR OTHER REASONS NOT NEEDING PERMISSION
in some limited situations, the law allows us to use or disclose your medical information without your specific permission. Most of these situations will never apply to you though they could.
When a state or federal law mandates that certain health information be reported for a specific purpose
For public health reasons, such as reporting of a contagious disease, investigations or surveillance, and notices to and from the federal Food and Drug Administration regarding drugs or medical devices
Disclosures to government or law authorities about victims of suspected abuse, neglect, domestic violence, or when someone is or suspected to be a victim of a crime 
Disclosures for judicial and administrative proceedings, such as in response to subpoenas or orders of courts or administrative hearings
Disclosures to a medical examiner to identify a deceased person or determine cause of death or to funeral directors to aid in burial
Disclosures to organizations that handle organ or tissue donations Uses or disclosures for health related research
Uses or disclosures to prevent a serious threat to health or safety of an individual or individuals
Uses or disclosures to aid military purposes or lawful national intelligence activities
Disclosures of de-identified information
Disclosures related to a workman's compensation claim
Disclosures of a "limited data set" for research, public health, or health care operations Incidental disclosures that are an unavoidable by-product of permitted uses and disclosures
Disclosure of information needed in completing form from a school related vision screening, information to the Department of Public Safety, information relater certification for occupational or recreational licenses such as pilots license.

We reserve the right to change the policies listed hereinafter. 

Phone and SMS policy
No mobile information will be shared with third parties/affiliates for marketing/promotional purposes. All other categories exclude text messaging originator opt-in data and consent; this information will not be shared with any third parties. 
OPT IN CONSENT: By submitting your phone number in any forms on our website or by texting us first, you are authorizing us to send you text messages and notifications. Message/data rates apply. Reply STOP to unsubscribe to a message sent from us.