Notice of Privacy Practices

Your Privacy Matters

At Spectrum Optical, we are committed to protecting the privacy and security of your personal health information. This Notice describes how your medical information may be used and disclosed and how you can access this information. Please review it carefully.

Our Commitment to Your Privacy

We understand that your health information is personal. In accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), we are required to maintain the privacy of your Protected Health Information (PHI), provide you with this Notice of our legal duties and privacy practices, and follow the terms currently in effect.

How We May Use and Disclose Your Health Information

Treatment: We may use and share your health information to provide, coordinate, or manage your eye care. This includes communication with other healthcare providers involved in your care, such as primary care physicians, specialists, or surgical centers.
Payment: Your information may be used to obtain payment for services provided. This includes billing insurance companies, verifying coverage, and coordinating benefits.
Healthcare Operations: We may use your information to support the day-to-day operations of our practice, including quality assessment, staff training, accreditation, licensing, and administrative activities.
Appointment Reminders and Communications: We may contact you via phone, voicemail, text message, email, or mail to remind you of appointments, provide treatment information, or inform you about services that may benefit your eye health. You may opt out of these communications at any time.
Individuals Involved in Your Care: Unless you object, we may share relevant information with family members, caregivers, or others involved in your care or payment for your care.
Public Health and Safety: We may disclose your information when required by law for public health purposes, including reporting diseases, adverse reactions, abuse, neglect, or threats to health or safety.
Legal Requirements: We may release your information when required by federal, state, or local law, including in response to court orders, subpoenas, or law enforcement requests.
Research: In limited circumstances, your information may be used for research purposes when approved by an Institutional Review Board and in compliance with HIPAA regulations.
Business Associates: We may share your information with trusted third-party service providers (such as billing companies or electronic health record vendors) who are required to protect your information under written agreements.

Uses and Disclosures Requiring Your Authorization

We will obtain your written authorization before:

Using or disclosing psychotherapy notes (if applicable)
Using your information for marketing purposes not related to your care
Selling your health information
Any other use not described in this Notice

You may revoke your authorization at any time in writing.

Your Rights Regarding Your Health Information

You have the following rights concerning your Protected Health Information:

Right to Access: You may request to inspect or obtain a copy of your medical records in paper or electronic form.
Right to Amend: If you believe your information is incorrect or incomplete, you may request an amendment.
Right to an Accounting of Disclosures: You may request a list of certain disclosures of your health information made by our practice.
Right to Request Restrictions: You may request restrictions on how your information is used or disclosed. While we are not required to agree to all requests, we will comply when required by law, such as when services are paid for out-of-pocket in full.
Right to Confidential Communications: You may request that we communicate with you in a specific way or at a specific location (e.g., only by phone or mail).
Right to a Paper Copy: You have the right to receive a paper copy of this Notice at any time, even if you have agreed to receive it electronically.
Right to Be Notified of a Breach: You will be notified if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your information.

Our Responsibilities

Spectrum Optical is required to:

Maintain the privacy and security of your health information.
Provide you with this Notice of our legal duties and privacy practices.
Notify you following a breach of unsecured Protected Health Information.
Abide by the terms of this Notice currently in effect.

Changes to This Notice

We reserve the right to change the terms of this Notice at any time. Any revisions will apply to all health information we maintain. The updated Notice will be posted in our office and on our website with a revised effective date.

Complaints

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with Spectrum Optical or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights. Filing a complaint will not affect your care in any way.

To file a complaint with Spectrum Optical, please contact:

Spectrum Optical

1257 Pineview Drive Morgantown, WV 26505

Phone: (304)599-7034

Email: spectrumoptical@comcast.net

Website: www.spectrumoptical.com

You may also file a complaint with:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services- Office for Civil Rights

Website: https://www.hhs.gov/ocr

Contact Information

If you have questions about this Notice or your privacy rights, please contact us: