Notice of Privacy Practices

 

This notice describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed. It also describes how you can get access to this information.

​

Please read it carefully

The Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”) is a Federal program that requests that all medical records and other individually identifiable health information used or disclosed by us in any form, whether electronically, on paper, or orally are kept properly confidential.  This Act gives you, the client, the right to understand and control how your personal health information (“PHI”) is used.  HIPAA provides penalties for covered entities that misuse personal health information.

 

As required by HIPAA, we have prepared this explanation of how we are to maintain the privacy of your health information and how we may disclose your personal information.

 

We may use and disclose your medical records only for the following purposes: treatment, payment and healthcare operations.

 

Treatment means providing, coordinating or managing health care and related services by one or more healthcare providers.  An example of this would include referring you to an ophthalmologist, optometrist, or specialist.

 

Payment means such activities as obtaining reimbursement for services, confirming coverage, billing or collection activities, and utilization review.  An example of this would include sending your insurance company a bill for your eyewear and/or contact the insurance company to verify coverage prior to ordering your eyewear.

 

Healthcare operations include business aspects of running our business, such as conducting quality assessment for improvements, auditing functions, cost management system analysis, and customer service.  An example of this would be evaluating feedback from client survey cards.

 

The business may also disclose your PHI for law enforcement and other legitimate reasons.

 

By signing Studio 20/20’s privacy policy, you have acknowledged that you have given the business permission to contact you regarding eyeglasses, visual aids, or other optical related information discussed or ordered with the staff at Studio 20/20. You have provided the business with the best method to get in contact with you for any communication.

 

The following use and disclosure of PHI will only be made pursuant to us receiving written authorization from you:

-Uses and disclosure of your PHI for marketing purposes, including       subsidized treatment and healthcare operations

-Disclosures that constitute a sale of PHI under HIPAA

-Other uses and disclosures not described in this notice

 

You may revoke such authorization in writing, and we are required to honor and abide by that written request. By revoking authorization, this would apply only to the non-release of PHI information on and after the date we receive the written notice revoking authorization.  Any information released prior to the written notice is still conforming with our privacy policy.

 

This privacy policy is effective as of September 5, 2019, and it is our intention to abide by the terms of the Notice of Privacy Practices and HIPAA Regulations currently in effect.

 

You have recourse if you feel that your privacy rights have been violated by our office.  You have the right to file a formal written complaint with Studio 20/20 and with the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Civil Rights.  Our office will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

 

Please feel free to contact the business owner, Erica O’Brien, if you have any questions regarding our privacy policy. Erica can be reached at (860) 208-9914 or erica@studiotwentytwenty.com.