Privacy Policy
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.
Notice of Privacy Practices - PDF | Patient Bill of Rights and Responsibilities - PDF
At Eye Center of Central Georgia, protecting your privacy is a priority. This Notice explains how we may use and disclose your Protected Health Information (PHI) and describes your rights under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act.
OUR LEGAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Uses and Disclosures of Protected Health Information Based Upon Your Written Consent
We are required by law to:
- Maintain the privacy and security of your PHI.
- Provide you with this Notice outlining our privacy practices.
- Notify you promptly if a breach occurs that may compromise your PHI
- Follow the terms of this Notice.
HOW WE MAY USE AND DISCLOSE YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION
1. Treatment
We may use and share your PHI to provide, coordinate, and manage your eye care. This includes sharing information with ophthalmologists, optometrists, opticians, certified nurse anesthetists, and other healthcare professionals involved in your treatment.
2. Payment
We may use and disclose your PHI to bill and collect payment from you, your insurance provider, or a third party. This can include verifying eligibility, obtaining prior authorization, or processing claims.
3. Healthcare Operations
We may use and disclose your PHI for business and operational purposes, such as quality improvement, staff training, licensing, and auditing.
4. Appointment Reminders & Health-Related Services
We may contact you to remind you of upcoming appointments or to inform you of services or treatment options that may benefit your care.
5. As Required by Law
We will disclose your PHI when required by federal, state, or local law.
6. Public Health & Safety
We may disclose your PHI to public health authorities for reasons such as preventing disease, reporting abuse or neglect, or to reduce a serious threat to health and safety.
7. Research
We may use or share your PHI for research purposes under certain conditions and with proper safeguards.
8. Legal and Law Enforcement
We may use and disclose your PHI for business and operational purposes, such as quality improvement, staff training, licensing, and auditing.
YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION
1. Right to Access
You may request to review or obtain copies of your PHI.
2. Right to Request Amendments
You can request corrections to your PHI if you believe it is incomplete or incorrect.
3. Right to an Accounting of Disclosures
You may request a list of certain disclosures of your PHI made outside of treatment, payment, or healthcare operations.
4. Right to Request Restrictions
You may request restrictions on the use or disclosure of your PHI. While we may not always be legally required to agree, we will comply where applicable by law.
5. Right to Confidential Communications
You may request that we communicate with you in a specific way or at a specific location.
6. Right to a Paper Copy of This Notice
You can request a paper copy of this Notice at any time, even if you receive it electronically.
7. Research
We may use or share your PHI for research purposes under certain conditions and with proper safeguards.
8. Right to Revoke Authorization
You may revoke your consent for the use or disclosure of your PHI in writing, except where actions have already been taken.
CHANGES TO THIS NOTICE
We reserve the right to change this Notice. Any changes will apply to all PHI we maintain, and a current version will be posted in our office and on our website.
COMPLAINTS
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with us or with the appropriate government agency. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.
Contact Our Privacy Officer:
Eye Center of Central Georgia
Attn: Jason Barden
1429 Oglethorpe St
Macon, GA 31201
478-743-7061 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Office for Civil Rights (OCR):
Phone: 1-800-368-1019
TTY: 1-800-537-7697
Website: https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/filing-a-complaint/
Medicare Beneficiary Ombudsman:
Phone: 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227)
Website: https://www.medicare.gov/providers-services/claims-appeals-complaints/complaints
Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) - Consumer Complaint Hotline:
Phone: 1-888-419-3456
Website: https://ahca.myflorida.com/Complaint
Georgia Department of Community Health - Healthcare Facility Regulation:
Phone: 1-800-878-6442
Website: https://dch.georgia.gov/divisionsoffices/facility-licensure/hfrd-file-complaint
South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC):
Phone: 1-800-922-6735
Website: https://dph.sc.gov/professionals/healthcare-quality/file-complaint