Notice of Privacy Practices
Effective Date: October 16, 2024
Please Review Carefully
This notice explains how your medical information may be used and shared, and how you can access this information.
Your Right to Privacy
As a patient, you have the right to know how your protected health information (PHI) is used and shared. Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Li and Liao Optometry may use your PHI for treatment, payment, and healthcare operations.
- Treatment: We may share your health information with other healthcare providers involved in your care.
- Payment: We may use your health information to bill and receive payment for the services we provide.
- Healthcare Operations: We may use your health information for operations such as quality improvement, staff training, licensing, or certification activities.
When We Need Your Authorization
For uses and disclosures not related to treatment, payment, or healthcare operations, we will ask for your written authorization. You may revoke this authorization at any time in writing.
In Case of Emergency
If you are incapacitated or in an emergency situation, we may share your health information with a family member or another person responsible for your care. We will only share information that is directly relevant to their involvement.
Marketing
We will not use your health information for marketing purposes without your written authorization.
When We Are Required by Law
In some instances, we may need to disclose your health information to comply with legal requirements. This may include:
- Reporting abuse, neglect, or domestic violence if we believe you are a victim.
- Averting a serious threat to your or others’ health or safety.
- Complying with national security and intelligence requirements for Armed Forces personnel or inmates.
Appointment Reminders
We may use your health information to contact you with appointment reminders by phone, email, or letter.
Your Rights as a Patient
You have several important rights regarding your health information:
- Requesting Restrictions: You can request limits on how your health information is shared, though we may deny the request if it impacts treatment, payment, or healthcare operations.
- Confidential Communications: You can ask to receive communications about your health information through specific means (e.g., only by mail).
- Access to Information: You have the right to view and get copies of your health information.
- Amendments: You can request changes to your health information if you believe it is incorrect.
- Disclosure Accounting: You have the right to receive a record of who has accessed your health information.
- Paper Copy of this Notice: You can request a physical copy of this notice at any time.
Our Legal Obligations
Li and Liao Optometry is legally required to protect your health information and follow the terms of this notice. We reserve the right to update this notice, but changes will not take effect until posted on our website or made available in our office.
Questions or Complaints
If you have concerns or complaints about how we handle your health information, you may submit them in writing to our office. We assure you that we will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.
Contact Information
For more details about Li and Liao Optometry’s privacy practices, please contact us at:
Li & Liao Optometry – Brimhall
9820 Brimhall Rd
Bakersfield, CA 93312
Phone: (661) 402-8858