Privacy Policy

Notice of Privacy
Practices Karns Vision Center

7686 Oak Ridge Hwy.
Knoxville, TN 3793l
865.247.7715
www.karnsvision.com
Zoe Duncan, Privacy Official

IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE FEDERAL REGULATIONS OF HIPAA’S PRIVACY RULE, THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN OBTAIN ACCESS TO IT

We respect our legal obligation to keep health information that might identify you private. We are obligated by law to provide you with notice of our privacy practices. This notice describes how we protect your health information and what rights you have regarding it.

TREATMENT, PAYMENT, AND HEALTHCARE OPERATIONS

The most common reasons we would use or disclose your health information is for treatment, payment, or business operations. We routinely use and disclose your medical information within the office on a daily basis. We do not need specific permission to use or disclose your medical information in the following matters, although you have the right to request that we do not.

Examples for treatment purposes may include:

1. Setting up or changing appointments; including leaving messages at your home or office, on answering machines, voicemails, or emails.
2. Calling your name in a reception room.
3. Prescribing glasses, contact lenses, or medications and relaying this information to suppliers via phone, fax, or other electronic means.
4. Notifying you that your ophthalmic goods are ready.
5. Referring you to another doctor for care not provided by this office.
6. Obtaining copies of health information from doctors you’ve seen before us.
7. Discussing your care directly with you or with family/friends you’ve allowed to hear it.
8. Sending reminders via postcards, letters, calls, or emails.
9. Providing you a copy of your medical records via email if requested.

Examples for payment purposes may include:

1. Asking about your vision or medical insurance plans.
2. Preparing and sending bills to your insurance provider or to you.
3. Providing any required information to third-party payors for payment.
4. Sending payment due notices with fee explanations.
5. Collecting unpaid balances through various means.
6. Honoring requests not to disclose certain paid-out-of-pocket services.

Examples for business operations may include:

1. Financial or billing audits.
2. Internal quality assurance programs.
3. Participation in managed care plans.
4. Legal defense.
5. Business planning.
6. Certain research functions.
7. Informing you of office products or services.
8. Compliance with government agency requests.
9. Oversight activities such as licensing and audits.
10. Providing vision status information to schools, agencies, or public safety departments.

USES AND DISCLOSURES FOR OTHER REASONS NOT NEEDING PERMISSION

We may use/disclose your medical information without permission in certain cases, including:

1. When required by state or federal law.
2. For public health purposes.
3. To report suspected abuse, neglect, domestic violence, or crimes.
4. For judicial or administrative proceedings.
5. To medical examiners or funeral directors.
6. For organ/tissue donation processes.
7. For health-related research.
8. To prevent serious health/safety threats.
9. For military or national intelligence purposes.
10. For worker’s compensation claims.
11. For certain school, licensing, or disability certifications.
12. To business associates who must follow privacy rules.
13. Unless you object, to family/friends assisting in your care.

USES OR DISCLOSURES TO PATIENT REPRESENTATIVES

We may speak with individuals on your behalf about appointments, order statuses, or delivery of goods. We will limit such conversations to necessary details unless you’ve given consent for health status discussions. If you allow someone in the room during your care, we assume you consent to their presence.

OTHER USES AND DISCLOSURES

We will not use or disclose your health information for other purposes without your signed authorization, which you may revoke at any time in writing to the Privacy Officer.

YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION

You have the right to:

1. Request restrictions on uses/disclosures (in writing to the Privacy Officer).
2. Request confidential communication methods.
3. Review or get copies of your health information (in writing to the Privacy Officer).
4. Request amendments if information is incorrect/incomplete.
5. Request a list of non-routine disclosures (one free list per year).
6. Obtain additional copies of this notice in-office or online.

CHANGING OUR NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES

We may change this notice at any time, and new terms will apply to all your health information. Updates will be posted in our office and online.

COMPLAINTS

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, contact the Privacy Officer or file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services or the state Attorney General’s Office. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.