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Notice of Privacy Practices (HIPAA)

Effective Date: May 1, 2023

Last updated: February 13, 2026

 

What’s Been Updated?

We’ve updated our Notice of Privacy Practices (NPP) to comply with a federal rule under the CARES Act that aligns HIPAA with 42 CFR Part 2, which provides added confidentiality protections for certain SUD treatment records. The notice explains how this information is protected and handled under the updated requirements.

 

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.

Who to Contact (Privacy Questions, Requests, or Complaints)

If you have questions about this Notice, want to exercise your rights, or want to file a complaint, contact:

Our Responsibilities

Lifetime Vision Care is required by law to:

  • Maintain the privacy and security of your Protected Health Information (PHI).

  • Provide you with this Notice of our legal duties and privacy practices.

  • Follow the terms of the Notice currently in effect.

  • Notify you following a breach that may have compromised the privacy or security of your information.

 

How We May Use and Disclose Your PHI (Without Your Written Authorization)

We may use and disclose your PHI for the purposes below. We will use and disclose your PHI as permitted or required by law, and we may limit certain uses/disclosures when you request it and applicable law requires or allows us to do so.

    1) Treatment

    We can use your PHI and share it with other providers who are involved in your care.

    Examples:

    • Sharing exam findings with an ophthalmologist or specialist.

    • Sending a glasses or contact lens prescription to an optical lab, with your direction or as part of your care.

    • Coordinating care with your primary care provider when medically necessary.

     

    2) Payment

    We can use and share your PHI to bill and obtain payment from health plans and other entities.

    Examples:

    • Submitting claims to your vision or medical insurance.

    • Providing information needed for coverage determinations or prior authorization.

    • Billing you for services not covered by your plan.

     

    3) Health Care Operations

    We can use and share your PHI to operate our practice, improve quality, and manage administrative needs.

    Examples:

    • Quality assessment and improvement activities.

    • Staff training and performance evaluation.

    • Accreditation, licensing, and credentialing activities.

    • Business planning, management, and general administrative activities.

    4) Appointment Reminders and Practice Communications

    We may contact you to:

    • Remind you about appointments,

    • Notify you about prescription readiness (when applicable),

    • Provide information about treatment alternatives, follow-up care, or services that may benefit you.

    We may contact you by phone, text, email, portal message, or mail based on your preferences and the contact information you provide. Standard messaging/data rates may apply for text messages.

    5) People Involved in Your Care (and Payment for Your Care)

    Unless you object, we may share relevant PHI with a family member, friend, or caregiver involved in your care or in helping pay for your care.

    If you are unable to tell us your preference (for example, in an emergency), we may share information if we believe it is in your best interest.

    6) Business Associates

    We may disclose PHI to vendors who perform services on our behalf (for example: billing, IT support, EHR/PM software, secure shredding, cloud hosting, labs, and consultants). These business associates are required by contract and law to safeguard your PHI.

    7) As Required by Law / Public Health and Safety

    We may use or disclose your PHI when required by law and for certain public purposes, including:

    • Public health activities (reporting as required by law)

    • Reporting abuse, neglect, or domestic violence (as permitted/required)

    • Health oversight activities (audits, inspections, investigations)

    • Law enforcement purposes (limited situations)

    • Court and administrative proceedings (as permitted/required)

    • Coroners/medical examiners/funeral directors (as permitted)

    • Organ donation (as applicable)

    • Serious threat to health or safety (as permitted)

    • Workers’ compensation (as permitted)

    Uses and Disclosures Requiring Your Written Authorization

    We will obtain your written authorization before using or disclosing your PHI for purposes not described in this Notice, unless permitted or required by law.

    We also will obtain your written authorization for:

    • Marketing purposes where HIPAA requires authorization

    • Sale of PHI (where applicable)

    • Most uses/disclosures of psychotherapy notes (if applicable)

    You may revoke an authorization at any time by submitting a written request, except to the extent we have already acted on it.

    Special Notes About Sensitive Information

    Some categories of information may be subject to additional protections under federal or Texas law (for example, certain substance use disorder treatment records, certain mental health records, HIV-related information, or other sensitive data). When those stricter protections apply, we follow the applicable law.

    Redisclosure Notice

    When we disclose PHI as permitted by law, the recipient may re-disclose that information, and it may no longer be protected by HIPAA. (Some recipients may be subject to other privacy laws or agreements that continue to protect the information.)

    Your Rights

    You have the following rights regarding your PHI. To exercise any of these rights, contact us using the information listed in Who to Contact.

    Get an electronic or paper copy of your record

    You can ask to see or get a copy of your health record and other PHI we have about you. We will provide a copy or summary usually within 30 days. We may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee.

    Ask us to correct your record

    You can ask us to correct PHI you believe is incorrect or incomplete. We may deny your request, but we will tell you why in writing.

    Request confidential communications

    You can ask us to contact you in a specific way (for example, phone only, email only, or mail to a different address). We will say “yes” to reasonable requests.

    Ask us to limit what we use or share

    You can ask us not to use or share certain PHI for treatment, payment, or operations. We are not required to agree to every request, but if we do agree, we will follow it.

    Out-of-pocket restriction: If you pay for a service or item in full out-of-pocket, you can ask us not to share information about that service with your health plan. We will comply unless a law requires us to share it.

    Get a list of those with whom we’ve shared information

    You can ask for an accounting of certain disclosures made in the past six years (with some exceptions).

    Get a copy of this Notice

    You can ask for a paper copy of this Notice at any time, even if you have agreed to receive it electronically.

    Choose someone to act for you

    If you have a legal guardian, power of attorney, or other authorized personal representative, that person can exercise your rights after we verify their authority.

    File a complaint if you feel your rights are violated

    You can complain if you feel we have violated your rights by contacting us using the information above.

    You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights (OCR). We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

    Fundraising (If Applicable)

    We may contact you about fundraising efforts. You have the right to opt out at any time. To opt out, contact us at manager@lifetimevc.com or 512-244-2003, or follow the instructions provided in the fundraising message (if any).

    Changes to This Notice

    We may change this Notice, and the changes will apply to all PHI we maintain. The updated Notice will be available:

    • In our office, and

    • On our website (this page), as the most current version.