Notice of Privacy Practices

Effective date: April 24, 2026

Our Commitment to Your Privacy

Albany Eye Associates is committed to protecting the privacy of your health information. We are required by law to maintain the privacy of your Protected Health Information (PHI), to provide you with this Notice describing our legal duties and privacy practices, and to follow the terms of the Notice currently in effect.

How We May Use and Disclose Your Health Information

We may use and disclose your health information in the following ways without your authorization:

Treatment

We may use and disclose your health information to provide, coordinate, or manage your eye care and any related services. For example, your information may be shared with other physicians involved in your care, or with specialists to whom we refer you.

Payment

We may use and disclose your health information to bill and collect payment for the services we provide. For example, we may submit claims to your insurance company and include information about the services rendered.

Health Care Operations

We may use and disclose your health information in connection with our healthcare operations, including quality assessment, staff training, licensing, and other business functions necessary to run the practice.

Other Permitted Uses and Disclosures

We may also use or disclose your health information without your authorization for the following purposes:

• As required by law (including public health activities, abuse reporting, law enforcement, and judicial proceedings)
• To avert a serious threat to health or safety
• For research, under strict privacy protections
• For workers' compensation programs
• To business associates who perform services on our behalf, under written contracts requiring them to protect your information
• Appointment reminders and treatment alternatives

Uses and Disclosures Requiring Your Authorization

We will obtain your written authorization before using or disclosing your health information for purposes other than those described above, including most uses of psychotherapy notes, uses for marketing purposes, and the sale of your health information. You may revoke any authorization you have given us at any time, in writing, except to the extent that we have already acted in reliance on it.

Your Rights Regarding Your Health Information

You have the following rights with respect to your health information:

• Right to inspect and copy — You may inspect and obtain a copy of your health information in our records. We may charge a reasonable fee.
• Right to request amendment — You may request that we amend health information we maintain about you. We may deny your request under certain circumstances.
• Right to an accounting of disclosures — You may request a list of disclosures we have made of your health information for purposes other than treatment, payment, or operations.
• Right to request restrictions — You may request restrictions on how we use or disclose your information. We are not required to agree, except in limited circumstances required by law.
• Right to request confidential communications — You may request that we contact you in a specific way or at a specific location.
• Right to a paper copy of this Notice — You may request a paper copy of this Notice at any time, even if you have agreed to receive it electronically.
• Right to be notified of a breach — You have the right to be notified if there is a breach of your unsecured protected health information.

Changes to This Notice

We reserve the right to change this Notice at any time. We reserve the right to make the revised Notice effective for health information we already have about you, as well as any information we receive in the future. We will post the current Notice in our office and on our website. You may request a copy of the current Notice at any time.

Complaints

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with us or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

To file a complaint with HHS, visit hhs.gov/hipaa/filing-a-complaint or call 1-800-368-1019.

Contact Us

To exercise any of your rights or to ask questions about this Notice, please contact us:

Albany Eye Associates
63 Shaker Road, Suite 101
Albany, NY 12204
(518) 434-1042