Welcome Brochure

Welcome to the University Eye

Center Patient Guide

Contents Our Mission......................................................................................3 General Hours of Operation........................................................4 Registration/Patient Information.................................................5 Patient Portal...................................................................................5 Fees & Payment Policies..............................................................6 A Unique Opportunity: Clinical Studies....................................8 Patient Feedback & Suggestions...............................................8 Patient Responsibilities.................................................................9 Patient Bill of Rights.......................................................................11 Notice of Privacy Practices.........................................................13 Non-Discrimination Notice..........................................................17 Frequently Asked Questions......................................................18

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Welcome

Welcome to the University Eye Center at SUNY College of Optometry. Caring for your eyes means much more than fitting you for a pair of glasses or contact lenses. As part of a teaching enterprise, our doctors, students, and residents use the most up-to date techniques and advanced technology to diagnose and treat an unparalleled range of vision issues. It is our pleasure to care for your entire family including infants, children, adults, and seniors. We also conduct eye exams for individuals who may require extra assistance such as children with special needs, those with limited mobility, and individuals who have experienced head trauma. The University Eye Center collaborates with other vision and healthcare providers, receiving over 16,000 referrals annually. We are pleased that you have chosen us for your vision and eye care needs. This brochure contains information that may answer many of your questions including your rights and responsibilities, and how you can contact us if you have questions or need assistance with your care. You may also find the most up-to-date information on our website at universityeyecenter.org. Our Mission The University Eye Center is committed to providing our patients with the highest quality, compassionate and professional care. Our mission is to advance visual health and patient care through leadership in education, research and service.

General Hours of Operation

Monday, Wednesday and Thursday: 8:30 am – 7:30 pm Tuesday: 1:00 pm – 7:30 pm Friday and Saturday: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm

* Clinic specific hours may vary. * All visits are by appointment.

University Eye Center Website

www.universityeyecenter.org Includes patient information, resources, events, and news at your fingertips. It also has a quick link to the Patient Portal, an important resource for patients to access their specific information 24/7.

Location

The UEC is conveniently located on 42nd Street between 5th and 6th Avenues with easy access to many subway lines, MetroNorth, and Long Island Railroad in addition to several bus lines.

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Registration/Patient Information

As a new patient, we will need to collect your information including any insurance. Please arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment to complete the check-in process. On future visits, kindly let us know if any of your information has changed such as: • Name change (please bring proof) • Change of address • Change of email address • New telephone number (home, work or mobile) • Change of insurance for anyone covered under your plan Once you are a patient, you will be asked to register for the University Eye Center Patient Portal. An invitation will be sent directly to your email. It is a free, secure, and confidential online system accessible 24 hours a day that allows you to request your medical records including eyeglass and contact lens prescriptions, update your information, send messages to your doctor, request appointments, and medication refills. In New York State, if you become unable to make decisions for yourself, you must have previously authorized a spouse, parent, or child to make certain critical health care decisions for you. Plan ahead with a Health Care Proxy in which you can designate someone to make healthcare decisions for you if you are unable to make them for yourself. If you already have an Advance Directive, please provide us with a copy. You may obtain a copy of our form on the website or by scanning the QR code. We see patients who have insurance as well as those who need to pay out of pocket. There are two types of health insurance that may help you pay for your eye care services and products: • Vision Care Plans (such as VSP, Davis Vision, or EyeMed) • Medical Insurance Plans (such as Aetna, BlueCross/BlueSheild, and Medicare) Insurance Patient Portal Advanced Directives

We participate with many plans; however, this is regularly updated and subject to change. Please call (212) 938-4001 to verify if we participate with your plan. To see a list of plans scan the QR code.

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Fees & Payment Policies

To best serve you and prevent any misunderstandings, you should verify your eligibility for services with your insurance company prior to your visit. Your insurance company will best be able to guide you on the out-of-pocket expenses you may be required to pay. It is your responsibility to understand your insurance coverage and the payment policies. Full payment is due at the time services are rendered immediately following your visit. This includes all co-payments, coinsurances, deductibles, and/or non-covered services. This also applies to “Accepted Assignments.” You will be

required to pay any charges not covered by your insurance plan. The latest fee schedule is available online by scanning the QR code or visiting the website. Returned checks are subject to a $20 fee.

If your account goes into collection, you are responsible for the original charges and any additional expenses our office or the collection agency incurs to collect this balance. If you have financial difficulties, please contact us as soon as possible. IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT INSURANCE COVERAGE AND FEES Our exams are comprehensive and adhere to the optometric standard of care. While we will do our best to work with patients, especially to address any financial concerns, we cannot “skip” parts of the exam that are not covered by insurance. Refraction (the determination of your eyeglass prescription needs) may not be a covered service. Most medical insurances do not cover this procedure. A refraction is a procedure that measures your ability to see clearly and determine if you need glasses, bifocals, or a change in your current prescription lenses. During the exam, test lenses are placed in front of your eyes and the patient is asked, “Which is better or clearer — one or two?” It is typically performed during both a routine exam as part of an initial evaluation and when monitoring of a medical condition such as diabetes, cataracts, glaucoma, dry eye, or macular degeneration. Contact lens fitting and/or evaluation are not part of a routine examination. Your insurance may not pay for this service. There may be a separate fee depending upon your individual insurance coverage. Required referrals must be obtained in advance. If your insurance plan requires a referral, you must obtain the referral prior to services being rendered. If your plan requires a referral from another provider, you must obtain that referral prior to your scheduled appointment and services being rendered. You will be responsible for payment if the referral is not obtained in advance. Your doctor can complete a referral form online: universityeyecenter.org/referrals

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GOOD FAITH ESTIMATES If you are uninsured or prefer to pay directly out of pocket, you have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate explaining how much your medical care will cost. Please note this at the time of scheduling your appointment to ensure we can prepare the information in advance for your review. Under the law, healthcare organizations need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance, an estimate of the total expected cost for non-emergency medical items and services. This included related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, and equipment. What you need to know: • Make sure your healthcare organization gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing or at least 1 business day before your appointment. You can also ask your healthcare organization, and any other organization you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule the service, or an item is ordered. • If you have a question about your Good Faith Estimate or your bill, please speak with a representative in the Patient Financial Services department at (866) 905-4477. • If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute your bill. • Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate. • For questions or more information about your Good Faith Estimate, visit cms.gov/nosurprises or call (800) 985-3059. We accept cash, checks, money order, American Express, Discover, Visa, and MasterCard including contactless payment methods. You can pay your bill online through your patient portal account, in person at the University Eye Center or by mail. Forms of Payment If you have questions or need assistance with your bill, our Patient Financial Services Representatives may assist you with information, payment arrangements, and insurance billing problem resolution. Contact patient Financial Services at (866) 905-4477, Monday through Friday, 8:30 am – 5:00 pm. Billing Questions & Assistance

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A Unique Opportunity For Patients

CLINICAL VISION RESEARCH CENTER (CVRC) The CVRC conducts sponsored clinical research including clinical studies and trials at SUNY College of Optometry. Our doctors work together with private, industry and government sponsors to discover new and better treatments in eye and vision care. Patient volunteers of all types are needed to discover the best treatment options for everyone. Some studies offer free services and/or compensation if you are selected to participate. Why volunteer? There is no substitute for the people who participate in clinical research. Volunteers like you are the only way new treatments become available. There are many reasons why you should volunteer for a clinical study: • You may be offered treatments that are not normally available. • You could help develop new treatments for a condition that affects you, a loved one, or a friend. • Some studies provide treatment (eye exams, glasses, contact lenses) at no charge. Other studies reimburse you for your time. • Many people participate because they want a future with better vision health for everyone. How to get involved While some studies only need patients with a specific eye or vision condition, others need healthy volunteers. You can learn more about our studies and the services of the Clinical Vision Research Center by visiting our office on the 14th floor or our website: www.sunyopt.edu/CVRC . You can also call 212-938-4052 or email the CVRC at clinicresearch@sunyopt.edu .

Patient Feedback & Suggestions

The University Eye Center strives to provide the best care and service to all patients. We value your feedback so that we may continuously improve. If you have any issues regarding the clinical care you received, please bring them to the attention of your doctor, the chief of service, or the clinic manager on the day of your visit as we would like to resolve any concerns before you leave the UEC. We will involve the necessary staff to provide a resolution or clarification.

To acknowledge a staff member or provider, or for general feedback, please complete our short survey by scanning the QR code. You may also email 10thflca@sunyopt.edu to contact Clinical Administration with comments or suggestions.

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Patient Responsibilities

1. University Eye Center (UEC) patients and guests are expected to recognize and respect the rights of our patients, visitors, and staff. • Threats, violence, disrespectful communication or harassment of other patients, visitors, or of any UEC staff member, for any reason, including but not limited to an individual’s age, race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, military status, sex, or disability, will not be tolerated. • Requests for changes of provider based on the provider’s age, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by law, will not be honored. Requests for a change of provider based on gender will only be considered where premised on a sincerely held religious belief, or where extenuating circumstances are present. • All individuals should respect the privacy of others, and act in a manner consistent with the professional nature of the healthcare environment. • Conduct which interferes with the operation of the UEC will not be tolerated.

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• Any abusive or disrespectful behavior, or conduct not appropriate to a healthcare setting, may result in the patient’s dismissal from UEC care and/ or a guest’s removal and permanent ban from the UEC. 2. UEC patients and guests must adhere to UEC and SUNY College of Optometry safety policies. • No person shall conduct illegal activity on SUNY College of Optometry property. If such activity occurs, it will be reported to the police. • For the safety of everyone, no weapons are permitted on SUNY College of Optometry property. Prohibited weapons include, but are not limited to guns, knives, pepper spray (or similar), tasers, and stun guns. 3. Patients must supply their eye care providers with accurate and complete information, to the best of their knowledge, about present complaints, past illness, medications, unexpected changes in condition, and other matters relating to their health. 4. Patients should seek information about their health and what they are expected to do. Your eye care providers will explain things to the best of their ability, but they may not know when you don’t understand what they are saying, or when you want further information. If you don’t understand what your providers are saying, ask for clarification. If English is not your preferred language, you may request free medical interpretation services. 5. The most effective management plan is the one to which all participants agree and that is carried out exactly as prescribed. It is your responsibility to tell your provider whether or not you have the ability to and agree to follow the management plan recommended for you. 6. If a patient refuses treatment or refuses to adhere to the care, management, and service plan offered by their provider, they must accept the consequences of such decisions. These consequences include the negative impact on your vision and eye health, but also your potential dismissal from UEC care. 7. Patients should keep all appointments with their provider. If you need to cancel an appointment, please do so at least 24 hours before the appointment time. 8. Patients should satisfy their financial obligations for the eye care provided by paying bills promptly. 9. Patients must follow UEC and SUNY College of Optometry rules and regulations affecting patient care and conduct.

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Patient Bill of Rights

The University Eye Center adheres to the New York State Department of Health Patient Bill of Rights for Diagnostic and Treatment Centers. The Patient Bill of Rights is posted throughout the clinic and available on the University Eye Center website. You may access a printable copy in English, Spanish, Russian, Creole, Korean, Chinese, or Italian through the NYS Department of Health website at health.ny.gov/publications/1515 or through clicking the QR quote below. Printed versions are available upon request. As a patient in a health clinic in New York State, you have the right, consistent with law, to:

(1) Receive service(s) without regard to age, race, color, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, sex, gender identity, national origin, or sponsor; 2) Be treated with consideration, respect, and dignity including privacy in treatment;

UEC website NYS DOH

(3) Be informed of the services available at the center; (4) Be informed of the provisions for off-hour emergency coverage;

(5) Be informed of and receive an estimate of the charges for services, view a list of the health plans and the hospitals that the center participates with; eligibility for third-party reimbursements and, when applicable, the availability of free or reduced cost care; (6) Receive an itemized copy of his/her account statement, upon request; (7) Obtain from his/her health care practitioner, or the health care practitioner’s delegate, complete and current information concerning his/her diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis in terms the patient can be reasonably expected to understand; (8) Receive from his/her physician information necessary to give informed consent prior to the start of any nonemergency procedure or treatment or both. An informed consent shall include, as a minimum, the provision of information concerning the specific procedure or treatment or both, the reasonably foreseeable risks involved, and alternatives for care or treatment, if any, as a reasonable medical practitioner under similar circumstances would disclose in a manner permitting the patient to make a knowledgeable decision; (9) Refuse treatment to the extent permitted by law and to be fully informed of the medical consequences of his/her action; (10) Refuse to participate in experimental research; (11) Voice grievances and recommend changes in policies and services to the center’s staff, the operator and the New York State Department of Health without fear of reprisal;

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(12) Express complaints about the care and services provided and to have the center investigate such complaints. The center is responsible for providing the patient or his/her designee with a written response within 30 days if requested by the patient indicating the findings of the investigation. The center is also responsible for notifying the patient or his/her designee that if the patient is not satisfied by the center response, the patient may complain to the New York State Department of Health; (13) Privacy and confidentiality of all information and records pertaining to the patient’s treatment; (14) Approve or refuse the release or disclosure of the contents of his/her medical record to any health care practitioner and/or health care facility except as required by law or third-party payment contract; (15) Access to his/her medical record per Section 18 of the Public Health Law, and Sub part 50-3. For additional information link to: health.ny.gov/publications/1449/ section_1.htm#access ; (16) Authorize those family members and other adults who will be given priority to visit consistent with your ability to receive visitors; (17) When applicable, make known your wishes in regard to anatomical gifts. Persons sixteen years of age or older may document their consent to donate their organs, eyes and/or tissues, upon their death, by enrolling in the NYS Donate Life Registry or by documenting their authorization for organ and/or tissue donation in writing in a number of ways (such as health care proxy, will, donor card, or other signed paper). The health care proxy is available from the center; (18) View a list of the health plans and the hospitals that the center participates with; and (19) Receive an estimate of the amount that you will be billed after services are rendered.

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Notice of Privacy Practices (revised 3/16/2023)

This notice describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed, and how you can get access to that information. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY. The SUNY College of Optometry and its University Eye Center (collectively referred to as “UEC”) are required by law to protect the privacy of health information that may reveal your identity and to provide you with this notice of our legal duties and privacy practices. The UEC reserves the right to change this Notice of Privacy Practices at any time. The UEC has the right to use and disclose your protected health information (PHI) for treatment, payment, or health care operations once you have signed a general consent for treatment form. You may revoke your general written consent at any time (in writing), except to the extent that we have already relied on it. For example, if we provide you with treatment before you revoke your general written consent, we may still share your health information with your insurance company in order to obtain payment for that treatment. To revoke your general written consent, please contact us at 33 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036 or at (212) 938-4030. HOW WE MAY USE AND DISCLOSE YOUR PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION: Treatment: Your PHI can be used and disclosed to provide you with health care treatment and services. We will share your PHI, as appropriate, with optometrists, students in training programs, technicians, and personnel, volunteers, and others who are involved in your care, both within the UEC and elsewhere. For example, we may disclose your PHI to manufacturers when we order eyeglasses, contact lenses, or low vision devices for you, or to your primary care physician for continuity of your health care. Payment: We may use your information or share it with others so that we can bill and obtain payment for services we provide to you. For example, we may share your PHI with your vision plan, health insurance company, and with other payers such as Medicare and Medicaid. Health Care Operations: We may use your PHI or disclose it to others to conduct our business operations. For example, we may use your PHI to evaluate the treatment and services provided to you or to educate our staff on how to improve the care delivered. We may also use your PHI when we contact you, including via our automated appointment reminder system. Alternative Treatment Services: We may use and disclose your PHI in order to recommend possible treatment options or health-related benefits or services that may be of interest to you, so long as we have not received a payment from a third party for communicating with you. Fundraising: We may contact you to participate in fundraising activities. These communications may come from the College itself or from its related charitable

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foundation. You may opt out of receiving fundraising solicitations at any time, and your decision to do so will have no impact on your treatment or payment for services. To opt out of fundraising solicitations, you may contact the Institutional Advancement Office at (212) 938-5600 or email your request, including your name

and address to advancement@sunyopt.edu. DISCLOSURES TO OTHER INDIVIDUALS

We will provide you with an opportunity to agree or object to the following uses and disclosures of your PHI (unless you are incapacitated, otherwise unable to reply, or in the case of emergency). Communication with those involved in your care: We may use and disclose your PHI to notify or assist in notifying a family member, personal representative or other person about your condition, or to provide such other information as may be needed for them to participate in your healthcare decisions, or to notify them of your death. If you are unable to agree or object to these communications, our health care professionals will use their best judgment in communicating with your family and others. Marketing: We must obtain your written authorization before we can use your PHI to communicate with you about purchasing a product or service, unless the communication is done in person. Sale of your PHI: We will not sell your PHI to a third party for marketing purposes without your written authorization. Psychotherapy Notes: With limited exception, unless treatment, payment or health care operations are involved, we will not disclose psychotherapy notes without your written authorization. OTHER SITUATIONS WHERE WE MAY USE AND DISCLOSE YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION Examples of permitted uses and disclosures of your PHI include, but are not limited to, the following: Public Health Activities: We may disclose your PHI to authorized public health officials and agencies for the purpose of public health activities. These activities may include controlling or preventing disease, injury, or disability, reporting reactions to medications, products, or medical devices, or communicable disease reporting. Abuse or Neglect: We are required by law to disclose PHI to a public health authority that is authorized to receive reports of suspected child abuse and/or neglect. Health Oversight Activities: We may disclose your PHI to agencies authorized to perform health oversight activities. These activities may include audits, investigations, inspections and licensure. These activities are necessary to monitor the operation of the health care system, government benefit programs such as Medicaid and Medicare, and ensure compliance with civil rights laws. Lawsuits, Disputes, and Other Legal Matters: We may disclose your PHI in response to a court or administrative order, if you are involved in a lawsuit or

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administrative proceeding, or as required by law. In some cases, we may also disclose your PHI to law enforcement agencies, or in response to a discovery request, subpoena, or other lawful process. Workers’ Compensation: We may use and disclose your PHI as authorized by and to the extent necessary to comply with laws related to workers’ compensation or similar programs. Inmates and Correctional Institutions: We may disclose your PHI to correctional officers and law enforcement officials if necessary to provide you with health care, to protect your health and safety or the health and safety of others, and to protect the safety and security of the correctional institution. Military and Veterans: We may use and disclose your PHI if you are a member of the Armed Forces or to a foreign military if certain criteria are met. Research: The SUNY College of Optometry is committed to the improvement of health care, in part, through research involving human subjects. We may use and disclose your PHI without your written authorization for research purposes if the research is approved through a special review process where it is determined that the use or disclosure of your PHI in the research activity poses minimal risk to your privacy. This is achieved, in part, by removing most, if not all, of the information that has the potential to identify you. YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING YOUR PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION We are required by law to maintain the privacy of your PHI, to provide you with a notice of our legal duties and privacy practices, and to notify you in the event that we discover a breach of PHI. As a patient, you have the rights set forth below regarding your PHI. While we will endeavor to grant your request, there are circumstances where we will not be able to do so. In those circumstances, we will provide you with a written explanation of our reason for denying the request. Please submit any requests identified below to the Privacy Officer by email at compliance@sunyopt.edu or by calling (212) 938-4030. Right to Request Confidential Communication: You have the right to request that we communicate with you about your health care or medical matters through a reasonable alternative way or at an alternative location. Right to Request Restrictions on Use and Disclosures: You have the right to request that we limit certain uses and disclosure of your PHI, such as limiting the information that we share with family or friends involved in your care, or by not sharing information with your insurance company if you are paying fully out of pocket. Right to Access Your Health Information: You have the right to request access to and obtain a copy of your health information, except for psychotherapy notes and information pertaining to an ongoing clinical trial. We may impose a reasonable fee to cover the costs of copying the records. We will notify you of any anticipated fees prior to sending the records, if production of the records will be delayed, or if the health information cannot be provided in the requested format. Right to Amend Your Records: You have the right, for as long as the information is kept in our records, to request an amendment to your health information if you

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believe that the information we have about you is incomplete or incorrect. Your request for an amendment must explain why you feel an amendment is necessary. Under certain circumstances, we may deny your request. If we do so, we will provide you with a written explanation as to why the request was denied. Right to Receive an Accounting of Disclosures: You have the right to obtain a listing of those persons or organizations who received your health information from us. The listing will not cover health related information that was disclosed to you, information disclosed for treatment, payment or health care operations, or information used to conduct routine UEC operations. Right to Notice in the Event of a Breach: You have the right to be notified when your PHI has been acquired, accessed, used or disclosed in a manner that is not legally permitted, and where we determine that your PHI has potentially been compromised (“breached”). If a breach of your PHI occurs, you will be notified of the breach in writing, within 60 days of the date when the breach was discovered. Right to a Paper Copy of this Notice of Privacy Practices (NPP): You may obtain a copy of the current NPP by downloading a copy from our website at UniversityEyeCenter.org , by asking a member of our staff, or by calling us at (212) 938-4001. If you have questions about any part of this notice or would like to discuss our privacy practices, please contact us at SUNY College of Optometry, University Eye Center, ATTN: Clinical Administration, 33 West 42nd Street, New York, New York 10036 or by calling us (212) 938-4030. Complaints If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with us by emailing compliance@sunyopt.edu , calling the confidential hotline at (888) 906-6777, or by writing to the following address: Privacy Officer, SUNY College of Optometry, University Eye Center, ATTN: Clinical Administration, 33 West 42nd Street, New York, New York 10036. You may also file a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. You will not be penalized for filing a complaint.

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Non-Discrimination Notice

The University Eye Center of the State University of New York College of Optometry (UEC) complies with all applicable State and Federal civil rights laws. The UEC does not discriminate, exclude, or treat people less favorably on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex (consistent with the scope of sex discrimination described at 45 CFR § 92.101(a)(2)), or any other category protected by applicable law. The UEC provides people with disabilities reasonable modifications and services to enable them to communicate effectively with us, including having qualified sign language interpreters and written information in other formats (large print, accessible electronic formats). The UEC also provides free language assistance services to people whose primary language is not English. These services may include qualified interpreters and information written in other languages. If you need reasonable modifications and/or language assistance services, contact the Clinic Manager. If you believe that the UEC has failed to provide these services, or discriminated against you in another way on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex, you can file a grievance by mail, fax or email with the University Eye Center, Office of Clinical Administration, 33 West 42nd Street, NY, NY 10036, compliance@sunyopt.edu , tel. (888) 906-6777, fax (212) 938-4037. You can also file a civil rights complaint with the Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights, electronically through the Office for Civil Rights Complaint Portal, available at ocrportal.hhs.gov/ocr/portal/lobby.jsf , or by mail or phone at:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 200 Independence Avenue, SW Room 509F, HHH Building Washington, D.C. 20201 (800) 368-1019, (800) 537-7697 (TDD)

Complaint forms are available at: hhs.gov/ocr/office/file/index.html

Complaints may also be filed with the NYS Department of Health: health.ny.gov/forms/doh-5243.pdf

This notice is available at the University Eye Center’s website: UniversityEyeCenter.org

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to schedule in advance or can I just come in and wait? All appointments must be scheduled in advance. Call (212) 938-4001 to schedule your appointment. How long will my appointment take? Will I be dilated? Appointments on average take approximately 90 minutes to complete the required testing, dilation, and comprehensive examination. Length of your visit may vary based on the services required and if it is an initial visit or follow-up. Do I need to bring my insurance card with me to the clinic? Yes, it is very important that you bring your insurance card with you to ensure that we have accurate billing information to correctly file your claim and also specify if you have a vision plan. You will be asked to present your card and identification when you register. Patients are responsible for all co-payments, deductibles, coinsurance, and/or non-covered services with payment required at the completion of your visit. What happens if I cannot make the payment in full? In most cases, we can help establish a payment plan depending on your balances due. Partial payments made toward your balance will not stop collection activity unless you have made payment arrangements with us. Please contact Patient Financial Services to discuss payment options at (866) 905-4477 What insurance plans does the University Eye Center (UEC) accept? Vision care plans typically only cover routine vision examinations along with eyeglasses and/or contact lenses. Your visit for routine eye care allows your eye doctor to evaluate your visual needs. The doctor can determine if there is a need to prescribe or change your prescription for vision correction. It also allows him/ her to evaluate your eye health, to rule out the most common eye diseases and to determine if there is a need for further visits. Vision plans do not cover diagnosis, management, or treatment of eye diseases. What if I don’t have vision insurance, will my medical insurance cover routine eye care? Typically, major medical insurance or a managed care plans pay for procedures that are used to diagnose and treat eye disease. While the examination may provide you with a new eyeglass prescription, medical insurance rarely pays for routine care and refractions. We accept most Medicaid, Medicare, managed care and most major medical and vision plans. For a listing of our participating plans, please scan the QR code. What is the difference between a routine eye examination and a visit for medically necessary care?

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Is there a deposit required to process my order for materials (eyeglasses, contact lenses and/or low vision devices)? Yes, a deposit of 50% of the patient responsibility charge for the materials is required in order to process your order. Do you offer any financial assistance to the uninsured or underinsured? If you are uninsured or underinsured, you may qualify for a fee reduction or payment plan based on specific financial eligibility. To apply for financial assistance, you will be asked to provide information, which includes financial income. We utilize the federal poverty levels as guide for fee reduction determinations. What is Health Information Exchange (HIE)? Through a secure health information exchange, our doctors are able to access your medical history to make informed decisions about your eye care. Does UEC offer telehealth appointments? The UEC does offer telehealth appoints; however they are not recommended for initial visits. Please speak with your provider to determine if a telehealth appointment is appropriate for you. Are interpreter services available? UEC provides free interpreter services for patients. Many of our doctors also speak more than one language.

Please call ( 866) 905-4477 or email pfsfinapp@sunyopt.edu for information.

To see a list of other frequently asked questions please scan the QR code.

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Need more information? Our website UniversityEyeCenter.org contains a wide variety of information about the UEC and the services we provide. In addition, the clinic managers in each of the clinical areas can assist you on the day of your visit if you have any questions and/or concerns. Thank you for choosing the University Eye Center for your eye and vision care needs. As part of our continuous effort to improve the quality of our services, we’d like to hear about your experience at the UEC. Please take a few moments to complete our survey conveniently located at the reception desk or online at www.UniversityEyeCenter.org

33 West 42nd Street, New York, N.Y. 10036 • (877) 570-5222 UniversityEyeCenter.org