HHS - REGION X, SEATTLE

January 2008: Unlike the DCCA of Hawaii, who I supplied documentation to, the Department of Health and Human Services "Region 10", without documentation, finds that Dr. Au did violate the privacy act by charging me too much for copies of my records.

From Vernon Balmer Jr.
To



I am in possesion of your correspondence explaining the closure letter. Just for the record, I never, in this life, or any other, will ever state verbally, or in writing that I was escorted from the premises of Au and Lau's Optometrists. I said, "Dr. Au states that I was, which is a lie". Your records are either forged, tampered with, or you and Mr. Jensen are grossly mistaken, mis-informed, or deluded!




1. Along with saying I did not see as well with the new glasses, I said
that the prescription that I was given was weaker than the one I had the
previous 7, count them, seven years. Your office nor the DCCA responded
to this charge.

2.The reason I asked Dr. Au to change the prescription was because the
NEW one, I repeat, was weaker in one eye. This was the only alternative
Dr. Au gave me other than accepting the weaker prescription.

3. The "Vision Certificate" Dr. Au provide, had no licsense number
where it should have been and she did not sign it where it should have
been signed.

4. Dr Au refused to give me photocopies of my records and did not give
me a reason, per her offices policy, when I asked for them in her
office.

5.Dr charged me 2.00 dollars per page, totaling 20.00 dollars, which I
believe is exorbitant.

6.There are conflicting numbers on my records, that I would like
explained. This, no one has addressed. And I doubt that my records were
reviewed by an impartial optometrist, as any reasonable person would
assume to be a part on what your office calls an investigation.

7. I was trespassed from Dr. Au's office for no other reason than
asking for copies of my files, and in her response to the DCCA she says
I was escorted out of her offices by mall security, which is a lie by a
optometrist that pracitces deceit.










Linda Yuu Connor is the Regional Manager of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services¡¦ Office for Civil Rights (OCR), Region 10-Seattle, which involves the states of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Linda¡¦s Regional Office oversees the enforcement of several civil rights laws and the Privacy Rule (HIPAA) that protects the privacy of health information.

Linda began her career with the federal government with the U.S. Department of Justice as a Conciliator. Prior to federal service, she worked for The Boston Globe newspaper. She is a graduate of Suffolk University (Boston, Massachusetts).

Linda was born and raised in a small city near Boston where her parents settled after arriving from China. Her Dad, deceased, served in the U.S. military with the famous Flying Tigers. They raised eight children most of whom reside on the East coast. Linda lives in the Seattle, Washington area with her beloved husband, Bob.