Privacy Policy

GASTROENTEROLOGY CONSULTANTS • RENO ENDOSCOPY CENTER
SOUTH MEADOWS ENDOSCOPY CENTER

NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICE

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.

We are required by law to maintain the privacy of your protected health information, to notify you of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to your health information, and to notify affected individuals following a breach of unsecured health information. This Notice summarizes our duties and your rights concerning your information. Our duties and your rights are set forth more fully in 45 CFR Part 164. We are required to abide by the terms of our Notice that is currently in effect.

1. **Uses And Disclosures We May Make Without Written Authorization.** We may use or disclose your health
information for certain purposes without your written authorization, including the following:

• **Treatment.** We may use or disclose your information for purposes of treating you. For example, we may disclose
your information to another health care provider so they may treat you; to provide appointment reminders; or to
provide information about treatment alternatives or services we offer.
• **Payment.** We may use or disclose your information to obtain payment for services provided to you. For example,
we may disclose information to your health insurance company or other payer to obtain preauthorization or
payment for treatment.
• **Healthcare Operations.** We may use or disclose your information for certain activities that are necessary to operate our practice and ensure that our patients receive quality care. For example, we may use information to train or review the performance of our staff or make decisions affecting the practice.
• **Other Uses or Disclosures.** We may also use or disclose your information for certain other purposes allowed by 45 CFR § 164.512 or other applicable laws and regulations, including:
– To avoid a serious threat to your health or safety or the health or safety of others.
– As required by state or federal law such as reporting abuse, neglect or certain other events.
– As allowed by workers' compensation laws for use in workers' compensation proceedings.
– For certain public health activities such as reporting certain diseases.
– For certain public health oversight activities such as audits, investigations, or licensure actions.
– In response to a court order, warrant or subpoena in judicial or administrative proceedings.
– For certain specialized government functions such as the military or correctional institutions.
– For research purposes if certain conditions are satisfied.
– In response to certain requests by law enforcement to locate a fugitive, victim or witness, or to report
deaths or certain crimes.
– To coroners, funeral directors, or organ procurement organizations as necessary to allow them to carry
out their duties.

2. **Disclosures We May Make Unless You Object.** Unless you instruct us otherwise, we may disclose your
information as described below:

• To a member of your family, relative, friend, or other person who is involved in your healthcare or payment for
your healthcare. We will limit the disclosure to the information relevant to that person's involvement in your
healthcare or payment.
• To contact you to raise funds for our local hospitals. You may opt out of receiving such communications at
any time by notifying the Privacy Officer identified below.
• **Appointment Reminders.** We may use and disclose medical information to contact you as a reminder that you
have an appointment for treatment or medical care.
• **Ambulatory Surgery Center Directory.** We may include certain limited information about you in our ambulatory
surgery directory while you are receiving care. This information may include your name, location in the ambulatory
surgery center, your general condition (e.g., fair, stable, etc.). The directory information may also be released to
people who ask for you by name. We may disclose your protected health information to your family member
or a close personal friend if it is directly relevant to the person's involvement in your procedure or post-procedure
care. If you object to our doing this, please let us know, and we will honor your request.

3. **Uses and Disclosures with Your Written Authorization.** Other uses and disclosures not described in this
Notice will be made only with your written authorization, including most uses or disclosures of psychotherapy
notes; for most marketing purposes; or if we seek to sell your information. You may revoke your authorization
by submitting a written notice to the Privacy Contact identified below. The revocation will not be effective to
the extent we have already taken action in reliance on the authorization.
In regards to SMS communications, your opt-in data, consent, and all other data will not be shared with third
parties.

4. **Your Rights Concerning Your Protected Health Information.** You have the following rights concerning your
health information. To exercise any of these rights, you must submit a written request to the Privacy Officer identified
below:

• You may request additional restrictions on the use or disclosure of information for treatment, payment or
healthcare operations. We are not required to agree except in the limited situation in which you (or someone
on your behalf) pays for an item or service and you request that information concerning such item or service
not be disclosed to a health insurer.
• We normally contact you by telephone, KLARA, or mail at your home address. You may request that we
contact you by alternative means or at alternative locations. We will accommodate reasonable requests.
• You may inspect and obtain a copy of records that are used to make decisions about your care or payment for
your care, including an electronic copy. We may charge you a reasonable cost-based fee. We may deny your
request under limited circumstances, e.g., if disclosure may result in harm to you or others.
• You may request that your protected health information be amended. We may deny your request for certain
reasons, e.g., if we did not create the record or if we determine that the record is accurate and complete.
• You may receive an accounting of certain disclosures we have made of your protected health information. You
may receive the first accounting within a 12-month period free of charge. We may charge a reasonable cost-
based fee for subsequent requests during that period.
• You may obtain a paper copy of this Notice upon request, even if you have agreed to receive it electronically.

5. **Changes To This Notice.** We reserve the right to change the terms of this Notice at any time, and to make the new
Notice effective for all protected health information that we maintain. If we materially change our Privacy Practices, we
will post a copy of the current Notice in our reception area and on our website. You may obtain a copy from our
receptionist or Privacy Officer.

6. **Complaints.** You may complain to us or to the Secretary of Health and Human Services if you believe your privacy
rights have been violated. You may file a complaint by notifying our Privacy Officer. All complaints must be in writing.
We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

7. **Fraud, Waste, and Abuse.** If you wish to report an incident of Fraud, Waste, or Abuse, please know that your report
will be kept confidential and used solely to address the incident.
• FWA Hotline: 877-888-3648

8. **Contact Information.** If you have any questions about this Notice, or if you want to object to or complain about any
use or disclosure or exercise any right as explained above, please contact:
• Privacy & Security Officer
• Erin Brown, Executive Director
• Phone: 775-329-4600
• Fax: 775-329-4992