Terms of Service – Non-HIPAA Patient Messaging Effective Date: Reno Family Medical Group, Last Updated: 02/17/2025
 

1. Acceptance of Terms By using our messaging services through the Reach app, the recipient acknowledges and agrees to these terms. Use of this service does not establish a treatment relationship, nor does it constitute medical advice or clinical guidance.

2. Nature of Communication Messages may include general health education, scheduling information, or appointment reminders. Messages are sent via standard SMS and are not encrypted. Recipients should not use this channel to send or receive confidential or sensitive health information.

3. Consent and Opt-In Before receiving messages, recipients must voluntarily opt in by replying to an SMS, completing a form, or providing written acknowledgment. We consider a text reply of "YES" to be written documentation of consent. Senders are responsible for maintaining proof of consent.

4. Message Delivery and Content We strive to ensure timely and accurate delivery, but transmission may be impacted by network conditions or device settings. Message content should remain relevant, professional, and appropriate for general outreach.

5. Limitations of Liability This service must not be used for emergencies, clinical care, or time-sensitive medical communication. We are not liable for undelivered messages, misinterpretation of content, or unauthorized distribution.

6. Opt-Out and Termination Recipients may opt out at any time by replying "STOP." We reserve the right to suspend or terminate messaging privileges if noncompliance or misuse is identified.
    

Privacy Policy – Non-HIPAA Messaging Effective Date: 05/01/2022 Last Updated: 07/17/2025
 

1. Information Collected We collect contact information including phone numbers, message interaction data, and opt-in/opt-out status.

2. Use of Information Collected data is used to send educational materials, scheduling updates, and general outreach content. It also helps manage consent and communication preferences.

3. Data Security Messages are sent using standard SMS or MMS protocols, which do not support encryption. Users are advised not to include or expect transmission of sensitive health data. Medical information classified as Protected Health Information (PHI) under HIPAA should not be sent via this service.

4. Information Sharing We do not share or sell user data to third parties, except when legally required or in coordination with carrier infrastructure.

5. User Rights Recipients may opt out or request updates to their information by contacting the sender or designated administrator. All requests will be honored in accordance with applicable consumer protection laws.

6. Compliance This messaging system complies with general privacy laws such as the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and CAN-SPAM. It is not intended for use under HIPAA standards.
    

Explanation of HIPAA and Applicability
 

HIPAA stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. It establishes national standards for protecting sensitive patient health information, known as Protected Health Information (PHI). Under HIPAA, healthcare providers must use secure, encrypted platforms when transmitting PHI.
 

This messaging service does not meet HIPAA compliance standards and should therefore not be used to send or receive PHI. Examples of PHI include diagnoses, treatment plans, test results, or insurance details when tied to patient identity. Messages sent through the Reach app in this context are intended for administrative and non-clinical communication only.

Consent Language for SMS Opt-In
 

"Reply YES to confirm you wish to receive appointment updates, scheduling reminders, and general health information by text. By responding YES, you provide written documentation of consent and acknowledge that messages are not HIPAA-compliant and should not contain sensitive medical data."