Greater Health Now Privacy Policy:

If you choose to give GHN written permission to collect, use, and share your personal and health information (“Information”), review this Privacy Policy. It explains:

  • What Information we collect
  • How Information is used and shared
  • How we protect your Information
  • Your rights

GHN collects Consent to Participate in Services from anyone receiving services through our programs. Consent to Participate is a formal documentation of your permission that allows GHN to collect and use your Information in order to provide you with services.

 

In addition to Consent to Participate, GHN may also collect Authorization for Disclosure of Protected Health Information from any Network Partner or organization using our coordination and technology tools. Authorization for Disclosure of Protected Health Information allows GHN to collect, use, and share your Information with Network Partners in order to coordinate and streamline your services.
Important:

  • You must provide Consent to Participate in order to receive services from a GHN program.
  • Authorization for Disclosure of Protected Health Information is required to receive services from a GHN program.

All Network Partners must comply with this Privacy Policy.
Greater Health Now serves individuals and families in southeastern Washington State.

WHAT INFORMATION WE COLLECT

We may collect Information about you, your care, and your needs, including:

  • Your name and contact details.
  • Names and contact details of family or caregivers (only if you give permission).
  • Services you receive from Network Partners.
  • Your date of birth, gender, race, ethnicity, tribal affiliation, or tribal enrollment.
  • Health insurance coverage details and any needs you may have (income, employment, transportation, housing, access to health care, etc.).
  • Health information protected by state, tribal, and federal privacy laws, including medical providers, health conditions, health needs, and goals.
  • Personally Identifiable Information (PII) as defined by GHN, including:
      • Individual health conditions, treatment, diseases, or diagnosis
      • Medical and behavioral health interventions
      • Prescribed medication details
      • Gender-affirming care information
      • Reproductive or sexual health care information
      • Biometric and genetic data
      • Measurements such as vital signs or symptoms
      • Any other information identifying you as a person seeking care or care coordination services

HOW INFORMATION IS USED AND SHARED

To contact or serve you
We may use or share your Information with Network Partners to:

  • Contact you
  • Provide, coordinate, or refer you to services
  • Learn which services you qualify for

Information will only be shared with Network Partners if:

  • You have signed GHN’s Authorization to Share Information and/or
  • You have signed a Release of Information with your other providers
  • We may share Information with public health agencies to monitor and improve community health.

To improve, help fund, and study our services
We may combine your Information with that of many others so you cannot be identified. After combining (de-identifying), Information may be used to:

  • Evaluate program effectiveness
  • Improve programs and services
  • Support funding requests and reporting
  • Study health trends and outcomes

We may continue to use combined (de-identified) Information even if your authorization expires, but not if you cancel permission.

Uses and disclosures permitted or required by law
We may share your Information without your permission when required or allowed by law, including:

  • Public health reporting (diseases, injuries, births, deaths, recalls)
  • Reporting suspected abuse, neglect, or domestic violence
  • Certain workplace health and safety purposes
  • Government audits and oversight
  • Emergencies that present a serious threat to health or safety
  • Court orders, subpoenas, or other legal processes
  • Law enforcement identification or safety efforts
  • Coroners, medical examiners, and funeral services
  • Organ or tissue donation activities
  • National security purposes
  • Workers’ compensation claims

 

Research

We may use or disclose Information for research if allowed by law and under GHN oversight to protect privacy. You may request not to be contacted about research.

HOW WE PROTECT YOUR INFORMATION

Greater Health Now follows state, tribal, and federal requirements to protect the privacy and security of your Information. We:

  • Maintain administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your Information
  • Limit access to only those who need Information to provide services
  • Require Network Partners to follow this Privacy Policy and all applicable privacy laws
  • Do not sell your Information
  • Do not use your Information for marketing
  • Do not share your Information with law enforcement unless required by legal process (such as a subpoena, warrant, or court order)

Network Partners must continue protecting your Information even if it is no longer protected by certain privacy laws.

TECHNOLOGY RISKS

GHN’s goal is to protect your privacy using secure systems. However, no technology system is perfect.

  • No security measure is guaranteed to be 100% effective
  • No method of storing or sending Information is completely protected from unauthorized access

If someone gains unauthorized access by violating security protections or agreements, GHN may not be able to prevent the misuse of your Information.

Definitions:

Authorization to Share Information: Formal written permission allowing GHN to collect, use, and share your Information with Network Partners for the purpose of coordinating and improving services.

Care Coordination: Activities carried out by GHN and Network Partners to help connect individuals to services, reduce duplication, and support overall health and well-being.

Combined (De-Identified) Information: Information that has been aggregated or altered to remove personal identifiers so that an individual cannot reasonably be identified. This type of Information may be used for evaluation, reporting, funding, or research.

Consent to Participate in Services: Formal documentation of your permission for GHN to collect and use your Information so that GHN can provide services through its programs.

Information: Any personal, demographic, social, or health-related data collected, used, or shared by GHN. Information includes protected health information, personally identifiable information, and other data needed to coordinate services.

Network Partners: Organizations that have signed an agreement with GHN to provide or coordinate services. Network Partners may include social service agencies, care coordination entities, community organizations, government agencies (tribal, state, and local), physical health providers, and behavioral health providers.

Personally Identifiable Information (PII): Information that can identify an individual, either on its own or when combined with other data. Examples include name, date of birth, contact information, health conditions, genetic or biometric data, and any information identifying a person receiving care or care coordination services.

IF A BREACH OCCURS
A “breach” means access, use, or sharing of Information that is not allowed under this Privacy Policy.
If a breach occurs, GHN or your Network Partner will contact you.

 

YOUR RIGHTS
You have rights when it comes to your Information, including the right to:

  • Ask for copies of your Information held by GHN or Network Partners
  • Ask that your Information be corrected if it is wrong or incomplete
  • Ask for limits on how your Information is used or shared
    Ask to be contacted in a specific way that protects your privacy
  • Ask for a list of who has accessed your Information
  • Cancel your Consent to Participate or Authorization to Share Information at any time

If you cancel permission, GHN may still use Information that was combined and de-identified before cancellation.

GET A COPY OF THIS NOTICE
You may request a copy of this Privacy Policy at any time.
• View or print a copy here: GHN Privacy Policy – Greater Health Now
• Request a paper copy from your GHN care coordinator or Network Partner

 

VOICE YOUR CONCERNS
If you believe your rights have been violated, you may file a complaint.
GHN will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint or expressing concerns.

 

CHANGES AND UPDATES TO THIS POLICY
This Policy is effective as of 12/17/2025
GHN may change this Policy at any time to address new issues, laws, or services.
Updates will apply to all Information we maintain.
We may add Network Partners at any time. A current list of Network Partners is available upon request.
You may request a list of Network Partners by emailing SCN@greaterhealthnow.org

QUESTIONS?
If you have questions about this Policy you may contact The HIPAA Privacy Officer at:
HSO@greaterhealthnow.org
Or
509-567-5317, ext 6100