FAQs
Questions about your digestive health? Wondering how to navigate your first appointment at Digestive Health Reno? Find the answers to these and all your questions right here from Reno’s leading experts in digestive healthcare.
Insurance & Payments
What insurance does Digestive Health Center accept?
We accept almost all insurance plans. Please contact your insurance provider to confirm that Digestive Health Center is an in-network provider to confirm if services and procedures at Digestive Health Center are covered by your plan.
What insurance does Digestive Health Associates accept?
To determine if you insurance covers services offered by Digestive Health Associates, please call your insurance provider and ask if Digestive Health Associates is an “in-network” provider.
What if I don’t have insurance, can I still have a procedure at Digestive Health Center?
Yes, cash pricing is available. Please contact the Digestive Health Center benefits department at 775-770-2707 to learn more.
What if I don’t have insurance, can I still see a doctor at Digestive Health Associates?
Yes, Digestive Health Associates does offer cash pay amounts for uninsured patients. Patients can call the Billing Department and anyone can answer your questions about payments without insurance. Please call 775-770-2707 and select option 9 for the billing department.
Does Digestive Health Center accept credit cards, cash, or checks?
Digestive Health Center accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover, cash and checks.
Does Digestive Health Associates accept credit cards, cash, or checks?
AMEX, Visa, Mastercard, checks, cash, and money orders.
What payments will be due when I arrive for my procedure at Digestive Health Center?
Any copays, coinsurance, and deductibles for the facility and physician are due two business days prior to the procedure.
What payments will be due when I arrive for my appointment at Digestive Health Associates?
Co-pays are due at the time of service and that information is normally displayed on the front of your insurance card or you can contact your insurance provider.
You will be contacted by the Digestive Health Associates benefits department 1 to 5 days prior to your appointment. At that time, an estimate will be given for your services at Digestive Health Center and Digestive Health Associates. These estimate amounts need to be paid prior to your procedure appointment or arrangements made to pay when you arrive for your appointment. These are only an estimate and after your insurance processes the claims there may be additional money due depending on your deductible and coinsurance allowable. If pathology is necessary, those costs will be billed after the procedure.
I received a bill for my procedure (Digestive Health Center), where do I pay my bill?
The bill can be paid online at https://pay.instamed.com/DHCR or it can be mailed to P.O. Box 305250, Nashville, TN 37230-5250.
I received a bill for my office visit (Digestive Health Associates), where do I pay my bill?
Credit card payments and ACH payments by check can be processed on the Digestive Health Reno website at https://patientportal.advancedmd.com/account/logon?lk=138950. Choose the correct facility to pay. Instructions will guide you through the process, otherwise payments may be mailed in or brought to our office at Digestive Health Associates PO Box 516571 Los Angeles, CA 90051-0597.
Does Digestive Health Center offer payment plans?
Digestive Health Center does offer payment plans. After your benefits have been verified, the Digestive Health benefits center will contact you to let you know your portion of the cost. If you need assistance in managing this financial responsibility, the benefits center can walk you through the available options. CareCredit is also available for those who qualify. If you have questions about Digestive Health benefits department number is 775-770-2707.
What if I change insurance carriers before my procedure?
If any changes to your insurance benefits occur between the time you book your appointment and the procedure, please notify the center immediately. The center must be notified of changes within two full business days prior to the procedure or the procedure will need to be rescheduled. Insurance changes require new verification of benefits and authorization. These changes may also affect your patient responsibility. If you have changes to your insurance, please contact the Digestive Health Center benefits department at 775-770-2707.
Locations & Directions
How do I find a gastroenterologist near me?
Digestive Health Associates is conveniently located at 655 Sierra Rose Drive in Reno and is the premier gastroenterology practice in Nevada where ten of the state’s leading gastroenterologists diagnose, treat, and prevent a wide range of diseases and conditions that affect the gastrointestinal system.
Where do I go for my procedure?
Digestive Health Reno offers a variety of procedures to diagnose, treat, and manage gastrointestinal health issues. The type of procedure you are having will determine where your procedure will be scheduled. If you are unsure about the location of your procedure, please contact your physician’s office at 775-829-7600.
To see all the locations or find directions, please visit the Digestive Health Reno locations page.
About Your Appointment
What do I need for my procedure?
- Your insurance card(s)
- Driver’s license or government-issued photo ID
- A list of your current medications
- Deductible or co-pay for your procedure, as determined by your insurance company
- Leave valuables at home, such as jewelry, electronics, and smartphones
- Wear loose fitting, comfortable clothing
- Arrive at the center one hour prior to your scheduled procedure time
- From arrival to departure, including wait times and discharge, please allow two to three hours in your schedule for most procedures
***Bring the name and phone number of the person (must be 16 years or older with a valid driver’s license) who will be escorting you home. You will not be permitted to drive, take a taxi alone, or leave the center without an adult chaperone.
******You must be 16 years old or over to have a procedure. If you are an adult who is unable to sign the consent, you must have someone with you who is authorized to sign on your behalf.
What forms do I need to fill out before my procedure?
- Patient History Form
- Patient Medication List
What forms do I need to fill out before my office appointment?
- Patient Packet
- Welcome To Our Practice
- Important Notice of Financial Policy
- Appointment Cancellation
- Notice of Privacy Practices
- Patient HIPAA
- Patient Medical History Form
- Preferred Facility
- DHA Notice of Nondiscrimination
How do I prep for my procedure?
The prep for your procedure is very important. It is vital that you follow your physician’s instructions exactly to be prepared. If you have received instructions from your physician about which prep to complete, please click below to download and view prep instructions for Digestive Health Reno. If you are not sure which prep instructions to follow, please contact your physician’s office at 775-829-7600.
Can I take a taxi, Uber, or other car service to and from my procedure?
You MUST have a person 18 years old or over who can sign discharge forms after the procedure is complete. Driver and patient escort MUST be CONFIRMED at check-in or your procedure will be rescheduled. Use of a taxi service or other ride share/public transport is NOT allowed without an escort aged 18 years or older to accompany the patient.
You will not be permitted to drive, take a taxi alone, or leave the center without an adult chaperone.
What should I wear for my procedure?
You should wear comfortable, loose clothing. It is advised that you wear cotton socks, which may be left on during the procedure.
How long will my procedure take?
You should plan to arrive at the center an hour prior to your procedure. Most procedures take between 15 and 45 minutes. You should expect a stay two to three hours total.
What do I do if I need to reschedule or cancel my appointment/procedure?
You must cancel your procedure at least two full business days prior to the event. If you fail to cancel within in this timeframe, you will be billed a $100 no-show fee. For more information on cancellations and reschedules, please call 775-770-2723.
Who do I call if I have questions about my office appointment or procedure?
Contact the physician’s office 775-829-7600 for questions about your office appointment, prep instructions or to reschedule/cancel an appointment. For questions about your procedure date and time, contact the endoscopy center at 775-829-8855.
Services & Procedures
What services are offered at Digestive Health Reno?
What is a colonoscopy?
A colonoscopy is a diagnostic procedure performed by a gastroenterologist to assess the health of your colon and check for ulcers, polyps, tumors, inflammation, or bleeding.
What is an upper endoscopy?
During an upper endoscopy (also called an EGD, gastroscopy, or esophagogastroduodenoscopy), your gastroenterologist will use a small, bendable lighted tube, inserted through the mouth, to closely examine the lining of your esophagus, stomach, and the top portion of your intestines, known as the duodenum.
What is a flexible sigmoidoscopy?
A flexible sigmoidoscopy is a diagnostic procedure that a doctor uses to the inner lining of your rectum and the lower portion of the colon.
What is an Esophageal Manometry?
Your esophagus is made up of muscles that help move food and/or liquid from your mouth to your stomach. As you swallow, valves open to allow food through and then close to make sure everything stays down. An esophageal manometry measures how well those valves function and if they are opening and closing when they should.
What is Hemorrhoid Banding?
Rubber band ligation, or hemorrhoid banding, is a procedure in which a gastroenterologist wraps a tight rubber band around a hemorrhoid. This cuts off the blood supply to the hemorrhoid, causing it to wither and fall off approximately one week later.
What are Bravo pH Capsule?
Bravo pH capsule attached to delivery system The catheter-free test measures pH levels in your esophagus. These measurements allow your doctor to evaluate your heartburn and acid reflux symptoms and plan the best treatment for your diagnosis.
Your doctor will temporarily attach the capsule to the wall of your esophagus. The capsule is very small – about the size of a gel cap – and usually takes a few minutes to place.
Once the capsule is in position, suction is applied, and a small amount of esophageal tissue is drawn into the capsule, locking it in place.
The capsule takes Bravo Receiver continuous pH measurements for up to 48 hours and transmits that information wirelessly to a small receiver you wear on your waistband. After the study, information from the receiver is uploaded to a computer for analysis
What is a Capsule Endoscopy?
A capsule endoscopy lets your gastroenterologist to see your entire GI tract, as opposed to just the top or bottom part in an upper endoscopy or colonoscopy. You will swallow a tiny video camera (about the size of a pill), and it will take pictures as it travels through your digestive system. Afterwards, the camera will pass painlessly in your stool.
What is a Double Balloon Endoscopy?
A double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) is a technique that allows your gastroenterologist to see areas of your digestive tract that are outside the reach of traditional endoscopes. Using a push-and-pull method in which two balloons are inflated and deflated, the intestines seem “shortened” because they can fold as the scope advances through the small intestine.
What is an Endoscopic Ultrasound?
During an Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS), a small flexible tube is inserted in your mouth or anus while you are sedated to look for bile duct stones, enlarged lymph nodes, or tumors around the rectum, pancreas, and esophagus. The high-frequency sound waves show a complete picture of your gastrointestinal tract and nearby organs.
What is a Fecal Transplant?
During a fecal transplant (also called bacteriotherapy), stool is removed from a healthy subject, sanitized, and transferred to a patient suffering from persistent C. difficile colitis. If repeated antibiotic use has eliminated the “good” bacteria from the gastrointestinal tract, bacteriotherapy can restore balance.
What hospitals are the gastroenterologists of Digestive Health Associates affiliated with?
Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center
235 West 6th Street
Reno, NV 89503
Renown Medical Center
115 Mill Street
Reno, NV 89502
Northern Nevada Medical Center
2375 East Prater Way
Sparks, NV 89521
Renown South Meadows Medical Center
10101 Double R Boulevard
Reno, NV 89521
What is an Esophageal Manometry?
An esophageal manometry is when a gastroenterologist inserts a small tube through your nose to examine your esophageal sphincter (the ring of muscles that keeps food in your stomach).
Who Needs an Esophageal Manometry?
Individuals who have trouble swallowing or consistently experience heartburn or nausea after eating may need an esophageal manometry to determine the root cause of these symptoms. An Esophageal manometry allows your gastroenterologist to determine if the esophagus is contracting and relaxing properly.
What is Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)?
ERCP is a procedure to inspect your bile ducts, and it happens while you are under sedation. A gastroenterologist will insert an endoscope (thin tube with a camera) in your mouth until they see your duodenum, which is the uppermost part of your small intestine. A distinctive dye is injected into your pancreas and gallbladder, then your doctor will take x-rays to evaluate stones, tumors, or pancreatitis.
Who Needs an ERCP?
ERCP is a treatment procedure for patients with jaundice (yellowing of the skin or whites of eyes) stomach/abdominal pain caused by pancreatic or bile duct issues.
What is Hemorrhoid Banding?
Hemorrhoid banding, or endoscopic band ligation, is a procedure where a rubber band is placed around a hemorrhoid, causing it to wither and fall off.
Who Needs Hemorrhoid Banding?
Individuals suffering from internal hemorrhoids that are causing discomforts such as rectal bleeding and itching can benefit from endoscopic hemorrhoid band ligation, or hem banding.
What are pH Probe Studies?
A pH probe study is an outpatient procedure that measures how much acid flows out of the stomach and into the esophagus over a 24-hour period. A small probe is inserted through your nostril and placed in your lower esophagus. You will wear a small monitor on your belt or over your shoulder to measure the pH levels in your esophagus.
Who Needs a pH Probe Study?
Esophageal pH probe studies are used to identify GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). Your gastroenterologist also may recommend this test to discover the cause behind heartburn or unusual indicators of heartburn, such as chest pain, persistent cough, asthma, or other throat symptoms. This procedure is also commonly used to find out how well your heartburn or reflux treatment is working.
What is a Capsule Endoscopy?
In a capsule endoscopy, you swallow a tiny camera (the size of a pill) which takes pictures as it passes through your digestive system. You will also need to wear a small device on your body that will record the images.
Who Needs a Capsule Endoscopy?
A capsule endoscopy allows your gastroenterologist to examine your small intestine, which cannot be seen during a typical colonoscopy or upper endoscopy. Usually, capsule endoscopies are done to identify possible causes of bleeding in the small intestine, but it is also used to detect ulcers, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis), polyps, or tumors in the small intestine.
Because this procedure uses new technology, not all insurance companies cover it. Please check with your insurance carrier before scheduling a capsule endoscopy.
What is the Prep for a Capsule Endoscopy?
Generally, you will have nothing to eat or drink for about 12 hours before your procedure. Ask your gastroenterologist when to begin your fast for more specific instructions. He or she may also recommend doing a typical colonoscopy prep before your examination, depending on your circumstances.
Make sure your gastroenterologist knows about any prescribed or over-the-counter medications you take– especially iron, aspirin, and bismuth subsalicylate products. It may be necessary for you to modify your usage of certain medications before your procedure.
Your gastroenterologist also needs to be aware of your medical history, such as allergies to medications, previous abdominal surgeries, history of bowel obstructions, inflammatory bowel disease, heart or lung disease, adhesions, the presence of a pacemaker or defibrillator, or difficulty swallowing.
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