Privacy Policy

New Providence Internal Medicine Associates

Notice of privacy practices

As required by the privacy regulations created as a result of the health insurance portability and accountability act of 1996 (HIPAA)

Our commitment to your privacy

Our practice is dedicated to maintaining the privacy of your personal health information (PHI). In conducting our business, we will create records regarding you and the treatment and services we provide to you.  We are required by law to maintain the confidentiality of health information that identifies you.  We also are required by law to provide you with this notice of our legal duties and privacy practices that we maintain in our practice concerning your PHI. By federal and state law, we must follow the terms of this notice of privacy practices that we have in effect at the time.

The terms of this notice apply to all records containing your PHI that are created or retained by our practice.  We reserve the right to revise or amend this Notice of Privacy Practices.  Any revision or amendment to this notice will be effective for all of your records that our practice has created or maintained in the past, and for any of your records that we may create or maintain in the future.  Our practice will post a copy of our current Notice in our office in a visible location at all times, and you may request a copy of our most current Notice at any time.

If you have questions about this notice please contact: James J. Hakim MD, FACP at 1252 Springfield Avenue, New Providence NJ 07974 (908)-464-7300.

We may use and disclose your PHI in the following ways

1.      Treatment.  Our practice will use your PHI to treat you.  We will use your information to write a prescription for you, speak with a pharmacist or consulting physician, or to speak to those who are assisting in your care such as your spouse children or parents.

2.      Payment. We will use your PHI in order to bill and collect payment for services rendered.  We may share this information with others that are responsible for your bills as well as your insurance company and other healthcare providers you have seen.

3.      Appointment Reminders.  We may use your PHI to contact you and remind you of an appointment. 

4.      The Law.  We will release your PHI when required under law, or subpoena.

5.      Death.  In the event of your death we will release your PHI a to a medical examiner or organ tissue transplant program if you are an organ donor.

6.      Workers Compensation.  We will release your PHI for worker's compensation programs.

7.      Public Safety.  We may disclose your PHI  when it is in the interests of national health security.

Your Individual Rights

1.      Confidential Communications.  You may make any reasonable written request for you to receive PHI by alternative means of communication. (ex. E-mail or fax)

2.      Requesting Restrictions.  You have the right to request a restriction in our use of your PHI for treatment, payment or health care operations.  Additionally, you have the right to request that we restrict our disclosure of your PHI to only certain individuals involved in your care or the payment for your care, such as family members and friends.  We are not required to agree to your request; if we do agree, we are bound by our agreement except when otherwise required by law or when the information is necessary to treat you.

3.      Inspection and Copies.  You have the right to inspect and obtain a copy of the PHI that may be used to make decisions about you, including medical records and billing records.  You must submit your request in writing.  Our practice may charge a fee for the costs of copying, mailing, labor and supplies associated with the request.  We may deny your request in certain limited circumstances; however, you may request a review of our denial.

4.      Right to Amend Your Records.  You have the right to request that we amend the PHI maintained in your medical record file or billing records.  If you desire to amend your records, please make a request in writing.  We will comply with your request unless we believe that the information that would be amended is accurate and complete or other circumstances apply.

5.      Accounting of Disclosures.  You may obtain an accounting of disclosures of PHI made by us during a period of time prior to the date of your request provided such period does not exceed six years and does not apply to disclosures that occurred prior to April 14, 2003. There may be a charge for this request.

6.      Copy of Notice.  You have a right to a paper copy of this notice at any time.  a copy can also be found on our web site at www.NPInternalmed.com.

7.      Complaints.  If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with our practice or with the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.  All complaints must be in writing.

8.      Uses and Disclosures.  We will obtain your written authorization for uses and disclosures that are not identified by this notice or permitted by law. Any authorization you provide to was regarding the use and disclosure of your PHI may be revoked at any time in writing.  After you revoke your authorization, we will no longer use or disclosure PHI for purposes described in the authorization.  We are required to retain your records of your care.

Again, if you have any questions regarding this notice or our health information privacy policies, please contact us at 908-464-7300.

February 14, 2003