Legal Information
Disclaimer and Privacy Statements
Notice of Privacy Practices | Notice of Privacy Practices, Spanish version 
Disclaimer
Neighborhood Health Plan supplies all information posted on this web site. While we try to maintain only current and accurate information, we disclaim any implied warranty or representation about its accuracy or completeness, or appropriateness for a particular purpose. As the recipient of this information, you assume full responsibility for using the information at this web site, and you understand and agree that Neighborhood Health Plan is neither responsible nor liable for any claim, loss, or damage resulting from its use.
Online Privacy and Security
In the normal course of visiting the NHP.org web site, viewing pages, or downloading information, we will gather and store certain information about your visit automatically. We use this information to help us make the site more useful to visitors -- to learn about the number of visitors to our site and the types of technology our visitors use. Unless it is specifically stated otherwise, no additional information will be collected about you. When you visit NHP.org, some information is automatically collected including:
- Your computer's IP address (the computer's unique signature)
- Your computer's operating system (e.g. Windows XP)
- Your Browser software (e.g. Microsoft Internet Explorer, Netscape)
- Your Internet Service Provider (e.g. AOL)
- The date and time of your visit
- The length of your visit
- What pages you visited
This information does not personally identify you, nor is it shared with anyone outside of NHP. It is never sold.
E-mail Security
E-mail sent over the Internet is not secure and should not be used to communicate confidential and/or health information directly to NHP. Please be aware that NHP cannot guarantee the confidentiality or security of any information you send to us over the Internet when using e-mail. NHP shall not be liable for any breach of confidentiality resulting from such use of e-mail via the Internet. NHP will not use e-mail to communicate confidential and/or health information unless the e-mail is secured in accordance with NHP's Corporate E-Mail Policy.
Copyright Use Limitations
Copyright ©2009 Neighborhood Health Plan, Inc. All rights reserved. The information posted on this web site is protected by copyright and other intellectual property rights. It may be displayed, reformatted and printed for personal, non-commercial use only.
Notice of Member Privacy Practices
This notice describes how health information about you may be used and disclosed, and how you can get access to this information. Please review it carefully. Neighborhood Health Plan (NHP) provides health insurance coverage to you. Because you get health benefits from NHP, we have personal health information (PHI) about you. By law, NHP must protect the privacy of your health information.
This notice explains:
- When NHP may use and share your health information.
- What your rights are regarding your health information.
NHP may use or share your health information:
- When the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services needs it to make sure your privacy is protected.
- When required by law or a law enforcement agency.
- For payment activities, such as checking if you are eligible for health benefits, and paying your healthcare Providers for services you get.
- To operate programs, such as evaluating the quality of healthcare services you get, and performing studies to reduce healthcare costs.
- With your healthcare Providers to coordinate your treatment and the services you get.
- With health-oversight agencies, such as the Federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and for oversight activities authorized by law, including fraud and abuse investigations.
- For research projects that meet privacy requirements, and help us evaluate or improve NHP programs.
- With government agencies that give you benefits or services.
- With plan sponsors of employer group health plans, but only if they agree to protect that information.
- To prevent or respond to an immediate and serious health or safety emergency.
- To remind you of appointments, benefits, treatment options or other health-related choices you have.
When State privacy law is stricter than Federal privacy law, NHP will follow the stricter law. For example, Massachusetts state law requires NHP to get your written permission before sharing sensitive information such as HIV/ AIDS or drug abuse.
Except as described above, NHP cannot use or share your health information with anyone without your written permission. You may cancel your permission at any time, as long as you tell us in writing. Please note: We cannot take back any health information we used or shared when we had your permission.
You have the right to:
- See and get a copy of your health information. You must ask for this in writing. NHP may charge you to cover certain costs, such as copying and postage.
- Ask NHP to change your health information if you think it is wrong or incomplete. You must tell us in writing which health information you want us to change, and why.
- Ask NHP to limit its use or sharing of your health information. You must ask for this in writing. NHP may not be able to grant this request.
- Ask NHP to get in touch with you in some other way, if by contacting you at the address or telephone number we have on file, you believe you would be harmed.
- Get a list of when and with whom NHP has shared your health information. You must ask for this in writing.
- Get a paper copy of this notice at any time.
These rights may not apply in certain situations. By law, NHP must give you notice explaining that we protect your health information, and that we must follow the terms of this notice.
NHP can change how we use and share your health information. If NHP does make important changes, we will send you a new notice. That new notice will apply to all of the health information that NHP has about you. NHP takes your privacy very seriously. If you would like to exercise any of the rights we describe in this notice, or if you feel that NHP has violated your privacy rights, contact NHP's Privacy Officer in writing at the following address:
Neighborhood Health Plan
Privacy Officer
253 Summer Street
Boston, MA 02210-1120
Filing a complaint or exercising your rights will not affect your benefits. You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services at:
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20201
Telephone: 202-619-0257
Toll Free: 877-696-6775
For more information, or if you need help understanding this notice, call 1-800-462-5449 (TTY: 1-800-655-1761 for the deaf and hard of hearing) Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. (Thursdays from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.)
Confidentiality
NHP takes seriously our obligation to protect your personal and health information. To help in maintaining your privacy, we have instituted the following practices:
- NHP employees do not discuss your personal information in public areas such as the cafeteria, on elevators or when outside of the office.
- Electronic information is kept secure through the use of passwords, automatic screen savers and limiting access to only those employees with a "need to know."
- Written information is kept secure by storing it in locked file cabinets, enforcing "clean-desk" practices and using secured shredding bins for its destruction.
- All employees, as part of their initial orientation, receive training on our confidentiality and privacy practices.
- All providers and other entities with whom we need to share information are required to sign agreements in which they agree to maintain confidentiality.
- NHP only collects information about you that we need to have in order to provide you with the services you have agreed to receive by enrolling in NHP or as otherwise required by law.
In accordance with state law, NHP takes special precautions to protect any information concerning mental health or substance abuse, HIV status, sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy or termination of pregnancy.
HIPAA
HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, is a federal law which requires health plans to implement additional security and privacy protections of member health information.
Privacy
Neighborhood Health Plan has always been committed to protecting member privacy and is now compliant with HIPAA regulations, as well as other State and Federal Privacy regulations.
Security
NHP currently maintains a high level of security consistent with industry standards. NHP has strived to meet and, where possible, exceed the national HIPAA Security standards. Constant monitoring and improvements are made to NHP's security infrastructure.
Transactions
NHP has actively engaged in updating systems and collaborating with regional providers and payors to implement transaction standards required by HIPAA. NHP is in compliance with the HIPAA transaction standards.