No one knows what the future holds, so you often need professional guidance to plan for certain contingencies. For instance, if you’re unable to make crucial medical decisions on your own for whatever reason, you may need a health care surrogate. So what is a HIPAA authorization form, and why might you need one in your estate plan? An attorney who specializes in comprehensive estate planning explains how it works.
What Is HIPAA Authorization?
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) is a federal law designed to protect sensitive patient health information from involuntary disclosure. You’ve likely signed a HIPAA statement during various doctor visits numerous times.
Technically, under HIPAA, your medical information shouldn’t be released to anyone without your knowledge and explicit consent. So a HIPAA authorization is written permission from you to allow family members or another legal representative access medical information and act on your behalf to:
- Release medical information to other health care providers for coordination of care and treatment.
- Provide third-party organizations, such as insurers, to access your medical records for payment and other purposes.
- Facilitate medical research while protecting patient confidentiality.
HIPAA authorizations must include certain elements mandated by the HIPAA Privacy Rule.
How Your Florida Estate Planning Lawyer Creates Your HIPAA Authorization
It’s a rather simple process:
- First, you’ll fill out a form with your name and address, along with the necessary contact details for your legal representative.
- You’ll work together with your attorney to detail specific information about what information is authorized for release.
- The form should also include a statement that indicates your understanding of your HIPAA rights and how the information will be used.
Once your HIPAA authorization is approved, notarized, and signed, you’re responsible for making sure all required parties have a copy. This directive remains part of your estate plan until you see the need to modify it in the future. In the meantime, you have peace of mind that someone else is always looking out for your wellbeing.