Law Offices of Christine Chung
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Our Philosophy
    • Our Planning Process
    • Our Fees
  • Attorney
  • Virtual Services
  • Practice Areas
    • Estate Planning
    • Probate Administration
    • Trust Administration
  • Blog
  • FAQ
    • Estate Planning
    • Probate
    • Trust Administration
  • Contact Us

Access To Medical Information Without A HIPAA Authorization

10/12/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Have you ever called a doctor’s office to get medical information about your spouse? They may have told you that they cannot share information about the patient with anyone but the patient or an authorized representative. Privacy laws protect the patients from disclosure of their confidential medical information.  To be an authorized representative, a HIPAA authorization must be signed by the patient. 

What is HIPAA?
HIPAA stands for Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.  This privacy law is intended to protect against the unauthorized release of your private medical information.
 
What is a HIPAA Authorization and Waiver?
One of the essential health care documents that should be included in any estate plan portfolio is the HIPAA Authorization and Waiver form.  The HIPAA Authorization and Waiver is a stand-alone document that authorizes your health care providers to release information concerning your otherwise confidential medical information to the individuals (ie. your spouse) you have designated to act on your behalf in the event of disability and to those who you would also want to have such access.  Without a signed HIPAA form, the medical community is very conservative about releasing medical records because they will face stiff penalties.
 
When you have capacity and can act on your own, it’s not a problem to sign a HIPAA form.  However, should you ever become incapacitated and unable to authorize the release of your medical information, problems can arise.  But with this form, it allows your loved ones to be informed about your medical condition and who can then assist to managing and directing care for you.
 
Here's another example of the importance of a HIPAA document:
Imagine you were overseas on a business trip and a close friend calls and says your son was in a car accident and was taken to the hospital. When you frantically call the hospital to inquire about his condition, the nurse tells you that she cannot legally give you that information. Because he was an adult, the hospital needed authorization from your son that specifies those persons to whom the hospital could release information. Feeling helpless, you could only worry and stress as you travel back home to your son.

In planning for the future, make sure to have this form executed and include it with your other important health care documents in your estate plan portfolio.  Yo
u would want someone you trust to know and receive your medical condition and medical information to help care for you in case something were to happen to you.

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    About the Author

    Christine Chung, Esq.
    [email protected]
    949.529.1480

    Archives

    March 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    November 2018
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    March 2015
    January 2015
    September 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014

    Categories

    All
    Advance Health Care Directive
    Digital Assets
    Digital Property
    Estate Planning
    Estate Tax
    Fiduciary
    Guardian
    Health Care Power Of Attorney
    Income Taxes
    Joint Tenancy
    Living Trust
    Probate
    Trustee
    Wills

    RSS Feed

    View my profile on LinkedIn
Picture
Home | About Us | Attorneys | Virtual Services | Practice Areas | FAQs | Contact Us 

© 2018 Law Offices of Christine Chung. All rights reserved. Disclaimer/Privacy Notice
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Our Philosophy
    • Our Planning Process
    • Our Fees
  • Attorney
  • Virtual Services
  • Practice Areas
    • Estate Planning
    • Probate Administration
    • Trust Administration
  • Blog
  • FAQ
    • Estate Planning
    • Probate
    • Trust Administration
  • Contact Us