HIPAA Release Lawyer
Estate planning attorneys can prepare many documents that protect you during your lifetime, as well as documents to make things easier for loved ones when you pass away. One document that is important to have during your lifetime is a HIPAA release or similar privacy authorization form.
Every adult should have this document ready and ensure that family members know where to find it. At the Law Office of Cameron H.P. White, P.A., we can prepare the right authorization forms to protect you in a wide variety of situations.
What is HIPAA and How Does it Affect Me?
HIPAA is an acronym that refers to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. This law created nationwide standards to protect patients’ medical information from being disclosed without their consent.
While it preserves patient privacy, however, by limiting access to records it also can create problems when you are in an emergency situation or when health insurance coverage is provided by a family member’s employer. Doctors aren’t allowed to talk to your family about your condition unless you have expressly given them proper authorization to do so. Your loved ones can’t get your records and they can’t even help with insurance issues unless the right paperwork is on file somewhere.
For instance, young adults often remain on their parents’ insurance plans until they age out of the program. If your child has a problem with insurance through your employer, the insurance company will not let you help unless your child provides appropriate formal authorization.
Even more critical, if you have an advance directive authorizing someone to make medical decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated, doctors may refuse to communicate with that person if you have not provided proper authorization ahead of time. Critical treatment could be delayed or denied while someone tries to figure out how to comply with legal requirements.
What a HIPAA Release Form Does in Florida
A HIPAA release form, when it is written properly, will allow someone you trust to communicate with doctors, pharmacies, insurance companies, nursing homes, and others about your medical needs, condition, and related issues. The form must contain specific language to comply with the federal requirements or providers will not accept it.
We can prepare a document that allows the person you choose to access records and talk to health care professionals about your condition and needs. With a HIPAA release, your records are still protected, but individuals you trust can help you in a time of need.
A HIPAA Release is One Part of a Complete Plan to Protect Your Health Care Needs
In addition to a HIPAA release, you should also have two other legal documents that are often referred to as advance directives. These documents give someone you trust authority to make decisions for you if you are not able to communicate with doctors due a condition. They also tell doctors in advance the types of treatment you would want (or want to avoid) in certain situations.
The Law Office of Cameron H.P. White Can Ensure You Have the HIPAA Authorization You Need
Taking the time to prepare one simple document now can save a world of trouble—or even your life—in the future. If an emergency strikes, your loved ones will be able to assist if you have the right HIPAA authorization ready to use.
At the Law Office of Cameron H.P. White, P.A., we can not only prepare HIPAA authorization but also ensure that you know how to distribute and store copies so that the necessary people have access quickly. Contact our team today to protect yourself with this critical document.