HIPAA Authorization To Disclose Protected Health Information

Yes. A patient can revoke their HIPAA Release at any time for whatever reasons. They may fall out with the selected individual or divorce a spouse. In that case, signing a new HIPAA Release is the best option. Furthermore, a patient can authorize multiple people to have access to their medical records. This all depends on the individual signing a HIPAA Release.

Health specialists can communicate and share a patient’s medical information with a Releasing Party using different means of communication. However, confidentiality still must be in place. Therefore, doctors should use safeguards when using emails for communication.
That said, email communication isn’t prohibited, as long as correspondents take necessary precautions.

Although a patient might not have granted authorization to different doctors, they can still have access to a patient’s medical information. Sometimes, various specialists must be informed about a patient’s condition to provide them with the best care possible. Therefore, it’s essential they’re familiar with a patient’s medical information. As long as that’s in the patient’s best interest, disclosing information to other doctors isn’t prohibited.

Many patients think that if doctors call them out by their name in a waiting room, they’re violating HIPAA. In reality, things are somewhat different. HIPAA allows this kind of information release. There are some instances when a doctor should pay more attention to protect a patient’s confidentiality. This is the case when patients are in a fertility section, psychiatry, etc.

A patient may decide when they want their HIPAA Release to expire. However, if a patient dies, this document will stop being valid within a year. Furthermore, a patient can choose to revoke their HIPAA Release before the expiration date. But they must do so in writing.