What Are HIPAA Forms?

In short, a HIPAA form is legal paperwork that allows an individual to access your healthcare information as well as having the ability to provide this information to other 3rd parties or groups.  This individual can be anyone from a doctor, a health provider, or even an attorney. Generally, the information that is shared can be anything from medical records, drug or alcohol treatment, or anything along those lines that pertains to a particular topic regarding individuals' health.  

Since you are allowing another individual to access your health information, there are some levels of protection on information that cannot be accessed such as private information regarding your address, social, or anything that is not related directly to your health.

What Isn't Protected Under HIPAA Authorizations?

While this is a short list, there are a variety of circumstances that may require a healthcare provider to provide information to federal, state, or local authorities. While this is a rare occurrence the most frequent circumstance might be if you were to contract a highly contagious disease, a doctor/ health care provider would be obligated to inform the necessary 3rd parties in an effort to contain and control the spread. 

Common Questions Relating to HIPAA Forms 

Below is a brief F.A.Q. on important HIPAA questions to better inform you on how and what a HIPAA form does!

 

Q: How long does a HIPAA authorization form stay active?

 

A: HIPAA forms can be valid indefinitely unless an expiration date is stated clearly on the form. It can be revoked immediately if a written form is provided to cease the validity of the form, although this does not disallow the 3rd party from sharing relevant information while the form was active.

 

Q: What can make a HIPAA form invalid?

 

A: There are a variety of reasons why a HIPAA form may be classified as invalid, below is a list of the most common reasons for a HIPAA form to become invalid, or ineffective.

•    Form has expired (HIPAA authorizations do not expire unless an expiration date has been provided on the form)
•    Form was not completed correctly
•    Form is missing important elements
•    Form has been revoked directly by the patient
•    Form has falsified or misleading information

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Protect Yourself & Your Assets When Planning For Late-Stage Panning

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Late-stage life planning is essential to have at any age, whether you are 30 or 65 it is hard to predict when you will need these protections most. By planning early, you are not only protecting everything that you have worked so hard for, but you are protecting your loved ones by ensuring them some sort of financial security upon your passing. For more information on estate planning, please visit our Estate Planning page.

 

If you have any specific questions or concerns regarding the asset protection process, please reach out to Attorney Andrew Bucklin at 781-632-8675 or contact him directly on his website.

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