What is a HIPAA Authorization?

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a federal law prohibiting healthcare providers from disclosing your personal health information to third parties.  Healthcare providers take this law very seriously.  If a healthcare provider violates the privacy provisions of HIPAA, the law subjects them to civil and criminal penalties.  A HIPAA Authorization allows a healthcare provider to disclose your personal health information to third parties in compliance with federal law.

Why You Need a HIPAA Authorization?

Any person with a healthcare power of attorney needs a HIPAA Authorization.  See our Healthcare Power of Attorney article for more information on what a healthcare power of attorney does.  Your agent under a healthcare power of attorney generally has access to your healthcare information just like you would.  However, some healthcare providers may still refuse to disclose information to your agent fearing such a disclosure might violate the law.   It is wise to have a separate HIPAA authorization for your agent under a healthcare power of attorney to prevent such a problem.  You may want health care providers to share information with other family members or friends.  Without a HIPAA authorization, HIPAA prohibits healthcare providers from disclosing your health information to those individuals.