What is a HIPAA Authorization?

HIPAA stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 which was passed by Congress in order to protect your private medical information from being disclosed to anyone without your express written consent.

This law prevents your doctors and nurses from telling anyone, even your spouse and children, anything about you or your medical condition. Because the fines, penalties and prison terms which can be assessed for violations of this law are so severe, healthcare professions such a nursing homes have been known to refuse to tell loved ones when their spouse or parent have been rushed to the hospital due to a medical emergency. Everyone should have a HIPAA Authorization which lists their spouse and all children as authorized recipients of privileged healthcare information so your doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals can freely talk to them about your medical condition.