<p>My daughter is 19, so the last time she went to the doctor for a check-up and standard blood work they would only give her the results over the phone (would not talk to me). This was over the summer when she was home (not at school). This got me thinking - we took care of her FERPA release with the school (they have a very easy standard on-line release that you fill out when you start freshman year) but do I need to do some kind of HIPAA release. (My husband has a HIPAA release on file for me at his doctor’s office.)</p>
<p>Should my daughter have signed a HIPAA release for me or her father with her regular doctor when she went for her check-up (I guess she can call and ask for one now)? Should she have some kind of HIPAA release at college with their health center? Should I just have some standard release form that I keep? How does it work in case of emergencies - on campus and off (what constitutes an emergency)?</p>
<p>There is a difference between listing parents as emergency contacts, and providing a HIPAA waiver that would give you rights to receive all medical information about your D. </p>
<p>I would never ask to get access to medical information about an adult child. I wanted my kids to have full access to psychological and medical support at college without wondering if their mom was looking over their shoulder. </p>
<p>It’s your D’s decision though. If she’s comfortable with it, she can amend her medical records to allow you access, but she has to do it in person. Can’t be done over the phone. </p>
<p>I’m not sure how emergency contacts work with colleges, but I suspect that if your D were taken to an ER and she’s not conscious, the emergency contact automatically would kick in. If she’s conscious, they probably just ask her who should be notified. This is how non-college hospitals work.</p>
<p>Her doctor should have a form that she signs indicating which methods of contact they can make (can they leave a message on a voice mail, can they email etc.) and also who protected health information can be released to. </p>
<p>It should have been part of the huge pile of paperwork they had her sign when she joined the practice or they joined the HIPAA compliant world.</p>
<p>She joined the practice as a minor, so I would have signed those forms as her guardian and all those forms are now void since she is no longer a minor. What they neglected to do was give her a new stack of forms when she turned 18. I guess the next time she goes, she should ask to complete all the patient information forms as an adult.</p>
<p>I did verify that her emergency contact information at college is up-to-date.</p>
<p>So if my boys have me listed at their pediatrician (she sees her patients through college) and they end up at an emergency room unconscious do I just have the pediatrician somehow fax the ER that document? I have always wondered how this is supposed to work!</p>
<p>I have been authorized by my kids and H to talk about their bills and medical issues. I would never nose around about their med providers and conditions unless they want me to. This allows us me to troubleshoot with insurer and providers. I got HIPPA authorization with their U med center and all their providers. </p>
<p>Most recently, have also appointed to help with Medicare issues as they arise. This has helped me unsnarl the confusion so providers can be paid. They are playing keep away between the providers and Medicare and insurer. Hopefully I have finally unsnarled all of it. </p>
<p>It has come in handy as we have has issues getting reimbursement and I have ended up getting these things resolved. It’s all a matter if trust–if there is mutual trust, authorizing someone is just appointing a troubleshooter.</p>
<p>Had to get H and S and D sign forms with insurer, authorizing me to speak with them too. I believe I also signed form authorizing H to speak with insurer for me.</p>
<p>HIPPA is a PITA wrt college students who are on your insurance. I’ve gone so far as to say I’m her when I call the insurance co to deal with a claim, because they don’t have a HIPPA on file.</p>
<p>Depends on insurer–I have said I’m my daughter and my mom, as needed to help get their claims and payments straightened out. I have not tried to pretend to be H or my dad or S–yet. Yesterday, I had to go on-line to give myself permission to help untangle H’s Medicare mess because they didn’t have on record that I could speak with them on his behalf. I went on-line and completed the form and called back in 5 minutes. Hopefully it will FINALLY get straightened out. It’s been a mess since January. </p>
<p>Our HIPPA for our kids with our local medical insurer has been on record. It has also been on record with their university, so we’ve been able to straighten out their bills.</p>