Understanding Who Can Access Your Health Information
White Eagle resident Sunita Patel explains HIPAA rules and what families need to know as children head to college and parents care for aging loved ones.
Welcome to our healthcare corner, the goal of this space is to empower our readers with knowledge and tips to support navigating our national healthcare system.
Many of you have children who are transitioning to college. With the change to college is a leap into the world as a legal adult. This can be a challenge to us parents as we quickly learn that we do not have the same access to our child's information.
Additionally, many of us are faced with caring for aging family members which has its own set of challenges that range from ensuring our own health care literacy to assisting our family members with their activities of daily living.
A common denominator for both populations is the ability to access their health care information. HIPAA is the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. It prevents unauthorized persons from accessing the health care information of another adult.
For parents with college bound children, please keep this in mind. Whether college students will grant their parents access to their health information is a decision for each family. Once your adult child is at college, you can exercise financial authority, but your access to your child's healthcare information will be determined by your child. I have three adult children and we decided to have standardized legal documentation in place for emergencies or other circumstances.
Caregivers, your loved one can sign paperwork at each provider’s office that gives you permission to receive health information both electronically and verbally. In my case, I have access to my dad’s health care chart. This is helpful if I have a medication-related question or questions for his providers.
Sunita’s Tip:
When your student attends college orientation, ask if there is a process for parents to have access to the student's healthcare information. Families should discuss appointing a healthcare power of attorney so that someone will always have access to the loved one's health information.
If you have further questions or have suggestions for future topics, please feel free to contact me at simplysunitashub@gmail.com.