HIPPA privacy law and Student Health

<p>Does anyone know where to find generic HIPAA waivers online? How about state specific sample waivers? I understand that California laws are even more protective of privacy because of leaks about celebraties’ medical problems.</p>

<p>On a lighter note- when son had to see his health service for a resp infection last winter he reported the unpleasant details of his vomiting into someone’s flowerpot and garbage can on his way walking there. It was nice that he told his physician parents the details of his medical care (good) but we could have done without some of the graphic details of his trip. We also gleaned some info from the insurance company’s mailing of charges’ coverage for medications.</p>

<p>Does anyone have any experience with Immediate Alert? <a href=“https://www.immediatealert.com/index.htm[/url]”>https://www.immediatealert.com/index.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>I doubt you’ll find a generic HIPAA waiver - I’d imagine that each health care system or provider will have their own procedures for a patient to decide who gets their information. And CA’s privacy laws don’t deal with how information can be released with the patient’s consent or anything like that - they just make requirements about storage, reporting of breaches, etc.</p>

<p>This exact thing happened to me…my child was brought by ambulance to hospital and I WAS NOT called…by hospital or my child (i guess he was afraid to call since he knew I would not be happy of the circumstances)… 3 years later I still have nightmares and imagine what he went through alone that night… btw …he is fine…made a very bad judment call that never happened again…oh how did i find out?? I was sent a hospital bill…lol…</p>

<p>Bumping this as I will be sending my oldest off to college this fall. I know multiple people who have had college freshman who required serious medical attention – including one mom who was not notified when her son was taken from his dorm by ambulance.</p>

<p>Anyone have experience or advice on the best way to make sure parents are notified and able to access info in the event of a medical issue?</p>

<p>This is a link to advance directives for the state of SC. They include a health care power of attorney. I’d be surprised if something similar weren’t available for each state. </p>

<p>[Living</a> Will and Power of Attorney](<a href=“http://aging.sc.gov/legal/Pages/LivingWillAndPowerOfAttorney.aspx]Living”>Homepage | GetCareSC)</p>

<p>Hope this helps!</p>

<p>It’s HIPAA, not HIPPA. It stands for Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.</p>

<p>At orientation, this subject usually comes up. Bottom line is you need to discuss this with your child and have him sign a waiver which allows you access to his medical records and/or sets forth conditions of parental notification. Certainly look at individual policies of your university and make sure your name is on record for emergencies and that this information is easily accessible via your child’s phone and wallet. If he is off campus, you want your number easily found.</p>

<p>The universities must follow the law. They can’t just decide that since Mom and Dad are paying the bills that they are entitled to health information or are entitled to make decisions for the child, even though most adult children would agree that this is the case, especially in an emergency. There are serious penalties for violating the privacy of patients, so it is up to the adult child and parent to make sure that the patient’s wishes are followed. In the absence of any written waiver, HIPAA will be the default.</p>

<p>Good thread, though. I need to address this with D2 as well, as she is 18 now.</p>

<p>Here is what I did, and it was because of this thread that I did it:</p>

<p>Typed up a HIPAA compliant (I hope) form, variations of which were all over the internet.</p>

<p>Filled it out with this statement, “I authorize the release of any and all healthcare information to the above persons (my parents) if I am temporarily or permanently unable to verbally authorize such release due to illness, injury or incapacity.” I also checked the boxes which authorized the release of STD results and drug/alcohol/mental health treatment, which are part of the standard form.</p>

<p>Son signed the authorization form, got a witness to co-sign, *but NOT DATE * the form. The reason for this is that some places say the authorization will only be good for six months after the signature. If I ever need to use the form, I will add a date.</p>

<p>I promised son I would not use this form unless he was not able to tell me his condition himself, and I will honor that. </p>

<p>It doesn’t solve the problem of making sure someone notifies me if he is hurt at college, but at least I will be able to get an answer from the doctor/hospital once I find out.</p>

<p>^^^^I don’t think I would have wanted to check the one authorizing my parents access to information about STDs, but I was a very private person at that age. </p>

<p>Would this form need to be notarized in order for the releasing authorities to be sure your son was actually the one signing, i.e. truly authorizing release of his sensitive medical information?</p>

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<p>I just navigated D2’s school web site, and they have a manual there detailing the steps taken in various emergency scenarios. Under emergency hospitalizations, alcohol poisonings, and potential suicidal behavior, it states that part of their protocol is informing family. In fact, informing family is found under numerous scenarios. Under the various privacy laws which the university states it adheres to, I see the following:</p>

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<p>Have you looked to see if your school has a written policy addressing this issue?</p>

<p>At orientation recently, I remember this subject came up. The idea of signing over medical release to the parents was complicated by the fact that they need to make sure it is what the student really wants - and not something that is being coerced by the parents.</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.healthcare-information-guide.com/support-files/basic-hipaa-release-form.pdf[/url]”>http://www.healthcare-information-guide.com/support-files/basic-hipaa-release-form.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p><a href=“http://www.healthcare-information-guide.com/support-files/hipaa-release-form.pdf[/url]”>http://www.healthcare-information-guide.com/support-files/hipaa-release-form.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Are these forms adequate or are they supposed to be school specific? And does a local attorney need to be the one to witness this?</p>