When Does a HIPAA Form Need To Be Renewed?

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) makes it illegal for health care organizations to release patient information without the patient's consent. For patients to authorize the disclosure of their medical information they must sign HIPAA forms.

Changes

• If a patient wishes to add an individual, such as a spouse, to their HIPAA disclosure form, the renewed HIPAA form must be filled out and signed by the patient. HIPAA forms also are renewed when a patient wishes to remove an individual from their HIPAA release form. Patients must notify their medical provider to make the legal change.

Policy

• If the government issues addendums or amendments to the HIPAA policies, medical providers must update their HIPAA forms and ask all of their patients to resign them. This renewal process ensures that the patients receive copies of the new HIPAA forms and understand their rights as patients. All HIPAA documents must be maintained in the patients' medical records.

Office Procedures

• Some medical offices have procedures in place to renew HIPAA forms with their patients annually, as a way of making sure that patients are reminded about HIPAA regulations and standards.