Ohio Standard Release of Information Forms Must Now Be Accepted by State Health Care Providers
February 2019 ~
Effective February 2, two forms previously issued by the Ohio Department of Medicaid for the authorization of the release of medical information must be accepted by Ohio health care providers. According to the Department, the purpose of the rule is to improve care coordination for a patient across multiple providers by making it easier to share protected health information in a secure manner.
The Standard Authorization Form contains two separate forms. Form A is an authorization for release of information from covered entities under HIPAA. Form B is a consent for release of substance use disorder information from a “Part 2” program. A “Part 2” program includes practitioners or provider organizations that hold themselves out as providing, and provide, substance use disorder diagnosis, treatment or treatment referral. For more information see 42 CFR 2.11.
The forms, one for use with protected health information governed by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), as amended and one for use with information covered by 42 C.F.R. Part 2 (substance use disorder records), if properly executed by the patient (or patient representative, as applicable), must be accepted.
If the standardized authorization form is properly executed, and adequately identifies the individual, it will be accepted by any person or governmental entity in the state of Ohio as valid authorization for the use or disclosure of the individual’s protected health information to the persons or governmental entities specified in the form.
According to the fact sheet, the form is applicable to all covered entities in Ohio, and is not required to be used, but a properly executed form must be accepted by the receiving entity. The requirement to accept a properly executed form is applicable within 30 days of January 3, 2019, the effective date of the rule.
For more information, refer to the Ohio Department of Medicaid-Standard Authorization Form Fact Sheet.
Source(s): Ohio Department of Health; Ohio Department of Medicaid-Standard Authorization Form Fact Sheet; Lexology; Taft Law; Bricker & Eckler;