Q&A: Appointing new patient guardian

Q. If the guardian for an individual should change, does the new guardian need to sign a HIPAA form?

A. Yes. If a new guardian is appointed for a patient, he or she should be asked to sign any legal documents you keep on file for the patient, including a HIPAA authorization, to disclose health information and treatment consents.

Editor’s note: This question was answered by Mary D. Brandt, MBA, RHIA, CHE, CHPS. Brandt is a healthcare consultant specializing in healthcare regulatory compliance and operations improvement. She is also an advisory board member for BOH. This information does not constitute legal advice. Consult legal counsel for answers to specific privacy and security questions. Opinions expressed are those of the author and do not represent HCPro or ACDIS. Email your HIPAA questions to Editor Nicole Votta at nvotta@hcpro.com.