A Release of Information (ROI) form is a legal document used to obtain a person's consent to disclose their personal information, typically in healthcare, legal, or business contexts. In healthcare, it is commonly used to release medical records or protected health information (PHI) to authorized parties, such as another provider, an insurance company, or a legal representative.
Key points to understand about an ROI form
- Consent for disclosure: The ROI form allows an individual to provide written consent for their information to be shared with others. The individual can decide what information is shared, with whom, and for what purpose.
- Legal and ethical considerations: The ROI form is designed to comply with privacy laws like the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) for healthcare-related data. The form ensures that the release of information is legally valid, providing documentation that the person was informed about the disclosure.
- Specificity of information: The form should specify exactly what information is being released. For example, if a person is authorizing the release of medical records, the form will detail whether it includes all records or just certain documents, such as test results or diagnosis notes.
- Recipient details: The form identifies the party or parties to whom the information will be disclosed. This can include healthcare providers, insurance companies, attorneys, or other entities.
- Timeframe for release: Often, the ROI form will specify a timeframe or event after which the authorization will expire. For instance, a medical provider may be authorized to release records for 6 months, or until a specific legal case is resolved.
- Revocation of authorization: The form generally includes a clause that allows the individual to revoke consent at any time.
- Patient rights and understanding: The individual signing the form must understand their rights and the implications of authorizing the release of their information, including granting permission and asking for copies of their records.
- Limitations on redisclosure: The form typically includes a clause stating that once information is shared, the recipient cannot re-disclose it to others without additional consent from the individual, unless required by law.
See also: Collect patient data securely with Paubox Forms
Types of information released via ROI forms
The ROI form can disclose various types of personal and sensitive data. These include:
- Medical records: A patient requesting that their doctor send medical records to a new provider.
- Educational records: A student may use an ROI form to allow a school to release academic transcripts to a potential employer or another school.
- Financial information: Individuals may authorize the release of financial records, such as tax returns or bank statements, to creditors or financial institutions.
- Legal information: A person may authorize the release of legal documents, like case files or evidence, to their lawyer or to another involved party.
See also: Information disclosure under the minimum necessary standard
FAQs
Do I have to sign an ROI form each time I want my information shared?
Typically, you will need to sign a new ROI form for each release of information, especially if the release involves different recipients or purposes. Some organizations may offer general authorization, but these are less common.
What are my rights if I feel my information was released without consent?
If you believe your information was disclosed without your consent, you have the right to file a complaint with the organization involved, and in the case of medical information, you can also file a complaint with regulatory bodies such as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under HIPAA.
See also: Using HIPAA forms to file a complaint
Tshedimoso Makhene
