You’ve managed your child’s healthcare since birth. From wellness visits to sick care, emergency treatments to surgery, you’ve been there to support your child, consult with their providers and make decisions related to their care.

But the day your child turns 18, you no longer have the right to talk with providers about their health. And under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), you can’t access your adult child’s health information unless they explicitly grant permission.

Today – National Healthcare Decisions Day – is the perfect time to talk about your child’s healthcare. To continue to be there for your child, open a conversation about important healthcare-related forms well before they turn 18. Help them understand that the forms will allow you to assist them in a medical emergency – but keep in mind that your child has the final say.

HIPAA Release Form

Even if your adult child seeks your help and advice with a healthcare concern, you can’t talk to their provider about it or view their online medical chart without their permission.

That’s where a HIPAA medical information release form can help. By completing and signing a HIPAA form, your child can name specific people and organizations who can receive and view their healthcare records.

A HIPAA release form is available in most providers’ offices. If your child would like you to talk with their providers and have access to their medical records, it’s best for them to sign a HIPAA release form with each provider that they see regularly.

That way, you can support your child as they make decisions about their care, even though the final choices are up to them.

Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare

No one wants to think about it, but what if something happens to your adult child – a car accident, a sudden and severe illness – that leaves them unable to make their own healthcare decisions? A durable power of attorney can ensure that an adult they trust manages their healthcare.

A durable power of attorney for healthcare is a legal form that authorizes an adult to make decisions about a person’s medical care if they are unable to do so themselves.

In Ohio, the state recognizes a priority order of decision makers for people who do not have a durable power of attorney (legal guardian, spouse, etc.). But a durable power of attorney for healthcare can reduce stress, confusion and potential conflicts surrounding your adult child’s care.

The designated adult (primary agent) is authorized to speak for your adult child ONLY if they are unable to make their own medical decisions. If you are the primary agent, be sure to talk with your child about their wishes and their feelings about issues such as life-sustaining treatments.

Living Will

A living will is a legal document containing a person’s wishes about medical treatment.

A living will describes what a person does want or does not want regarding life-sustaining treatment when they are permanently unconscious or terminally ill. Examples include CPR, ventilators and artificial nutrition and hydration.

If your child has a living will, the primary agent is obligated to follow it.

Both a durable power of attorney for healthcare and a living will are called advance directives. Once your adult child has signed them, they should give a copy of each document to their healthcare providers, hospital, the person named in their durable power of attorney and anyone else they feel needs to know their wishes.

Advance directives can be changed at any time; it simply requires completing and signing new forms.

Don’t forget to talk to your parents, either. Everyone aged 18 and older should have advance directives – both for their own peace of mind and to help their loved ones know what to do in an emergency.

For more information on advance directives, visit the Joint Commission website.

Sources:
Joint Commission
Mass Mutual
National Institute on Aging
Ohio Legal Help
Triage Health