Asking for a Friend - What is the difference between a Health Care Proxy and HIPAA?

July 17, 2023

Question:

What is the difference between a Health Care Proxy and HIPAA?

Answer:

  • A Health Care Proxy tells your medical team that someone else can make decisions about your care if you are not able to do so.

  • HIPAA stands for Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. This act mandates how your health information is protected and who it can be disclosed to.

So basically, one is about making decisions, and one is about getting your records information. We often see the two documents combined into one anymore, but not always.


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