Authorization for Disclosure
A written authorization signed by the individual permitting a covered entity to use or disclose PHI for a purpose not otherwise permitted by the Privacy Rule.
1 min read · Last reviewed May 23, 2026
At a glance
- Category
- HIPAA & Privacy
- Primary sources
- 3
- Workspace handoff
- templates →
Where this comes up
Privacy officers and practice managers handle this — patient rights requests, accounting of disclosures, BAA reviews with new vendors, breach risk assessments after an incident, and OCR responses when a complaint lands. The 60-day breach-notification clock starts at discovery, not at investigation close.
Full definition
What it is in practice
45 CFR 164.508 specifies the elements: description of PHI, identification of recipients, purpose, expiration, right to revoke, signature, date. Authorizations are required for marketing, sale of PHI, and most disclosures of psychotherapy notes.
How it shows up in your practice
Many record requests from third parties (attorneys, employers, life insurers) need authorizations. Train staff to inspect every authorization for the required elements before releasing PHI.
Sources
- 45 CFR 164.502 — Uses and disclosures of PHIhttps://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/section-164.502
- HHS — Authorization for Use or Disclosure of PHIhttps://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/privacy/guidance/authorizations/index.html
- HHS — HIPAA Privacy Rulehttps://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/privacy/index.html
Use the HIPAA authorization form template
Open templates →Related terms
- HIPAA & PrivacyHIPAA Privacy RuleThe federal regulation at 45 CFR Part 164 Subpart E that governs the use and disclosure of PHI.
- HIPAA & PrivacyPsychotherapy NotesNotes recorded by a mental health professional documenting or analyzing a counseling session, separated from the rest of the individual's medical record.
- DocumentationRelease of Information (ROI)The process of disclosing patient records to authorized parties pursuant to a valid authorization or other permitted purpose.
D3rx is a healthcare-billing and compliance research aid maintained by D3rx Inc. Articles are drafted by an LLM (Anthropic Claude) against primary HHS, OCR, CMS, eCFR, NIST, and state-regulator publications, and reviewed for restraint and source fidelity by the D3rx team.
Reviewer status: a named credentialed reviewer (CHC, CHPC, or healthcare attorney) is being engaged. Until that engagement is finalized, this page does not claim credentialed review.
Related across the archive
- GlossaryHIPAA Privacy RuleThe federal regulation at 45 CFR Part 164 Subpart E that governs the use and disclosure of PHI.
- GlossaryPsychotherapy NotesNotes recorded by a mental health professional documenting or analyzing a counseling session, separated from the rest of the individual's medical record.
- GlossaryRelease of Information (ROI)The process of disclosing patient records to authorized parties pursuant to a valid authorization or other permitted purpose.
- GlossaryAccounting of DisclosuresThe HIPAA right of an individual to receive a list of disclosures of their PHI made by a covered entity over the prior six years.
- GlossaryAmendment of PHIThe HIPAA right of an individual to request that a covered entity amend PHI in a designated record set.
- RegulationHIPAA Accounting of Disclosures (45 CFR 164.528)Individuals may request an accounting of disclosures of their PHI made by a covered entity in the prior six years, with a defined list of exclusions.
- BillingBusiness Associate Agreement Checklist for Small PracticesA working checklist for small practices to identify which vendors need a Business Associate Agreement, what clauses the BAA must contain, and how to track them.
- SRAHIPAA Patient Right of Access: A Small-Practice WalkthroughHow 45 CFR 164.524 governs patient access to their records, the 30-day rule and 30-day extension, the limited fees a practice may charge, and the OCR Right of Access Initiative.
This glossary entry is a research aid for billing and compliance staff. It does not provide legal, medical, or financial advice and does not replace counsel. References cited link to primary sources at HHS, OCR, CMS, eCFR, NIST, and the relevant payer or industry body.