50-16-527. Patient authorization -- retention -- effective period -- exception. (1) A health care provider shall retain each authorization or revocation in conjunction with any health care information from which disclosures are made.
     (2) Except for authorizations to provide information to third-party health care payors, an authorization may not permit the release of health care information relating to health care that the patient receives more than 6 months after the authorization was signed.
     (3) An authorization in effect on October 1, 1987, remains valid for 30 months after October 1, 1987, unless an earlier date is specified or it is revoked under 50-16-528. Health care information disclosed under such an authorization is otherwise subject to this part. An authorization written after October 1, 1987, becomes invalid after the expiration date contained in the authorization, which may not exceed 30 months. If the authorization does not contain an expiration date, it expires 6 months after it is signed.
     (4) Notwithstanding subsections (2) and (3), a signed claim for workers' compensation or occupational disease benefits authorizes disclosure to the workers' compensation insurer, as defined in 39-71-116, by the health care provider. The disclosure authorized by this subsection relates only to information concerning the claimant's condition. This authorization is effective only as long as the claimant is claiming benefits.

     History: En. Sec. 7, Ch. 632, L. 1987; amd. Sec. 13, Ch. 333, L. 1989.