During the administration of a special needs trust, the trustee has many responsibilities. Often, there will be multiple tasks relating to the medical treatment provided to the beneficiary. In order to make the administration process easier on the trustee, it is important to obtain HIPAA releases before making payment to these health care providers. It can often be more difficult to obtain the releases after payment has already been made.
5 Reasons to Obtain HIPAA Releases During the Administration of a Special Needs Trust
Why is it important to obtain HIPAA releases from health care providers during the administration of a special needs trust? The following are five reasons:
- A HIPAA release may be required in order to access billing records or make arrangements for payments.
- A HIPAA release is required in order for the trustee to know whether the beneficiary is showing up for appointments.
- A HIPAA release is required for the trustee to know whether the beneficiary is engaging with the health care provider.
- A HIPAA release is required for the trustee to learn whether the beneficiary is following the health care provider’s recommendations.
- A HIPAA release is required for the trustee to understand whether the beneficiary is making progress.
It is important to note that the trustee does not need to know the particular details of the sessions with the health care providers. Instead, the trustee just needs certain information in order to determine whether payments for the treatments should continue.
Understanding how best to administer a special needs trust is not an easy process. Fortunately, we are here to help. Contact us today at (714) 282-7488 for more information.
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