Purpose
Describe the specific reasons PHI will be used or disclosed, for example care coordination, payment, or research authorization; avoid open-ended language.
A clear HIPAA Statement documents consent, reduces ambiguity about permitted disclosures, and supports regulatory recordkeeping. It helps organizations demonstrate reasonable safeguards and the minimum-necessary principle under HIPAA.
Healthcare providers, privacy officers, and third-party vendors commonly prepare and rely on HIPAA Statements to document patient consent and data handling commitments.
Properly executed statements help downstream teams (billing, analytics, care coordination) act within documented permissions and reduce legal and operational risk.
Responsible for reviewing and approving statement language, ensuring it matches organizational policies, and maintaining records for audits and breach investigations.
A patient, personal representative, or an organizational official with delegated signing authority who provides consent or acknowledges receipt, creating a record of authorization.
Describe the specific reasons PHI will be used or disclosed, for example care coordination, payment, or research authorization; avoid open-ended language.
Specify categories of PHI (e.g., treatment notes, lab results, imaging) to limit disclosures to what is necessary for the purpose.
Name organizations or classes of recipients who may receive PHI, and state whether redisclosure is permitted or restricted.
State an effective date and termination or expiration conditions, including automatic expiration or event-based end points.
Explain how the individual can revoke consent, any exceptions, and the effect of revocation on prior disclosures.
Include signer name, relationship to patient (if applicable), signature, and date to document attribution and intent to sign.
| Field | Configuration |
|---|---|
| Authentication | Email link or SMS code; use multi-factor for higher assurance |
| Consent disclosure | Present ESIGN consumer disclosure where applicable |
| BAA status | Confirm BAA with any third-party recipient prior to sharing PHI |
| Audit trail | Enable timestamp, IP, and action logs for each signer |
Ensure the chosen platform supports the authentication, encryption, and audit capabilities required for PHI and HIPAA compliance.
Verify platform compliance, available BAAs, and integration paths with EHR or document management systems before live use.
6 years from creation or last effective date (45 CFR §164.530(j))
Financial records retained minimum 3 years (IRC §6501(a))
Provide recipient and IRS copies by statutory deadlines (see IRS reporting rules)
Retain 3 years after hire or 1 year after termination (8 CFR §274a.2)
If used, retain audio-video recordings per state RON rules (typically 5–10 years)
| signNow | DocuSign | Adobe Sign | PandaDoc | HelloSign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $8/user/mo | $15/user/mo | $14/user/mo | $19/user/mo | $15/user/mo |
| Free Trial | 7-day free trial | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bulk Send | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Audit Trail | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| HIPAA Compliant | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Envelope Cap | No envelope cap | 100 envelopes/user/year | Varies by plan | Varies by plan | Varies by plan |
John Butler, Founder, documented patient authorizations during intake to standardize disclosures across clinics.
Tim Martin, Founder, used a standardized statement for fitness-for-duty and accommodation disclosures.