PROVIDENCE (April 12, 2016) – W. Parish Lentz was recently quoted by the Providence Journal in an article about a parent’s rights to access a child’s medical information after the age of 18 using a HIPAA authorization.
The article, written in the wake of Hasboro CEO Brian Goldner and his wife Barbara sharing the tragic story of their son Brandon’s overdose at the age of 23, highlighted steps that can be taken to obtain access to an adult child’s otherwise protected medical information. A child reaches legal adulthood at the age of 18, but many parents keep their children on their health insurance until they reach the age of 26, which is a right under the Affordable Care Act. This insurance coverage often helps adult children as they complete college and establish themselves on their own.
“[I]f a child heads off to college or moves away from home, parents may find themselves helpless to learn more when their children land in a hospital or when they get medical bills or health insurance claims. Parents, however, don’t have to feel helpless,” said Lentz. “There are legal documents that can be drawn up to protect their interests.”
Lentz, a partner at Barton Gilman, focuses his practice on estate and trust planning and administration. Recognizing the uncertainties and costs of court oversight, he makes every effort to ensure that estate plans reflect the goals of clients. Lentz received his J.D. from Northeastern University School of Law. He frequently presents on topics related to trusts and estates, including special considerations for parents with disabled children, and elder care strategies.
To learn more about obtaining a HIPAA authorization for your adult children, please contact Parish Lentz at plentz@bartongilman.com or at 401-273.7171.
About Barton Gilman
Barton Gilman is one of New England’s leading civil litigation law firms with offices in Boston and Providence. Its experienced trial attorneys appear regularly in the federal and state courts of Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut. The Providence Business News has named the firm one of Rhode Island’s Best Places to Work from 2008-2012 and again from 2014-2015.
