Medical
Medical Records Release Form
A medical records release form (HIPAA authorization) is the document you sign to authorize a provider to share your protected health information with a specific person or organization. It names who may release records, who may receive them, what information is covered, the purpose, and an expiration date.
Under HIPAA, a provider must act on your records request within 30 calendar days, with one possible 30-day extension if they notify you in writing of the delay.
Written & maintained by the Granite team · Last updated June 2026
Overview
You complete a release form to direct a doctor, hospital, or clinic to send your records — to a new provider, an attorney, an insurer, or yourself. Under HIPAA, providers generally can't share your records without this signed authorization, which is why it's the gateway to moving your medical history.
The form is specific by design: it limits what's shared, with whom, and for how long. Once you submit a valid request, a provider must act on it within 30 calendar days (with one possible 30-day extension). A clear, complete authorization speeds the transfer; a vague or expired one gets bounced back.
When you’ll get your Medical Records Release Form
- You're switching doctors and need your records transferred
- You're sending records to a specialist or for a second opinion
- An attorney or insurer needs your medical records for a claim
- You're requesting a copy of your own records
- You're authorizing records for a disability or benefits application
What’s on your Medical Records Release Form
These are the fields Granite reads and extracts automatically the moment you upload one.
- Patient Name
- The person whose records are being released.
- Releasing Provider
- The doctor, hospital, or clinic authorized to share the records.
- Recipient
- The person or organization authorized to receive the records.
- Information Covered
- Which records the authorization applies to (and any sensitive categories included or excluded).
- Purpose
- Why the records are being released.
- Expiration Date
- When the authorization lapses and can no longer be used.
How long to keep it
Keep a copy of every signed release at least 6 years (the HIPAA documentation standard).
A signed authorization is the record of who you allowed to access your health information and when. Keeping each copy protects you if there's ever a question about whether a disclosure was authorized — and HIPAA itself requires covered entities to retain such documentation for six years from creation or the date it was last in effect.
How Granite handles your Medical Records Release Form
Granite reads a medical records release — patient, releasing provider, recipient, scope, purpose, and expiration — and files it with your medical documents. You keep a clear record of every disclosure you've authorized, so when records move between providers, attorneys, or insurers, you can prove exactly what you allowed and when, all in one place.
FAQ
Medical Records Release Form: common questions
- What is the easiest way to get medical records?
- The fastest route is your provider's online patient portal, where many records are available to view or download instantly. For records not in the portal, or to send them to someone else, submit a written request — often a medical records release form. Under HIPAA, the provider must act on your request within 30 calendar days.
- How do I transfer my medical records to a new doctor?
- Complete and sign a medical records release form authorizing your current provider to send records to the new one. Most practices have their own form; you specify the recipient, the records covered, and the purpose. The releasing provider then transfers the records, sometimes for a reasonable copying fee, within HIPAA's 30-day window.
- Can I view my own medical records online?
- Yes. HIPAA gives you the right to inspect and get a copy of your medical and billing records, and most providers offer a patient portal where you can view results, visit notes, and history online. For records not posted to the portal, you can request a copy directly, which the provider must act on within 30 days.
- Why does releasing medical records require a signed form?
- HIPAA protects your health information and generally prohibits providers from sharing it without your written authorization. The release form is that authorization — it's specific about who gets what and for how long, ensuring your records only go where you've explicitly allowed and giving you a record of each disclosure.
- How long should I keep a signed records release?
- Keep a copy of each signed release at least six years — the documentation standard HIPAA uses. It's your proof of exactly what you authorized, to whom, and when, which protects you if a disclosure is ever questioned or you need to confirm what information was shared and why.
Sources
This page is checked against primary and authoritative sources:
Keep your Medical Records Release Form in one place.
Drop it in once. Granite reads it, files it, and makes it findable forever — by you today, and by the people who'll need it later.