Which document must be signed by the patient in the MGC record to authorize information release?

• A. Sheets signed and dated by the patient
• B. Signed release of information
• C. Consent to treatment
• D. Authorization for disclosure

Answer: (B)

Releasing patient information requires a signed authorization. The form that formally allows disclosure is the release of information document. When the patient signs this form, it specifies what records may be shared, to whom they may be disclosed, the purpose of the disclosure, and the time frame. This protects privacy while enabling necessary sharing with other providers, insurers, or requested recipients. A generic sheet signed by the patient isn’t specific enough about what is released, to whom, or for what purpose. Consent to treatment covers agreeing to care, not the release of records. An authorization for disclosure is close in meaning, but the standard form used in the MGC record to authorize release is the signed release of information.