Certified Medical Administrative Assistants (CMAA) Practice Exam

The document that must be signed to disclose protected health information is the authorization form. This form is essential because it grants permission from the patient to release their protected health information (PHI) to designated individuals or entities. According to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the patient's consent must be obtained before their PHI can be accessed or shared, ensuring the privacy and confidentiality of their personal health data. While other forms, such as confidentiality agreements or release of information forms, may involve handling patient information, they do not specifically provide the necessary legal permission to disclose PHI as outlined by HIPAA regulations. The informed consent form is typically focused on ensuring that a patient understands the risks and benefits of a procedure or treatment rather than the release of health information. Therefore, the authorization form is formally recognized as the necessary document for this purpose.