Client Confidentiality & Informed Consent

Understanding Minor Consent and Confidentiality in Health Care in Oregon

The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) Reproductive Health (RH) Program and Adolescent & School Health (ASH) Program are pleased to share Understanding Minor Consent and Confidentiality in Health Care in Oregon. This document summarizes state statutes, federal laws and regulations related to minor consent and confidentiality in health care settings. Topics include consent for specific health care services, confidentiality and privacy, and disclosure and information sharing.

This resource is geared toward providers in clinical settings, however parents/guardians, youth workers, and minors may use this document as a reference for understanding and maximizing minor confidentiality and privacy as it relates to health care.

The document is available in

Spanish,
Traditional Chinese,
Simplified Chinese,
Russian, and
Vietnamese.

Questions? Please contact the Adolescent & School Health Program adolescent.program@odhsoha.oregon.gov or Reproductive Health Program rh.program@odhsoha.oregon.gov.

Private Insurance and Clients' Right to Privacy

Oregon law guarantees clients the right to have their protected health information sent directly to them instead of to the person who pays for your health insurance plan (the primary account holder).

Clients can make the request for their information to be sent directly to them a number of different ways:

Email
Telephone
At a different mailing address

To make this request, the client needs to complete, sign, and send the Oregon Request for Confidential Communication form to their insurer. It can be sent by mail, fax, or email. Clients should contact their insurance company to find out where to send the form. Clients can find more information about this request process on the Department of Consumer and Business Services' Patient right to privacy webpage.

Please note that requests made by mail may take up to 30 days to process, and requests made electronically may take up to 7 days to process.

See information for health care providers about the Oregon Request for Confidential Communication.

Informed Consent Resources

For sample informed consent forms and informed consent language please see our Sample Policies, Protocols, Forms, and other Clinic Materials page.