Do injured workers' in Arizona have to sign a medical authorization to release medical records?

Yes, an injured worker is generally required to sign medical releases. These releases are necessary to allow the defendants to obtain medical records, tests, or other information from any doctor or health care provider who has seen or treated the injured worker in connection with their industrial injury. This requirement is supported by A.R.S. § 23-908(C) and A.A.C. R20-5-131(G).

Regarding limitations on these authorizations:

• Privileged Information: Medical information from any source pertaining to conditions unrelated to the pending industrial claim shall remain privileged. This means that the scope of the authorization is limited to information relevant to the industrial injury.

• Specific Authorizations: While A.R.S. § 23-908(D) allows medical records essential to understanding the workers' compensation claim to be released by a physician without a medical authorization, many physicians still refuse to release records without specific authorization. Different health plans or entities, such as Cigna Health Plan or the Veterans Administration, may also require their own specific, often HIPAA-compliant, authorizations.

• Purpose of Records: Healthcare providers are obligated to provide legible medical documentation and reports that are sufficient for insurance carriers or self-insured employers to determine if treatment is being directed towards injuries sustained in an industrial accident or incident.