How to Request Medical Records for Someone in ADOC Custody (Authorization & Special Consent)

Being family isn't enough - ADOC won't release an incarcerated person's health records without proper authorization. You need the ADOC

The authorization stays valid for one year from the signature date. It can be revoked anytime, but that revocation must be submitted in writing to ADOC, the health contractor(s), or the institution. Keep in mind: if records were already released before the revocation, those disclosures can't be undone.

Expect to pay. State law allows ADOC to charge a reasonable fee for producing health records, so your request may come with copying or production costs depending on what you're asking for.

Special Consent Sensitive

• ✓ HIV (AIDS virus) testing, diagnosis, and/or treatment
• ✓ Sexually transmitted diseases testing, diagnosis, and/or treatment
• ✓ Psychiatric disorders/mental health information
• ✓ Drug and/or alcohol use treatment (including counseling/history)

The ADOC authorization form includes a section where you select what information should be released - and this is where special consent comes into play. If you want records involving sensitive categories, you must explicitly authorize each one: mental health reports or psychiatric summaries, drug and alcohol history and counseling, HIV status and treatment, or STD status and treatment. Leave these unchecked or unclear, and you'll likely only receive the non-sensitive portions of the medical file. Take a moment to match what you actually need to the form's options before signing.

1. Get the ADOC “Inmate Authorization for Release of Health Records” form - this is the required document ADOC uses for health-record releases.
2. Have the right person sign it - the signature must be the patient’s or the patient’s legally authorized representative.
3. Fill it out completely and specifically - list who should receive the records, and select the types of records you want released.
4. Add express consent where needed - if you need HIV/STD, psychiatric/mental health, or drug/alcohol treatment information, make sure those specific categories are clearly authorized on the form.
5. Send the signed authorization to the right place - the form allows revocation and processing through ADOC, the health contractor(s), or the institution, so submit it through the channel you’re instructed to use for that person’s records request.
6. Keep a copy and track dates - the authorization is valid for one year from the signature date, so note when it was signed and save a copy for your records.
7. Plan for revocation (if needed) - if you need to cancel permission later, revoke it in writing to ADOC, the health contractor(s), or the institution; understand that past disclosures made in reliance on the authorization aren’t reversed.