Texas Health and Safety Code - HEALTH & SAFETY § 241.152. Written Authorization for Disclosure of Health Care Information

(a) Except as authorized by Section 241.153, a hospital or an agent or employee of a hospital may not disclose health care information about a patient to any person other than the patient or the patient's legally authorized representative without the written authorization of the patient or the patient's legally authorized representative.

(b) A disclosure authorization to a hospital is valid only if it:

(c) A disclosure authorization is valid until the 180th day after the date it is signed unless it provides otherwise or unless it is revoked.

(d) Except as provided by Subsection (e), a patient or the patient's legally authorized representative may revoke a disclosure authorization to a hospital at any time. A revocation is valid only if it is in writing, dated with a date that is later than the date on the original authorization, and signed by the patient or the patient's legally authorized representative.

(e) A patient or the patient's legally authorized representative may not revoke a disclosure that is required for purposes of making payment to the hospital for health care provided to the patient.

(f) A patient may not maintain an action against a hospital for a disclosure made by the hospital in good-faith reliance on an authorization if the hospital's medical record department did not have notice that the authorization was revoked.

(g) Repealed by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 498, § 5, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.