Information About Laws Impacting Adolescent Health Care Access in California

CONFIDENTIALITY

Many laws and regulations impact the confidentiality of health information. The tools, charts, and forms on this page can be used to help understand these rules and determine whether, when and how different individuals can access an adolescent’s record.

CHARTS

Minor Consent and Confidentiality Laws: This chart summarizes all the situations in which a minor may consent on her own to health care in California and provides related information on confidentiality. (Current. Updated 2019)

FORMS

Confidential Communications Request FormThis form can be sent to your insurance company to have the insurer keep your health information from confidential your parents. For more information, see the “resources and research” page. (Current. Updated 2015)

TOOLS

Minor Consent, Confidentiality, and Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse in California: This document provides an overview of the pertinent federal and state medical consent, confidentiality and child abuse reporting laws that apply when adolescents seek health care services on their own from health providers in California. (Current. Updated 2016)

HIPAA or FERPA? A Primer on School Health Information Sharing in California: This resource provides essential information for navigating the interactions of HIPAA and FERPA in school health programs, including school health centers, school-based mental health programs, school nursing services, and other health services delivered on school campuses. (Current. Updated 2010)

Understanding Confidentiality and Minor Consent in CaliforniaThis adolescent provider toolkit, created by the Adolescent Health Working Group, includes legal information from the National Center for Youth Law and many tools created by providers and youth to help explain and use these rules in practice. (Current. Updated 2010)

Skip to content