What you need to know about adolescent/teenager (teen) accounts

What is the difference among minor, teen, and adult accounts in the patient portal?

At Mayo Clinic, accounts for patients include:

What is “proxy access”?

“Proxy access” is often referred to as “caregiver access” or “authorized user access.” Proxy access allows someone else (such as grandparents, parents, guardians, spouses, adult children, caregivers, or friends) to have access to another patient’s portal account. Those with proxy access may view the patient’s health information in the patient portal (sometimes full access, sometimes limited).

Adult Mayo Clinic patients can request caregiver/authorized user access through the Mayo Clinic Patient Portal, or they can call Mayo Clinic Customer Assistance at 877-858-0398 or 507-538-3879. Caregiver access allows them to help manage the care of another Mayo Clinic patient, including minor children or adult individuals for whom they provide care (such as an older parent or adult family member). With caregiver access, the authorized user can view the health information of the patient with appropriate permissions in the patient portal.

What if the caregiver is not a Mayo Clinic patient?

When a caregiver is not a Mayo Clinic patient, the caregiver should call Mayo Clinic Customer Assistance at 877-858-0398 or 507-538-3879. A signed authorization from the adult patient or other legal document may also be required.

What types of caregiver access are allowed? What forms must an adult caregiver complete?

There are three types of caregiver access: full access, special access, and limited access.

1. To receive full caregiver access for an adult patient’s portal account, the adult patient must complete and sign the “Authorization to Disclose Protected Health Information to Family and Friends: Adult Patient” (form MC0072-94). This form allows full access to the adult patient’s account. The form also allows the adult caregivers to speak with the adult patient’s healthcare team about that patient’s health. Other legal documentation may be required.

   The adult patient must sign and date this form. If the patient is incapable of signing, a legally authorized substitute may sign and date the form. This authorization will not expire unless revoked by the patient, the patient’s legal representative, or upon notification of death.

2. To receive full special caregiver access (also called “special teen proxy”), the teen’s parents/guardians must speak with the teen’s Mayo Clinic healthcare clinician. The teen’s clinician must establish that special access is appropriate (for example, the teen has limited cognitive ability, diminished decision-making capacity, or there are other extenuating medical circumstances that require special caregiver involvement). If the teen’s Mayo Clinic clinician determines that the parents/guardians should have full access to the teen’s health information, the clinician will enter this information into the patient’s electronic health record.

3. To receive full and/or limited caregiver access for a minor or a teenage patient’s portal account, the “Authorization to Disclose Protected Health Information to Family and Friends: Minor Child” (form MC0072-95) must be completed. This form allows limited or full access, depending on the age of the child/teen. The form allows an adult caregiver other than the parents to speak with the minor/teen patient’s healthcare team about that patient’s health. Other legal documentation may be required.

   The parent/guardian must sign and date this form — not the minor/teenager. This authorization expires after one year, upon the child’s 18th birthday, or upon notification of death. Different from the Adult Patient authorization, the Minor Child authorization must be completed every year to remain in effect for the designated adult caregivers.

   Of note with MC0072-95:

   • This form grants either full or limited access to minor accounts (12 years or younger) and adolescent/teen accounts (13 to 17 years).
   • Parents do not need this form to receive full or “limited caregiver access” to their own child or teen’s patient portal account.
   • A parent/guardian cannot complete this form to gain full access to their teen’s account.
   • This form must be completed and signed every year to remain in effect.

What if parents/guardians of a teen complete form MC0072-95? Do they now have full access to their teen’s health information?

No. Once a child turns 13, parents/guardians will have what is known as “limited access” to their teen’s patient portal account, which is in line with applicable state and federal laws that protect teen privacy.

What is form MC0072-95 used for?

Form MC0072-95 is used to grant caregiver permissions to people other than parents or guardians of a minor or teen when necessary.

For example, a minor or teen may be living with grandparents for the summer, and the grandparents need access to the minor’s/teen’s health information. For a minor, the caregivers (in this case, the child’s grandparents) will have full caregiver access to the child’s medical information. For a teenager, the caregivers (the teen’s grandparents) would only have “limited caregiver access” to the teen’s medical information.

How do parents/guardians of a teen gain full access to the teen’s account?

As noted in other Q&As above, once a child turns 13, the parents’/guardians’ access will automatically switch to “limited caregiver access,” in line with applicable state and federal laws that protect teen privacy.

Unless the teen’s Mayo Clinic healthcare clinician decides that criteria have been met for the parents/guardians to have full “special caregiver access,” the adolescent/teen account will remain as “limited access” until the teen turns 18. At that time, the account will become an adult account. If so desired, the 18-year-old could complete and sign the “Authorization to Disclose Protected Health Information to Family and Friends: Adult Patient” (form MC0072-94). This form allows the parents/guardians full access to the adult account. The form also allows the parents/guardians to speak with the 18-year-old’s healthcare team about that patient’s health.