Medical POA question

Quilting brings calm

I had an interesting event happen yesterday. I took my mom to a pulmonologist appointment. A doctor she has seen several times. As usual, there was a form to sign while in the waiting room. I had mom sign it- consent for treatment and to bill the insurance. She signed her first name and I had to prompt her to sign her last name. When I handed the form to the clerk, I casually mentioned that I might have to start signing it. And that I had MPOA and DPOA.

The clerk actually stopped what she was doing and called up the scanned MPOA on her monitor. Then made a point to tell me that the MPOA was checked as ‘in case of incapacity’. No one has ever questioned my authority to get them medical treatment before.

Anyone else have issues with this before? There’s a place at the bottom for anyone to sign for the patient if they can’t. It doesn’t say to hand over legal documents to say you can sign. I know I’ve signed for my children ( when they were minors) and for my parents in the ER before. I’ve also signed my parent’s names electronically at the PCP’s office before when I check them in. At the direction of the clerk there.

H1235

When mom signed the mpoa with the lawyer I really thought that was it. Then the doctor said it looked like there wasn’t a letter of incapacity on file to activate the mpoa. She wrote one up, got the second doctor’s signature and mailed me a copy. Like I said I really didn’t think it was something I needed, but I figured it’s better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. So if the doctor is willing I would recommend just getting the letter, even if you don’t need to use it.

Phoenix1966

My MPOA and DPOA required two doctors to sign off on my grandmother’s incapacity to be activated. I kept copies of the incapacity letters with me at all times along with the two POAs. Only once was I “challenged” (and it was a banking institution) and I was glad I had them with me.

Quilting brings calm

@Phoenix1966

My DPOA doesn’t. It is the kind that became effective immediately upon us signing it. So I’m good there. I will have to talk to her PCP about the MPOA the next time I see him. I’ve been with her at the doctors and hospitals for over four years and have never been questioned. Everyone has just looked at it ( or the electronic check box in their files) and said ‘ok good’.

jfkoc

sounds like you are good to go. YOu might take the document with you next time.

Quilting brings calm

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/214048#Comment_214048

oh- the MPOA definitely has the box ‘ in case of incapacity ‘ checked - its just that no medical or registration personnel have blinked before when they looked at it. So I was a little surprised at what the clerk did.

I have the DPOA on my phone ( and the original at home) - I wonder if showing them that would help IF anyone ever comments on the MPOA again