Junk Mail Magic

Separate hospital fundraising from care correspondence

Use the donation appeal's verified opt-out instructions or the hospital's fundraising office to stop appeals. For fundraising communications covered by HIPAA's fundraising rule, the provider must offer an opt-out and cannot condition treatment or payment on that choice. Keep care, appointment and billing correspondence outside the request.

By Junk Mail Magic. Updated .

Find the office and write the request

  1. Find the appeal's opt-out instructions and the fundraising office named on it, which may be a related foundation or development office.
  2. Confirm that office's contact details on the provider's official website.
  3. Follow the verified opt-out method. Give the name and address used on the appeal and any needed appeal reference, without sending medical records or describing treatment.
  4. Say that the request does not cover care, appointment, billing or records communications. Keep a dated copy.

Which appeals the rule covers

The rule in 45 CFR 164.514(f) covers specified fundraising use or disclosure of patient information by a HIPAA-covered entity, including through a related foundation or business associate. It requires a clear opportunity to stop further covered fundraising communications. It does not turn every charity letter into a HIPAA matter.

If you cannot find the option or an appeal continues, ask the provider's fundraising or privacy office to review the specific request. Keep its reply with the appeal details.

Sample fundraising request

Example for your own use. Replace the bracketed details and review what you share.

To the fundraising office at [provider name]: Please stop sending mailed donation appeals to [name as printed] at [address as printed]. The appeal I received is [appeal name or code, if shown]. This request covers fundraising mail only. Please continue any care, appointment, billing or records communications. Please tell me what you changed. [Your name] [Date]

If another appeal arrives

Compare the new appeal's sender and address with your dated copy. If it came from the same office, send that office the new appeal's details and the date of your first request, and ask what happened.

Official source

Sort accumulated advertising after a hospital stayKeep medical correspondence out of a junk-mail batchKeep donation receipts while reducing appealsFind postal marketing language in a privacy policyKeep important mailAll practical mail guides

Keep personal records with the organization that handles them

Junk Mail Magic is for ordinary unwanted advertising. Use the official contact route in this guide for records, account changes or someone else’s correspondence.

Compare removal routes