The Registry agrees not to release this information to any party other than health care providers. Registration is free. The advance directive is electronically stored in the Registry's computer along with the registrant's identifying and emergency contact information. The document itself is filed and stored in the Registry's archives. The registrant is contacted annually by mail to confirm that the advance directive has not been changed or revoked.
Annual renewal is free.
Health care providers can contact the Registry to gain access to advance directives or to inquire as to whether any patient has an advance directive. Each health care provider in the country has been assigned a unique identification number and access code. By entering these numbers followed by the patient's social security number, health care providers can obtain a faxed copy of the advance directive within seconds. If the social security number is not available, Registry personnel can search for the document based on the patient' s name, address and birth date. Because documents are faxed directly from the Registry s computer to the provider s fax machine, there is complete privacy.