2023 New York Laws › GOB - General Obligations › Article 5 - Creation, Definition and Enforcement of Contractual Obligations › Title 15 - Statutory Short Form and Other Powers of Attorney for Financial and Estate Planning › 5-1502K - Construction--Matters Related to Health Care.

§ 5-1502K.   Construction--matters   related  to  health  care.  In  a
  statutory short form power of attorney, the language conferring  general
  authority  with  respect  to  "matters  related to health care," or in a
  statutory short form power of attorney properly executed  in  accordance
  with  the  laws  in  effect  at  the time of its execution, the language
  conferring authority with respect to "records, reports and  statements,"
  must be construed to mean that the principal authorizes the agent:
1.  To  be  responsible for matters relating to the principal's health
  care, including, but not limited to, benefit  entitlements  and  payment
  obligations,  and  in so doing, notwithstanding any law to the contrary,
  to receive from "health care providers" and "health plans," information,
  including, but not limited to, "protected health information" as defined
  in federal and state law, rules and regulations, in order  to  ascertain
  the  benefits  to  which  the principal is entitled and to determine the
  legitimacy and accuracy of charges  for  health  care  provided  to  the
  principal; to obtain for the principal the health care benefits to which
  the   principal   is   entitled;   to  meet  the  principal's  financial
  obligations, and pay bills due and owing, for health  care  provided  to
  the  principal;  and  to  represent  the  principal,  and  to act as the
  principal's personal representative, with respect to matters  pertaining
  to   the   principal's  health  care.  The  authority  granted  by  this
  subdivision is limited to health care financial matters  and  shall  not
  include  authorization  for  the agent to make health care decisions for
  the principal;
2. To keep records of all  cash  received  and  disbursed  for  or  on
  account  of  the  principal, of all credits and debits to the account of
  the principal, and of all transactions affecting in any way  the  assets
  and liabilities of the principal;
3.  To  prepare,  to  execute  and  to  file all tax, social security,
  unemployment insurance and information returns, required by the laws  of
  the  United States, of any state or of any subdivision thereof or of any
  foreign government, to prepare, to execute and to file all other  papers
  and instruments which the agent shall think to be desirable or necessary
  for the safeguarding of the principal against excess or illegal taxation
  or  against  penalties imposed for claimed violation of any law or other
  governmental regulation;
4. To prepare, to execute and to file any record,  report,  statement,
  or  other  document  to  safeguard  or promote the principal's interest,
  under a statute or governmental regulation;
5. To hire, to discharge, and to compensate any attorney,  accountant,
  or  other assistant or assistants when the agent shall think such action
  to be desirable for the proper execution by him of  any  of  the  powers
  described in this section; and
6.  In  general,  and  in  addition  to  all the specific acts in this
  section enumerated, to do any other act or acts, which the principal can
  do through an agent, in  connection  with  the  preparation,  execution,
  filing,  storage  or  other  utilization  of  any  records,  reports  or
  statements of or concerning the principal's affairs.
All powers described in this section shall be exercisable equally with
  respect to any health care billing and  payment  matters,  and  records,
  reports  or  statements  of  or  concerning the affairs of the principal
  existing at the giving of the power of attorney or  thereafter  arising,
  and whether arising in the state of New York or elsewhere.