USM-552 is used for which purpose?

• A. Medical Records Release
• B. Prisoner Property
• C. Custody Alert Notice
• D. Prisoner Biographic/Personal Info

Answer: (A)

USM-552 is a release authorization specifically for health or medical information. In practice, it’s used when someone—such as a medical provider, the inmate, or a designated representative—needs access to a prisoner’s medical records to arrange treatment, verify health history, or coordinate care while in custody. The form helps ensure that releasing protected health information complies with privacy laws like HIPAA and that only authorized individuals can obtain the records. This makes it the correct choice for Medical Records Release.

The other options don’t fit because they refer to different types of information: Prisoner Property concerns what belongings are released or preserved; a Custody Alert Notice relates to notifying parties about custody or security risks; and Prisoner Biographic/Personal Info covers basic identification data, not medical records.