The majority of commenters on this topic, however, argued that a signed acknowledgment would be administratively burdensome, inconsistent with the intent of the Administrative Simplification
requirements of HIPAA, impossible to achieve for incapacitated individuals, difficult to achieve for covered entities that do not have direct contact with patients, inconsistent with other notice
requirements under other laws, misleading to individuals who might interpret their
signature as an agreement, inimical to the concept of permitting uses and disclosures
without authorization, and an insufficient substitute for authorization.
Once you have fulfilled the court's publication
requirements, if your spouse has not come forward, the court will allow you to proceed with the divorce
without your spouse's
signature or participation.