Published by Family Office Health Advisory. Physician founder: Dr. Gabriel Bietz, MD, RPVI, FACS.
Last updated: . General education and service information.
What can an advisor ask in an ordinary planning conversation?
Start with coordination rather than diagnoses. The advisor might ask whether the client has someone to organize upcoming appointments, whether an aging parent has a clear support plan, or whether a major health decision is affecting the timing of a financial task.
The client can decline the discussion. A useful introduction does not require a medication list, test results or a detailed health history. Ask what assistance the client wants, then determine which professional is suited to provide it.
What permissions should be defined before an introduction?
A referral does not automatically authorize disclosure. HHS explains that providers may share relevant information with people involved in care under specified circumstances, but they are not generally required to share it with relatives or friends. The applicable rules depend on the situation. FOHA's process begins with explicit permissions and an agreed purpose.
- Who is receiving the advisory service?
- Who may participate in logistics?
- What information may each person receive?
- What is the purpose of the update?
- How can the individual change or withdraw that permission?
What might an authorized planning update contain?
These are workflow examples, not descriptions of actual clients. A limited update can still be sensitive; minimizing detail does not remove the need for permission and appropriate handling.
| Task | Limited planning update | Who addresses the clinical issue? |
|---|---|---|
| Coordinate an appointment | Date, logistics and action owner | Treating clinician |
| Prepare a family meeting | Agreed questions and unresolved planning items | Individual and relevant professionals |
| Clarify potential expenses | Costs still need confirmation | Provider, insurer and financial advisor within their roles |
| Arrange travel | Clinical confirmation is pending | Treating clinician |
How can an advisor avoid taking on a clinical role?
Do not interpret a test, recommend a medicine or imply that an introduction guarantees treatment or coverage. Direct medical questions to the treating clinician. Legal authority and financial implications belong with the appropriate professionals.
Document the role of each participant. An action list might identify the clinician who answers a medical question, the navigator who organizes records, the client who grants permission and the advisor who handles the agreed financial-planning task.
How does FOHA fit into this workflow?
FOHA provides a physician-led advisory layer for records synthesis, research, preparedness and authorized follow-through. A family office or RIA can introduce the service; the engagement then establishes who receives it, what work is included and what updates are permitted.
The practical goal is a clear next step for the family. No referral fee, guaranteed appointment, insurer approval or outcome should be inferred from an introduction. Start with the client's requested assistance and keep the boundaries visible.
Which sources inform this article?
FOHA's proposed workflows are its own service framework. These sources support the specific background points identified in the text.