How the Registry Works
Arizona recognized that having a healthcare directive locked in a drawer does not help much during an emergency. This statute creates a framework for a centralized, electronic registry where Arizona residents can store their healthcare directives, making them accessible to providers when time matters.
The department of health services shall designate a qualifying health information exchange organization to operate a health care directives registry.
A.R.S. § 36-3291(A)The Department of Health Services does not run the registry itself. Instead, it designates a qualifying health information exchange organization to build and maintain it. That organization handles the technology, the storage, and the day-to-day operations. The registry accepts healthcare directives, prehospital medical care directives, and any amendments or revocations of those documents.
What the Registry Does and Does Not Require
Registering your directives is voluntary. As A.R.S. 36-3293 makes clear, failing to register does not affect the validity of your documents. Your healthcare directive is legally binding whether it sits in the registry or in your filing cabinet.
That said, registration can be valuable. If you are admitted to a hospital unconscious or unable to communicate, the registry gives providers a reliable way to find your wishes quickly. Without registration, providers rely on family members, attorneys, or physical copies, and those may not be available in time.
The statute also exempts the registry from certain public health regulations under Chapter 38, recognizing that a directives registry operates differently from traditional health data systems.
