Fill Out DD Form 2870 Online
Authorization for Disclosure of Medical or Dental Information
U.S. Department of Defense
Authorizes the release of medical or dental records from military treatment facilities to a named recipient.
Reviewed July 2026
How it works
- 1
Open the form. The official PDF loads straight into the editor, no download needed first.
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Fill it out in the editor. Click anywhere to type, add checkmarks and place your signature.
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Download your PDF. Save the completed form, ready to print or submit.
DD Form 2870, the Authorization for Disclosure of Medical or Dental Information, is the release form used across the Military Health System. Signing it allows a military hospital, clinic, or dental facility to share your protected health information with a person or organization you name, such as a civilian doctor, an attorney, an insurer, or a family member.
You can open DD Form 2870 in the Universal PDF editor, type your information directly into the fields, and download the completed PDF to print and sign. A typed form is easier for the records office to process and reduces the chance of a rejected request over illegible handwriting.
What is DD Form 2870 used for
Military treatment facilities cannot release your health records to third parties without a written authorization that meets federal privacy requirements. DD Form 2870 is the standard document that provides that authorization within the Department of Defense.
Common reasons people complete the form include:
- Sending records to a civilian physician, dentist, or specialist who is taking over care
- Supporting an insurance claim or a disability claim that requires treatment records
- Allowing an attorney or other representative to obtain records for a legal matter
- Letting a spouse or other family member pick up or receive copies of records
Who uses DD Form 2870
Anyone whose records are held by a military treatment facility can use the form: active duty members, reservists, retirees, and family members enrolled in the military health system. A parent or legal guardian signs for a minor child, and a legal representative can sign for a patient who cannot sign for themselves when they attach proof of their authority.
The form covers records held by the specific facility you send it to. If your records are spread across several facilities, plan on submitting a separate authorization to each one.
How to fill out DD Form 2870
Work through the form from top to bottom:
- Patient identification: name, date of birth, sponsor's information if you are a family member, and contact details
- Records requested: describe the information to be released and the date range it covers; be specific so the facility releases only what you intend
- Sensitive information: the form asks you to indicate whether categories that receive extra protection, such as mental health or substance use treatment records, may be included
- Recipient: the full name and address of the person or organization that should receive the records
- Purpose and expiration: state why the records are being released and when the authorization ends
- Signature and date: the patient, parent, guardian, or legal representative signs after printing the completed form
Where to send it
Submit the signed form to the release of information or medical records office at the military treatment facility that holds your records. Many facilities accept the form in person, by mail, or by fax, and some accept secure electronic submission, so check with the facility for its preferred method.
Processing times vary by facility and by the volume of records requested, so submit the authorization well before any deadline tied to your request.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. You can revoke the authorization in writing at any time. The revocation stops future releases, but it does not undo disclosures the facility already made while the authorization was valid.
Yes. The form asks you to specify an expiration date or event. If you leave that decision to the default noted on the form, the authorization ends according to the terms printed in its instructions, so read that section before signing.
The form is designed for releasing records to someone else. If you only want copies for yourself, contact the facility's release of information office, which can tell you whether it wants this form or a simple written request.
No. The authorization is processed by the facility that receives it, so send a separate signed form to each facility that holds records you want released.
Yes. Open the form in the Universal PDF editor, type your answers into each field, then download the completed PDF, print it, and sign it before submitting it to the records office.
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