A patient undergoes a comprehensive physical examination as a requirement for insurance. The next day, an agent of the insurance company calls the office to request a copy of the results. The medical assistant should do which of the following?

While consulting the physician may seem prudent, it does not address the legal requirement for patient authorization. The physician may not have the authority to release the report without the patient's written consent, making this option insufficient to satisfy legal and ethical standards.

This choice is inappropriate because a subpoena is a legal process typically reserved for situations where a party is compelled to provide records in a court case. It is not a necessary step for releasing records with proper patient authorization and can unnecessarily complicate the situation.

Mailing a consent form for the agent to sign is not effective, as it does not ensure that the patient has directly authorized the release of their information. The patient must sign the release form themselves to comply with privacy laws.

This choice is incorrect because sending the report without the patient's authorization is a violation of privacy laws. Medical records cannot be shared with third parties, including insurance agents, without explicit permission from the patient.