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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T



SPONSOR: Beam DATE TYPED: 03/10/99 HB 497/aHJC
SHORT TITLE: Access To Medical Records SB
ANALYST: Burkhart

APPROPRIATION



Appropriation Contained
Estimated Additional Impact
Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY99 FY2000 FY99 FY2000
$ 0.0

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)



SUMMARY



Synopsis of HJC Amendment



House Judiciary Committee amendment to House Bill 497 does the following:



1. On page 1, line 22 adds the phrase "social security" to clarify what kind of disability is being applied for.

2. Changes the last word on page 1 , from "no" to "A" which now allows the charging of a fee by the health care provider to the requestor.

3. Changes words to say that the fee charged by the health care provider shall be established by the Department of Health and may be charged to the requestor.

4. On page 3, line 6, inserts new language to now mean," including a fee schedule by obtaining records as provided in Subsection A of this section for a patient who has a financial ability to pay".



Synopsis of Bill



House Bill 497 requires health care providers to provide within 30 days, medical records of a patient or former patient who is applying for benefits based on a disability or who has been denied benefits.



The bill requires the Department of Health to enforce the provisions of this bill and to promulgate rules if necessary.



Significant Issues



Enforcement of the provisions of this proposed legislation does not seem to fit into the statutory responsibility of the Department of Health but more properly into the responsibility of the insurance authority at the Public Regulation Commission.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS



No money is appropriated to enforce the provisions of this proposed legislation.



MB/njw:gm