HB1359:

Health care; consent to services and disclosure of records.

Bill Summary:

Health care; consent to services and disclosure of records. Provides that an authorization for the disclosure of health records shall remain in effect until (i) the authorization is revoked in writing and delivered to the health care entity maintaining the health record subject to the authorization, (ii) any expiration date set forth in the authorization, or (iii) the health care entity maintaining the health record becomes aware of any expiration event described in the authorization, whichever occurs first, and that a revocation shall not be effective to the extent that the health care entity maintaining the health record released health records prior to the delivery of such revocation.

The bill also provides that authorization for the release of health records shall include authorization for the person named in the authorization to assist the person who is the subject of the health record in accessing health care services, including scheduling appointments for the person who is the subject of the health record and attending appointments together with the person who is the subject of the health record.

The bill also provides that every health care provider shall make health records of a patient available to any person designated by a patient in an authorization to release health records and that a health care provider shall allow a spouse, parent, adult child, adult sibling, or other person identified by a patient to make an appointment for medical services on behalf of such patient, regardless of whether such patient has executed an authorization to release health records.