17may01...1042h

2001 SESSION

01-0696

01/10

SENATE BILL 42

COMMITTEE: Public Institutions, Health and Human Services

AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill entitles a patient to certain copies of the patient's medical records for a charge which shall not exceed $15 for the first 30 pages or $.50 per page, whichever is greater; provided that filmed records shall be copied for a reasonable charge.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

17may01...1042h

01-0696

01/10

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand One

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

85:1 Charges for Medical Records; Residential Care and Health Facilities. Amend RSA 151:21, X to read as follows:

X. The patient shall be ensured confidential treatment of all information contained in the patient's personal and clinical record, including that stored in an automatic data bank, and the patient's written consent shall be required for the release of information to anyone not otherwise authorized by law to receive it. Medical information contained in the medical records at any facility licensed under this chapter shall be deemed to be the property of the patient. The patient shall be entitled to a copy of such records[, for a reasonable cost,] upon request. The charge for the copying of a patient's medical records shall not exceed $15 for the first 30 pages or $.50 per page, whichever is greater; provided, that copies of filmed records such as radiograms, x-rays, and sonograms shall be copied at a reasonable cost.

85:2 Charges for Medical Records; Medical Providers Under Title XX. Amend RSA 332-I:1, I to read as follows:

I. The medical information contained in the medical records in the possession of any health care provider shall be deemed to be the property of the patient. The patient shall be entitled to a copy of such records[, for a reasonable cost,] upon request. The charge for the copying of a patient's medical records shall not exceed $15 for the first 30 pages or $.50 per page, whichever is greater; provided, that copies of filmed records such as radiograms, x-rays, and sonograms shall be copied at a reasonable cost.

85:3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

(Approved: June 19, 2001)

(Effective Date: August 18, 2001)