Connecticut 2023 Regular Session Status: In Committee

SB 958 — AN ACT CONCERNING THE TIMELY TRANSFER OF MEDICAL RECORDS BETWEEN HEALTH CARE INSTITUTIONS AND THE FEE CHARGED FOR COPIES OF MEDICAL RECORDS.

Last action — FILE NO. 120

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2023 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

126 added · 18 removed

126 line(s) added, 18 removed.

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Latest
General Assembly Raised Bill No.
Senate General Assembly File No.
958 January Session, 2023 LCO No.
120 January Session, 2023 Substitute Senate Bill No.
3494 Referred to Committee on PUBLIC HEALTH Introduced by:
958 Senate, March 20, 2023 The Committee on Public Health reported through SEN.
(PH) AN ACT CONCERNING THE TIMELY TRANSFER OF MEDICAL RECORDS BETWEEN HEALTH CARE INSTITUTIONS.
ANWAR of the 3rd Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on the part of the Senate, that the substitute bill ought to pass.
AN ACT CONCERNING THE TIMELY TRANSFER OF MEDICAL RECORDS BETWEEN HEALTH CARE INSTITUTIONS AND THE FEE CHARGED FOR COPIES OF MEDICAL RECORDS.
(NEW) (Effective from passage) Each institution, as defined in section 19a-490 of the general statutes, shall, upon receipt of a patient- approved medical records request, transfer such patient's medical records to another institution (1) immediately, if such request is urgent, or (2)not later than twenty-four hoursafter suchrequest is made,if such request is not urgent.
(NEW) (Effective from passage) Each institution, as defined in section 19a-490 of the general statutes, shall, upon receipt of a patient- approved medical records request, transfer such patient's medical records to another institution (1) immediately, if such request is urgent, or (2) not later than two business days after such request is made, if such request is not urgent.
Sec.
2.
Subsection (d) of section 20-7c of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(d) Upon a written request of a patient, a patient's attorney or authorized representative, or pursuant to a written authorization, a provider, except as provided in section 4-194, shall furnish to the person sSB958 / File No.
120 1 sSB958 File No.
120 making such request a copy of the patient's health record, including but not limited to, bills, x-rays and copies of laboratory reports, contact lens specifications based on examinations and final contact lens fittings given within the preceding three months or such longer period of time as determined by the provider but no longer than six months, records of prescriptions and other technical information used in assessing the patient's health condition.
No provider shall refuse to return to a patient original records or copies of records that the patient has brought to the provider from another provider.
When returning records to a patient, a provider may retain copies of such records for the provider's file, provided such provider does not charge the patient for the costs incurred in copying such records.
No provider or other party in possession or control of a patient's medical records shall charge a patient, patient's attorney or patient's authorized representative more than (1) sixty-five cents per page, or (2) any patient rate amount or reasonable cost-based fee promulgated under any federal or state law or regulation of Connecticut state agencies or administrative guidance regarding such law or regulation, whichever is less, regardless of whether such patient rate amount or reasonable cost-based fee otherwise applies to requests by a patient's attorney or patient's authorized representative, including any research fees, handling fees or related costs, and the cost of first class postage, if applicable, for furnishing a health record pursuant to this subsection, except such provider may charge a patient the amount necessary to cover the cost of materials for furnishing a copy of an x-ray, provided no such charge shall be made for furnishing a health record or part thereof to a patient, a patient's attorney or authorized representative if the record or part thereof is necessary for the purpose of supporting a claim or appeal under any provision of the Social Security Act or a claim or appeal for veterans' benefits under any provision of Title 38 of the United States Code or chapter 506 and the request is accompanied by documentation of the claim or appeal.
A provider shall furnish a health record requested pursuant to this section within thirty days of the request.
No health care provider, who has purchased or assumed the practice of a provider who is retiring or deceased, may refuse to return original sSB958 / File No.
120 2 sSB958 File No.
120 records or copied records to a patient who decides not to seek care from the successor provider.
When returning records to a patient who has decided not to seek care from a successor provider, such provider may not charge a patient for costs incurred in copying the records of the retired or deceased provider.
Section 1 from passage New section Statement of Purpose:
Section 1 from passage New section Sec.
To requirehealth care institutionsto,uponreceipt ofapatient-approved medical records request, transfer such patient's medical records to another institution (1) immediately, if such request is urgent, or (2) within twenty-four hours, if such request is not urgent.
2 from passage 20-7c(d) Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
LCO No.
In Section 2, "otherwise" was inserted before "applies" for clarity.
3494 1 of 2 Raised Bill No.
PH Joint Favorable Subst.
958 [Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets.
sSB958 / File No.
Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.] LCO No.
120 3 sSB958 File No.
3494 2 of 2
120 The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose.
In general, fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional knowledge.
Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.
OFA Fiscal Note State Impact:
None Municipal Impact:
None Explanation The bill, which results in no fiscal impact, sets deadlines for licensed health care institutions to transfer patient medical records to another institution as well as sets new limits on health record fees charged by individual health care providers.
The Out Years State Impact:
None Municipal Impact:
None sSB958 / File No.
120 4 sSB958 File No.
120 OLR Bill Analysis sSB 958 AN ACT CONCERNING THE TIMELY TRANSFER OF MEDICAL RECORDS BETWEEN HEALTH CARE INSTITUTIONS AND THE FEE CHARGED FOR COPIES OF MEDICAL RECORDS.
SUMMARY This bill sets deadlines for licensed health care institutions to transfer patient medical records to another institution upon receiving a patient- approved medical records request.
Under the bill, the transfer must occur (1) immediately, for urgent requests, or (2) within two business days, for non-urgent requests.
The bill also sets new limits on health record fees charged by individual health care providers.
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Under current law, a provider can charge up to 65 cents per page, including any applicable research or handling fees, related costs, and first-class postage to supply a patient’s health record.
The bill instead sets the limit as the lesser of (1) 65 cents per page or (2) any patient rate amount or reasonable cost-based fee under federal or state law, state regulation, or related administrative guidance.
The bill’s limit specifically applies to not just providers, but to any other party that has or controls a patient’s medical records.
As under existing law, these provisions apply to medical records requests by patients themselves or by their attorneys or authorized representatives.
The bill specifies that the fee limit applies regardless of whether the patient rate amount or cost-based fee applies to requests by a patient’s attorney or authorized representative.
Under existing law, unchanged by the bill, a provider:
1.
can also charge a patient the amount necessary to cover the cost of material for providing a copy of an x-ray and sSB958 / File No.
120 5 sSB958 File No.
120 2.
cannot impose fees for providing health records if the patient needs the records for a Social Security or veterans’ benefits claim or appeal.
A separate law, unchangedby thebill, setsa limit of65 centsper page (including fees, costs, and postage) for medical records requests to licensed health care institutions (CGS § 19a-490b).
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Upon passage COMMITTEE ACTION Public Health Committee Joint Favorable Substitute Yea 35 Nay 0 (03/03/2023) sSB958 / File No.
120 6
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Action History

  1. FILE NO. 120

  2. SENATE CALENDAR NUMBER 100

  3. FAV. RPT., TAB. FOR CAL., SEN.

  4. RPTD. OUT OF LCO

  5. REFERRED TO Office of Legislative Research AND Office of Fiscal Analysis 03/20/23

  6. FILED WITH LCO

  7. Joint Favorable Substitute

  8. PUBLIC HEARING 0222

  9. REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Public Health

Sponsors

  • Public Health Committee · Primary

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 186 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

  • Public Health Committee

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (186)

186 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 186 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

healthcare health-insurance
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 958?
SB 958 is sponsored by Public Health Committee.
What is the current status of SB 958?
This bill died with 2023 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track SB 958?
Track SB 958 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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