Relating To Medical Records.
If enacted, HB248 would permit medical providers to charge reasonable fees for obtaining medical records, setting limits at $2.00 for electronic records and two cents per ten pages for paper records, excluding additional review or processing fees. The bill reinforces the obligation of medical providers to fulfill these requests in a timely manner and introduces penalties for those that fail to comply. This legal framework is intended to align Hawaii's approach to medical record accessibility with practices seen in other states, which have recognized the necessity for affordable access to medical documentation for disability claims.
House Bill 248 seeks to amend existing laws surrounding the acquisition of medical records in Hawaii, particularly for individuals applying for social security disability benefits. The bill aims to reduce the financial barriers faced by disabled individuals in obtaining their medical records, which are often required for both initial applications and periodic reviews of disability status. The legislature has recognized that over thirty thousand disabled individuals in Hawaii are currently dependent on social security benefits, and many struggle to access necessary documentation due to the high costs associated with obtaining their medical records from healthcare providers.
Notably, the bill addresses the issue where many medical providers currently impose exorbitant fees that can hinder a disabled applicant's ability to claim necessary benefits. The current landscape in Hawaii allows substantial latitude in how fees are applied, leading to situations where individuals might forego obtaining their records due to financial constraints. Critics of high medical record fees argue that these costs can effectively deny people their rights to necessary benefits, putting them at risk of economic hardship or homelessness if their claims are dismissed due to incomplete documentation.