HLS 16RS-1025 ENGROSSED
2016 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 537
BY REPRESENTATIVE GAROFALO
CIVIL/DISCOVERY: Provides relative to applicable fees and costs incurred for the
production of records
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 40:1165.1(A)(2)(b)(i) and (ii), relative to medical records; to
3 provide relative to the maximum charges for providing certain medical records; to
4 provide for the form in which to store and provide medical records; and to provide
5 for related matters.
6Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 40:1165.1(A)(2)(b)(i) and (ii) are hereby amended and reenacted to
8read as follows:
9 ยง1165.1. Health care information; records
10 A.
11 * * *
12 (2)
13 * * *
14 (b)(i) Except as provided in R.S. 44:17, a patient or his legal representative,
15 or in the case of a deceased patient, the executor of his will, the administrator of his
16 estate, the surviving spouse, the parents, or the children of the deceased patient, or
17 after a claim has been made, the insurance company or its counsel, or, after suit has
18 been instituted, defense counsel or a defendant seeking any treatment record,
19 including but not limited to any medical, hospital, laboratory, invoice or billing
Page 1 of 5
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 16RS-1025 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 537
1 statement, or other record, including test results, relating to or generated as a result
2 of or in connection to the patient's medical treatment, history, or condition, either
3 personally or through an attorney, shall have a right to obtain a copy of the entirety
4 of the records in the form by which they are generated in which they are stored,
5 except microfilm, upon furnishing a signed authorization. If the original treatment
6 records are generated, maintained, or stored in paper form, paper or digital copies
7 shall be provided upon payment of a reasonable copying charge, not to exceed one
8 dollar per page for the first twenty-five pages, fifty cents per page for twenty-six to
9 three hundred fifty pages, and twenty-five cents per page thereafter, a handling
10 charge not to exceed twenty-five dollars for hospitals, nursing homes, and other
11 health care providers, and actual postage. The charges set forth in this Section shall
12 be applied to all persons and legal entities duly authorized by the patient to obtain
13 a copy of their medical records. If treatment records are generated, maintained, or
14 stored in digital format in the health care providers' electronic health record, copies
15 may be requested to be provided in digital format and charged at the rate provided
16 by this Item; however, the charges for providing digital copies stored in digital
17 format shall not exceed one hundred dollars, including plus all postage and handling
18 charges actually incurred. If the treatment records are stored in both digital form and
19 paper form, the maximum limit of one hundred dollars shall only apply to the portion
20 of records stored in digital form. If requested, the health care provider shall provide
21 the requestor, at no extra charge, a certification page setting forth the extent of the
22 completeness of records on file. In the event a hospital record is not complete, the
23 copy of the records furnished shall indicate, through a stamp, coversheet, or
24 otherwise, the extent of completeness of the records. Each request for records
25 submitted by the patient or other person authorized to request records pursuant to the
26 provisions of this Subparagraph shall be subject to only one handling charge, and the
27 health care provider shall not divide the separate requests for different types of
28 records, including but not limited to billing or invoice statements. The health care
29 provider or person or legal entity providing records on behalf of the health care
Page 2 of 5
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 16RS-1025 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 537
1 provider shall not charge any other fee which is not specifically authorized by the
2 provisions of this Subparagraph, except for notary fees and fees for expedited
3 requests as contracted by the parties.
4 (ii) The individuals authorized to obtain medical records pursuant to Item (i)
5 of this Subparagraph shall also have the right to obtain copies of patient X-rays, and
6 other imaging media, upon payment of reasonable reproduction costs and a handling
7 charge of twenty dollars for hospitals and ten dollars for other health care providers.
8 If the patient X-rays and other imaging media are generated, maintained, or stored
9 in digital format, copies may be requested to be provided in digital format and
10 charged at the rate provided by this Item; however, the charges for providing digital
11 imaging media copies shall not exceed two hundred dollars, including plus all
12 postage and handling charges actually incurred. If requested, the health care
13 provider shall provide the requestor, at no extra charge, a certification page setting
14 forth the completeness of the X-rays and other imaging media on file. In the event
15 hospital patient X-rays and other imaging media are not complete, the copies
16 furnished shall indicate, through a stamp, coversheet, or otherwise, the extent of the
17 completeness of the records. Each request for copies of patient X-rays and other
18 imaging media submitted by the patient or other person authorized to request records
19 pursuant to Item (i) of this Subparagraph shall not be considered a separate request
20 and are subject to only one handling charge, and the health care provider shall not
21 divide the requests for different types of X-rays and other imaging media. The
22 health care provider shall not charge any other fee which is not specifically
23 authorized by the provisions of this Subparagraph, except for notary fees and fees for
24 expedited requests as contracted by the parties.
25 * * *
Page 3 of 5
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 16RS-1025 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 537
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 537 Engrossed 2016 Regular Session Garofalo
Abstract: Provides for the maximum charges for obtaining copies of medical records.
Present law provides that each health care provider shall furnish each patient, upon request
of the patient, a copy of any information related to the patient which the health care provider
has transmitted to any company, or public or private agency, or person.
Present law provides that medical records of a patient maintained in a health care provider's
office are the property and business records of the health care provider.
Present law provides that a patient, his legal representative, and certain other persons shall
have a right to obtain a copy of the entirety of the medical records in the form by which they
are generated. If the original treatment records are generated, maintained, or stored in paper
form, copies shall be provided upon payment of a reasonable copying charge as further
specified in present law.
Proposed law provides that a patient, his legal representative, and certain other persons shall
have a right to obtain a copy of the entirety of the medical records in the form by which they
are stored.
Present law provides that if records are generated, maintained, or stored in paper form,
copies shall be provided upon payment of a copying charge as provided by present law.
Proposed law provides that if records are stored in paper form, paper or digital copies shall
be provided upon payment of a copying charge as provided by present law.
Present law provides that if records are generated, maintained, or stored in digital format,
copies may be requested in digital format and charged as provided by present law.
Proposed law provides that if records are stored in digital format in the health care provider's
electronic health record, copies may be requested in digital format and charged as provided
by present law, but also specifies that the maximum $100 charge only applies to copies
stored in digital format.
Present law provides that the maximum authorized charges of $100 for records and $200 for
X-rays and other imaging includes all postage and handling.
Proposed law excludes postage charges from the $100 and $200 maximum charges.
Proposed law provides that if the treatment records are stored in both digital form and paper
form, the maximum limit of $100 shall only apply to the portion of records stored in digital
form.
(Amends R.S. 40:1165.1(A)(2)(b)(i) and (ii))
Page 4 of 5
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 16RS-1025 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 537
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Civil Law and
Procedure to the original bill:
1. Deletes provisions authorizing the payment for handling charges.
2. Deletes adjustments of fees and maximum charges based on the consumer price
index.
Page 5 of 5
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.