Texas Senate Bill SB1872

Texas 2017 - 85th Regular

Caption

Relating to the medical authorization required to release protected health information in a health care liability claim.

Impact

The bill's passage would bring Texas law in alignment with federal standards regarding the protection and release of medical information. By standardizing the authorization process for the release of health information, the bill intends to protect patient privacy while ensuring that medical professionals can obtain and disclose essential information required for litigation concerning healthcare claims. This legislative update also reflects ongoing efforts to balance the rights of patients with the practical needs of healthcare providers and legal entities involved in health care liability claims.

Summary

SB1872 seeks to amend existing legislation regarding the medical authorization required for the release of protected health information in health care liability claims. The proposed changes aim to ensure that the authorization forms used in such cases comply with the established standards for privacy set forth in the relevant federal regulations. This amendment streamlines the process for gathering necessary medical information for legal claims related to healthcare, thereby potentially accelerating the resolution of these cases.

Contention

Notably, the bill may encounter some opposition from privacy advocates who could argue that widening access to protected health information might lead to privacy infringements. Furthermore, as this bill involves changes to legal procedures in medical claims, stakeholders in the healthcare and legal communities might have varying opinions about how these changes could affect their processes. Key points of contention may include the specifics of what information must be disclosed and the implications for patient consent, which are critical in maintaining trust in healthcare relationships.