Mississippi House Bill HB245

Mississippi 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/5/23
• Refer: 1/5/23
• Failed: 1/31/23

Caption

Medical records; set maximum amounts of fees that may be charged for providing in electronic format.

Impact

One of the significant impacts of HB245 is the establishment of a clear fee structure for health care providers and facilities when it comes to charging for access to electronic medical records. The bill specifies maximum fees for various scenarios, such as photocopying records and providing electronic copies to third parties. This move is intended to protect patients from exorbitant charges while promoting their rights to access their own health information efficiently. Overall, it's anticipated that these changes will enhance patient autonomy over their medical records and foster a more consumer-friendly healthcare environment.

Summary

House Bill 245 aims to amend Section 11-1-52 of the Mississippi Code of 1972 to establish compliance requirements for health care providers and facilities regarding fees for providing protected health information (PHI) to individuals and third parties. The bill specifically mandates that such entities must adhere to the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) when determining any fees associated with the provision of PHI. By enforcing these regulations, the bill seeks to ensure transparency and fairness in the handling of patient information and the costs associated with its release.

Contention

While the bill is framed as a protective measure for patient rights, there could be contention surrounding the implementation of these fee limits. Some stakeholders in the healthcare sector might argue that the prescribed fees may not adequately cover the administrative costs involved in handling requests for medical records, particularly in smaller or rural facilities. As a result, there may be concerns about whether the bill strikes the right balance between safeguarding patient rights and supporting the operational realities faced by healthcare providers.