Provisions for the cost of health records changed.
Impact
The bill establishes specific fees that can be charged for obtaining copies of health records, aiming to standardize costs and ensure they are reasonable. For instance, the bill sets a flat fee of $250 for health records requested within three years, with additional charges applicable for older records and other types of documents like x-rays. This move is intended to balance the provider's need to recoup costs with the patient's need for affordable access to their healthcare information.
Summary
House File 2070 proposes amendments to Minnesota Statutes 2024, specifically section 144.292, which governs the costs associated with obtaining health records. The bill mandates that providers must not charge patients a fee for copies of their health records when they need them for personal review of their current medical care. This provision is aimed at enhancing patient access to their medical information without undue financial burdens.
Contention
One notable point of contention in the discussions around HF2070 is the provision regarding costs for patients appealing denials of Social Security disability benefits. The bill specifies that patients may receive their records without charge if they are appealing such denials and are on public assistance—this stipulation aims to protect vulnerable populations but has raised concerns among some providers about potential financial implications. The efficacy of this legislation in ensuring equitable access to health records while managing costs effectively is likely to be a key focus of ongoing debates.
Cannabis; Office of Cannabis Management and the Department of Health appropriations modified, cannabis provisions modified, Department of Commerce assessed fees modified, consumer protection provisions added and modified, Minnesota Consumer Data Privacy Act established, rulemaking authorized, data classified, technical changes made, reports required, and money appropriated.