Electronic health records; certain test results not disclosed to patient as part of until 72 hours after results are finalized.
This bill aims to alleviate potential anxiety for patients by delaying the release of sensitive information that may not yet have been thoroughly evaluated by their healthcare provider. The 72-hour window allows healthcare professionals the necessary time to assess the results and prepare for an informed discussion with the patient about the implications. This delay may prevent situations where a patient receives alarming information without the context needed to understand it, potentially reducing emotional distress.
House Bill 193, introduced by Representative Newman, addresses the management and disclosure of certain medical test results within electronic health records (EHR) in Mississippi. Specifically, the bill mandates that reports or test outcomes involving pathology or radiology that are likely to indicate malignancy, as well as tests revealing genetic markers, cannot be disclosed to patients until 72 hours after they are finalized. This delay applies unless the healthcare provider specifically directs an earlier release of the results. The intent is to regulate how sensitive medical information is handled and ensure that patients receive their results in a more controlled manner.
While the bill could help structure the flow of sensitive health information, it may also raise concerns regarding transparency and patient autonomy. Critics might argue that waiting 72 hours could unnecessarily prolong patient anxiety and lead to speculation about the severity of their health conditions. Furthermore, the bill's provisions could be viewed as paternalistic, suggesting that healthcare providers are best positioned to determine when patients should receive their results, rather than allowing patients the right to access their own healthcare information immediately.