Oklahoma 2025 2025 Regular Session

Oklahoma Senate Bill SB423 Engrossed / Bill

Filed 03/27/2025

                     
 
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ENGROSSED SENATE 
BILL NO. 423 	By: Rader of the Senate 
 
  and 
 
  Caldwell (Chad) of the 
House 
 
 
 
An Act relating to medical records; amending 76 O.S. 
2021, Section 19, which relates to access to medical 
records; modifying applicability of certain 
provisions; eliminating certain duties of health care 
providers; authorizing imposition of certain fee s; 
modifying certain fee limits; defining terms; making 
certain acts unlawful; creating misdemeanor offense; 
providing administrative and criminal penalties; 
providing for civil relief; updating statutory 
language; and providing an effective date . 
 
 
 
 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: 
SECTION 1.     AMENDATORY     76 O.S. 2021, Section 19, is 
amended to read as follows: 
Section 19.  A.  1.  Any person who is or has been a patient of 
a doctor, hospital or other medical institution health care provider 
or health care facility, or such person ’s personal representative, 
shall, as provided under 45 C.F.R., Section 164.502, be entitled, 
upon request, to obtain access to the information contained in the 
patient’s medical records including any x -ray or other photograph or 
image, pathology slide , or the patient’s medical bills. 
2. Disclosure of the information described in paragraph 1 of 
this subsection regarding a deceased patient shall require either a   
 
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court order or a written release of an executor, administrator , or 
personal representative appointed by the court, or if there is no 
such appointment, by the spouse of the patient or, if n one, by any 
responsible family member of the family of the patient.  As used in 
this paragraph, “responsible family member ” shall mean the parent, 
adult child, adult sibling , or other adult relative who was actively 
involved in providing care to or monitor ing the care of the patient 
as verified by the doctor, hospital or other medical institution 
health care provider or health care facility responsible for the 
care and treatment of such person. 
2.  Any person who is or has been a patient of a doctor, 
hospital or other medical institution shall be furnished copies of 
all medical records inc luding any x-ray, other photograph or image, 
pathology slide or all medical bills pertaining to that person ’s 
case upon request and upon the tender of the expenses enumerat ed in 
this paragraph.  The cost of each copy to such person or to the 
personal representative, spouse or responsible family member of such 
person, not including any x -ray or other photograph or image or 
pathology slide, shall be fifty cents ($0.50) for eac h page. 
3.  A health care provider or health care facility may impose a 
reasonable, cost-based fee when patients or their personal 
representatives request copies of medical records; provided, that 
the fee includes only the cost of applicable expenses liste d in 42 
C.F.R., Section 164.524(c)(4).   
 
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4. Requests for medical records and medical bills from , or 
directed to, attorneys, insurance companies , other third parties, 
and by way of subpoena shall be charged a base fee of Twenty Dollars 
($20.00) Twenty-three Dollars ($23.00) in addition to the a per page 
charges required pursuant to this sec tion fee of: 
a. sixty-seven cents ($0.67) for paper copies , plus 
postage or delivery fee , or 
b. forty cents ($0.40) for electronic copies . 
The base fee shall be charged reg ardless of whether any records 
related to the request are located.  A fee of Fifteen Dollars 
($15.00) shall be charged if a certification or an affidavit by the 
provider regarding the authenticity of the medical records or bills 
is requested.  The physician, hospital or other medical 
professionals and institutions, or their business assoc iates as the 
term is defined in Section 160.103 of Title 45 of the United States 
Code of Federal Regulations shall produce the records in digital 
form at the rate of thirty cents ($0.30) per page if: 
a. the entire request can be reproduced from an 
electronic health record system, 
b. the records are specifically requested to be delivered 
in electronic format, and 
c. the records can be delivered electronically. 
If a provider or business associate transmits the records 
electronically, no postage shall be charg ed but a delivery charge   
 
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shall apply.  In no event shall a charge for the reproduction of 
electronically stored and delivered medical records pursuant to this 
paragraph exceed Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) Two Hundred Seventy 
Dollars ($270.00) plus postage or delivery fee.  The cost of each 
printed x-ray, other photograph , or image to such person or to the 
legal representative of such person shall be Fifteen Dollars 
($15.00).  If the x-ray, other photograph , or image is provided on a 
CD/DVD or other electro nic media, the fee shall be Twenty Dollars 
($20.00) Twenty-three Dollars ($23.00) per CD/DVD or other 
electronic media.  The physician, hospital, or other medical 
professionals and institutions, or their business associates as the 
term is defined in Section 160.103 of Title 45 of the United States 
Code of Federal Regulations, shall not charge a person who requests 
their own record a fee for searching, retrieving, reviewing, and 
preparing medical records of the person.  No mailing fee shall be 
charged for copies provided by facsimile.  All requests for medical 
records made pursuant to this subsection shall be subject to the 
fees described in this section regardless of where th e copies or 
electronic versions of such records are actually produced . 
3. 5. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 of this subsection 
shall not apply to: 
a. psychological, psychiatric, mental health , or 
substance abuse treatment records.  In the case of 
psychological, psychiatric, mental health , or   
 
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substance abuse treatment records, acces s to 
information contained in the records shall be obtained 
pursuant to Section 1 -109 of Title 43A of the Oklahoma 
Statutes. 
4.  The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 of thi s subsection 
shall not apply to, and 
b. requests for medical records made by the Disability 
Determination Division of the State Department of 
Rehabilitation Services.  The fee for such requests 
shall be at a rate allowed by the Social Security 
Administration. 
B.  1.  In cases involving a claim for personal injury or death 
against any practitioner of the healing arts or a licensed hospital, 
or a nursing facility or nursing home licensed pursuant to Section 
1-1903 of Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes arising out of patient 
care, where any person has placed the physical or mental condition 
of that person in issue by the commencement of any action, 
proceeding, or suit for damages, or where any person has placed in 
issue the physical or mental condition of any ot her person or 
deceased person by or through whom the person rightfully claims, 
that person shall be deemed to waive any privilege granted by law 
concerning any communication made to a physician or health care 
provider with reference to any physical or ment al condition or any 
knowledge obtained by the physician or health care provider by   
 
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personal examination of the patient; provided that, before any 
communication, medical or hospital record, or testimony is admitted 
in evidence in any proceeding, it must be material and relevant to 
an issue therein, according to existing rules of evidence. 
Psychological, psychiatric, mental health , and substance abuse 
treatment records and information from psychological, psychiatric, 
mental health, and substance abuse treatm ent practitioners may only 
be obtained provided the requirements of Section 1 -109 of Title 43A 
of the Oklahoma Statutes are met. 
2.  Any person who obtains any document pursuant to the 
provisions of this section shall provide copies of the document to 
any opposing party in the proceeding upon payment of the expense of 
copying the document pursuant to the provisions of this section. 
C.  This section shall not apply to the records of an inmate in 
a correctional institution when the correctional institution 
believes the release of such information to be a threat to the 
safety or security of the inmate or the institution. 
D.  1. As used in this section, the terms “covered entity” and 
“protected health information ” shall have the same meaning as 
provided under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability 
Act of 1996 (HIPAA). 
2. It shall be unlawful for a covered entity to use or disclose 
protected health information except as authorized under HIPAA .   
 
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3.  Intentional violation of paragraph 2 of this subsection 
shall be deemed unprofessional conduct by the covered entity’s 
licensure board or regulatory agency if applicable and subject to 
mandatory license revocation. 
4.  A covered entity found in violation of paragraph 2 of this 
subsection shall, upon convict ion, be guilty of a misdemeanor 
punishable by a fine not to exceed One Thousand Doll ars ($1,000.00). 
5.  If a covered entity believes a violation of paragraph 2 of 
this subsection has occurred or will occur in relation to a request 
for medical records, the covered entity may apply to a court of 
competent jurisdiction for relief and the court shall award 
appropriate relief including, but not limited to, temporary, 
preliminary, or permanent injunctive relief. 
SECTION 2.  This act shall become effective November 1, 2025. 
Passed the Senate the 26th day of March, 2025. 
 
 
  
 	Presiding Officer of the Senate 
 
 
Passed the House of Representatives the ____ day of __________, 
2025. 
 
 
  
 	Presiding Officer of the House 
 	of Representatives