86R5415 JG-D
By: Guerra H.B. No. 1429
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to patient medical records regarding maternal death.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter J, Chapter 1001, Health and Safety
Code, is amended by adding Section 1001.242 to read as follows:
Sec. 1001.242. REQUEST FOR MEDICAL RECORDS RELATED TO
MATERNAL DEATH; REPORT. (a) Not later than the 30th business day
after receiving a request from the department, a hospital, birthing
center, or other custodian of a patient's medical records shall
submit to the department the medical records of a patient who was
pregnant at the time of death or was pregnant at any time in the year
preceding the patient's death.
(b) Any personally identifying information in a patient's
medical records acquired by the department under this section is
confidential and is not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552,
Government Code.
(c) The department shall annually prepare and submit to the
legislature a written report that includes:
(1) the average length of time for a hospital,
birthing center, or other custodian of a patient's medical records
to submit to the department the medical records requested under
Subsection (a); and
(2) as applicable, the name and address of any
hospital, birthing center, or other custodian of a patient's
medical records who fails to comply with Subsection (a).
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.