Bill > HB457

This bill modifies Missouri state law regarding access to health care records, updating provisions for how healthcare providers can charge for and release medical records. The bill maintains the existing requirement that healthcare providers must furnish a patient's health records upon written request, but clarifies and updates the fee structure for record retrieval and copying. Specifically, providers can charge up to $24.85 for search and retrieval, 57 cents per page for copying, and additional fees for off-site storage retrieval. For electronic records, providers can charge up to $108.88 if certain electronic storage conditions are met. The bill also introduces a new provision allowing records from emergency care providers and telecommunicator first responders to be made available upon request, with similar fee structures. Additionally, the bill establishes an annual adjustment mechanism for fees based on the medical care component of the Consumer Price Index. For deceased patients, the bill provides a detailed hierarchy of individuals who can request medical records, prioritizing the surviving spouse and then extending to children, parents, siblings, guardians, and other representatives. The legislation aims to balance patient privacy with reasonable access to medical information and standardize the process for obtaining health records.

Government Affairs

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB457&year=2025&code=R