Bill > HB455

This bill aims to support individuals seeking disability benefits by requiring healthcare providers to furnish medical records at no cost during the disability determination process. Specifically, when a person is applying for disability benefits through an insurance policy, public assistance program, or retirement system, physicians and other healthcare providers who have examined or treated the person must provide copies of relevant medical records free of charge until a final determination of disability eligibility is made. After the disability determination is completed, regardless of whether the benefits are approved or denied, these healthcare providers may then charge the individual for copying medical records, with fees not exceeding the rates specified in Section 11-1-52 of Mississippi law. The bill will take effect on July 1, 2025, and is designed to reduce financial barriers for individuals in the process of seeking disability benefits by ensuring they can obtain necessary medical documentation without upfront costs during the initial application phase.

Health and Social Services

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2025/pdf/history/HB/HB0455.xml