Bill > SB886

This bill amends Pennsylvania law to provide strong protections for reproductive health services records by establishing new restrictions on their disclosure. Under the proposed legislation, covered entities (which are defined by federal regulations) cannot disclose patient communications or medical information related to reproductive health care services without the patient's explicit written consent, with a few specific exceptions. These exceptions include disclosures authorized by court rules, sharing records with the entity's attorney or insurer for legal defense, reporting suspected abuse, and providing information to the Department of State in connection with a specific complaint. The bill explicitly protects communications about services like pregnancy care, contraception, and pregnancy termination, and ensures that patients must be informed of their right to withhold consent for record disclosure. The law also clarifies that it does not override existing confidentiality protections for medical professionals like physicians, psychiatrists, and counselors, and maintains existing legal frameworks for medical record sharing. The provisions are designed to provide additional privacy safeguards for individuals seeking reproductive health services, with the law taking effect 60 days after its passage.

Justice

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=S&type=B&bn=886