HB 544 -- MEDICAL RECORDS

CO-SPONSORS:  Holand, Treadway

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass by consent" by the Committee
on Professional Registration by a vote of 15 to 0.

This bill requires physicians to maintain adequate, complete,
and legible medical records for each patient.  Physicians may
maintain electronic records if the records can be printed for
review by the Board of Registration for the Healing Arts.  The
bill specifies the contents for an adequate and complete medical
record.  Physicians or a physician's designee are required to
maintain the medical records for a period of 7 years from the
last date of service provided to a patient.

Physicians are required to clearly mark and sign any
corrections, additions, or changes to any patient medical record
made after a 48-hour period from the final entry in a medical
record.  Consultative reports are considered an adequate medical
record for a radiologist, pathologist, or a consulting physician.

The board is prohibited from initiating disciplinary action as
required in subsection 2 of Section 334.100, RSMo, against a
physician who violates provisions contained in the bill.  If the
board initiates a disciplinary action against a physician for
any reason other than a violation of the bill, the board can
allege a violation of the bill as an additional cause for
disciplinary action as contained in subdivision 6 of subsection
2 of Section 334.100.

The board is prohibited from obtaining a patient medical record
without written authorization from the patient or the issuance
of a subpoena for the patient medical record.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that there is a need for adequate
record keeping for public protection.  The bill establishes
certain standards for keeping of medical records.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Holand; and State
Board of Registration for the Healing Arts.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Bob Dominique, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated November 26, 2001 at 11:44 am