SCS SB 1024 -- MEDICAL RECORDS

SPONSOR:  Bentley (Holand)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass by consent" by the Committee on
Professional Registration and Licensing by a vote of 14 to 0.

This substitute 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 State Board of Registration for the
Healing Arts.  The substitute specifies the contents for an
adequate and complete medical record.  Physicians or their
designees are required to maintain the medical records for a
period of seven 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 substitute.
If the board initiates a disciplinary action against a physician
for any reason other than a violation of the substitute, the
board can allege a violation of the substitute 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 many physicians are poor record
keepers.  The substitute will increase efficiency for the State
Board of Registration for the Healing Arts and provide for better
transfers of patient care.

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 October 11, 2002 at 9:04 am