HCS#2 HB 232 -- PATIENT HEALTH CARE RECORDS

SPONSOR:  Cooper, 155 (Portwood)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass by consent" by the Committee on
Health Care Policy by a vote of 10 to 0.

Currently, health care providers are allowed to charge a handling
fee of $15 plus a fee of 35 cents per page to copy a patient's
health care record.  This substitute allows health care providers
to charge a reasonable cost-based fee and conditions the
furnishing of the records on the payment of this fee.  The fee
includes copying charges of not more than $17.05 plus 40 cents
per page for the costs of supplies and labor, postage, and notary
fees.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2006, FY 2007, and
FY 2008.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill will allow providers to
recover their labor and postage costs associated with requests
for medical records.  The fee is based on federal law, and the
language is consistent with HIPAA regulations and the regulations
of other states.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Portwood; Copies FYI,
Incorporated; Missouri State Medical Association; and Missouri
State Chiropractors Association.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Amy Woods, Senior Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
93rd General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated August 25, 2005 at 1:18 pm