The proposed legislation, General Assembly Raised Bill No. 5388, aims to amend the current law regarding the processing fees for medical records in relation to applications for disability retirement benefits under the state employees retirement system. Specifically, it introduces new provisions that prohibit healthcare providers from charging patients for furnishing health records or parts thereof when such records are necessary to support an application for disability retirement benefits. This change is intended to ensure that patients can access their medical records without incurring costs that could hinder their ability to apply for benefits.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that healthcare providers must furnish requested health records within thirty days and clarifies that no charges can be made for copying records when a patient opts not to continue care with a successor provider after the original provider has retired or passed away. The effective date for these changes is set for October 1, 2026. Overall, the bill seeks to enhance access to medical records for patients pursuing disability retirement benefits while maintaining certain protections regarding the handling of these records.