The bill amends several sections of Florida Statutes to improve patient access to medical records by requiring service providers to furnish clinical records within 14 working days of a request and in the format preferred by the requester, whether paper or electronic. It eliminates previous restrictions that mandated licensed facilities to provide patient records only after discharge, thereby facilitating more timely access. Additionally, the bill introduces a definition for "legal representative" and establishes compliance requirements for certain providers regarding access to records. For nursing home facilities, the bill mandates access to resident records within 24 hours and copies within 2 working days for current residents, while also clarifying the responsibilities of licensed health care practitioners in responding to record requests.

In a separate section, House Bill 1083 addresses testing for alcohol and controlled substances in motor vehicle incidents, stipulating that only qualified medical personnel, such as physicians and certified paramedics, may withdraw blood for testing at law enforcement's request. It allows healthcare providers to notify law enforcement if a patient's blood-alcohol level exceeds a specified threshold, ensuring that such notifications comply with confidentiality laws. The bill also provides immunity from civil or criminal liability for healthcare providers involved in this notification process. Furthermore, it updates legal language related to confidentiality and the handling of medical records, including specific references to statutes, and is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
H 1083 Filed: 400.145, 456.057, 316.1932, 316.1933, 395.4025, 400.0234, 429.294, 440.185, 456.47