The bill amends several sections of Florida Statutes to improve patient access to medical records and streamline the process for obtaining these records from service providers. Key provisions include a requirement for service providers to furnish clinical records within 14 working days of receiving a request and to provide these records in the format chosen by the requester, whether in paper or electronic form. The bill also removes previous restrictions that mandated licensed facilities to provide patient records only after discharge, allowing for more timely access. Additionally, it introduces a new section defining "legal representative" and establishes specific timeframes for nursing homes and healthcare practitioners to provide access to and copies of resident and patient records.

Furthermore, the bill clarifies the confidentiality of patient records and the conditions under which they can be disclosed without consent, while allowing service providers to impose reasonable terms to ensure the preservation of records during access. It also amends laws regarding the withdrawal and testing of blood for alcohol and controlled substances, specifying that only certain licensed medical professionals may withdraw blood at the request of law enforcement. The bill allows health care providers to notify law enforcement if a patient's blood-alcohol level meets or exceeds a specified threshold, providing immunity from civil or criminal liability for those who participate in this notification process. The amendments include updates to cross-references in various statutes to ensure consistency and clarity in the legal framework governing patient records, with the bill set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
S 1606 Filed: 400.145, 456.057, 316.1932, 316.1933, 395.4025, 400.0234, 429.294, 440.185, 456.47