The bill amends several sections of Florida Statutes to improve patient access to medical records. Key provisions require service providers to furnish clinical records within 14 working days of a request and to provide these records in the format chosen by the requester, whether paper or electronic. The bill eliminates the previous requirement that licensed facilities could only provide patient records after discharge, allowing for more timely access. It also establishes a new definition for "legal representative" and mandates that healthcare practitioners comply with similar timelines and formats for record requests. Additionally, nursing home facilities must provide access to resident records within 24 hours and copies within 2 working days, while ensuring the confidentiality of patient records with allowances for appropriate disclosures without consent in certain situations.

Furthermore, the bill addresses the withdrawal and testing of blood for alcohol content or controlled substances in the context of motor vehicle crashes. It specifies that only qualified medical personnel, such as physicians and registered nurses, may withdraw blood at the request of law enforcement. The bill clarifies that a law enforcement officer's failure to request blood withdrawal does not affect the admissibility of blood tests conducted for medical purposes. It also allows healthcare providers to notify law enforcement if a patient's blood-alcohol level meets or exceeds a specified threshold, with protections in place for confidentiality and immunity from liability. The bill includes provisions for individuals tested to obtain their test results and outlines law enforcement's responsibilities in facilitating independent tests for individuals at their own expense. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
S 1606 Filed: 400.145, 456.057, 316.1932, 316.1933, 395.4025, 400.0234, 429.294, 440.185, 456.47
S 1606 c1: 400.145, 456.057, 316.1932, 316.1933, 395.4025, 440.185, 456.47