The bill amends various sections of Florida Statutes to improve patient access to medical records. It requires service providers to furnish clinical records within 14 working days of a request and allows patients to choose the format of the records, whether paper or electronic. The bill eliminates the previous requirement that licensed facilities only provide patient records after discharge, facilitating more timely access. For nursing homes, the timeframe for providing access to resident records is revised to require access within 24 hours and copies within 2 working days for current residents. Additionally, a new section is introduced to define "legal representative," ensuring that requests from both clients and their legal representatives must be honored.

House Bill 1309 also addresses the handling of medical records in relation to blood testing for alcohol or controlled substances. It allows psychiatric records to be shared with a subsequent treating psychiatrist without requiring payment for services, changing the obligation from "shall" to "may." The bill clarifies that healthcare providers can notify law enforcement if a patient's blood-alcohol level exceeds a specified threshold, while still adhering to confidentiality laws. It updates confidentiality provisions to ensure that medical records, including those related to telehealth services, are protected and documented appropriately. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2027, aiming to streamline access to medical records while safeguarding patient confidentiality and protecting healthcare providers from legal liability.

Statutes affected:
H 1309 Filed: 400.145, 456.057, 316.1932, 316.1933, 395.4025, 429.294, 440.185, 456.47