The bill amends K.S.A. 65-6836 to allow healthcare providers to charge fees for furnishing healthcare records and establishes guidelines for the disclosure of a decedent's healthcare records. Key changes include the removal of the term "health care" in favor of "healthcare" throughout the text, clarifying the definitions of "healthcare provider," "authorized representative," and "authorization." The bill specifies that healthcare providers may charge fees for providing records, including a maximum of $188.88 for electronic records, and outlines additional costs for paper copies, postage, and certification.

Furthermore, the bill allows for the disclosure of a deceased patient's healthcare records to certain individuals, such as the executor of the estate or family members, under specific conditions. It establishes a priority order for who can request these records and includes provisions for annual adjustments to the fees based on inflation rates. The bill also emphasizes that the state board of healing arts retains the authority to enforce rules regarding the provision of healthcare records, and it includes a severability clause to ensure that if any part of the act is deemed unconstitutional, the remaining provisions will still be valid.

Statutes affected:
As introduced: 65-6836