SPONSOR: Taylor (48)
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Legislative Review by a vote of 6 to 0. Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Rules-Administrative by a vote of 8 to 0.
This bill provides that any records containing a patient's health history and treatment that were created by an emergency care provider or telecommunicator first responder in the course of such provider's or responder's official duties must be made available to any person, upon his or her request, authorized to obtain the patient's health care records.
A fee may be levied for furnishing the health care records as specified in the bill.
The bill does not limit the release of information regarding the general nature of the event that resulted in the request for assistance, as long as personal health information is redacted. Additionally, this bill does not limit the release of information to facilitate the normal delivery of patient care or for an established quality improvement program.
PROPONENTS: Supporters say that this has been a loophole for many years, and that by fixing it, the bill will prohibit the personal information of patients, often at the most vulnerable time in their lives, from being released and perhaps preyed upon.
Testifying in person for the bill were Representative Taylor; Arnie C. Dienoff; Brian Schaeffer , Missouri Fire Chiefs; Fire Service Alliance; and Missouri Ambulance Association.
OPPONENTS: There was no opposition voiced to the committee.
Written testimony has been submitted for this bill. The full written testimony and witnesses testifying online can be found under Testimony on the bill page on the House website.
Statutes affected: