The bill establishes new requirements for health care providers regarding the disclosure of health care information necessary for patients or their family members to qualify for paid family and medical leave benefits. Specifically, it mandates that health care providers must disclose the required health care information to the employment security department within five working days of receiving a request and authorization from the patient. Additionally, health care facilities are required to implement policies that align with this timeline and cannot charge fees for such disclosures.

Furthermore, the bill amends existing law to clarify that while health care providers may generally charge a reasonable fee for providing health care information, this does not apply to disclosures made under the new section related to paid family and medical leave. The amendments also specify that patients are entitled to one free copy of their health care information if they are appealing a denial of federal benefits, and it outlines the necessary components for a valid disclosure authorization. Overall, the bill aims to streamline the process for patients seeking to access their health care information for the purpose of obtaining paid leave benefits.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 70.02.030