SRC-AXB, DPW C.S.H.B. 670 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterC.S.H.B. 670 76R13480 CMR-DBy: Wise (Brown) Veterans Affairs 5/4/1999 Committee Report (Substituted) DIGEST Currently, Texas veterans are required to pay a fee when requesting copies of medical records to be included in an application for disability benefits. Applicants for other programs such as Aid to Dependent Families with Dependent Children, Texas' Medicaid Program, and Federal Old Age and Survivors Insurance, are eligible to receive free medical records. C.S.H.B. 670 prohibits a fee from being charged to veterans for a health record request, under certain conditions. PURPOSE As proposed, C.S.H.B. 670 provides medical records to Texas veterans without a fee, for certain purposes. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 161.202, Health and Safety Code, to prohibit a fee from being charged for a health record request by certain patients who seek to receive disability benefits under 38 U.S.C. Sections 1101 and 1501 et seq., as amended. Provides that a health care provider or health facility (provider) is not required to provide more than one complete record for a patient requested under Subsection (a)(6) or (7) without a charge. Requires a provider to supplement a patient's record without a charge if additional material is added to the record. Provides that this subsection does not affect the ability of a person to receive a medical or mental health record under Subsections (a)(1)-(5). SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 3. Emergency clause. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES SECTION 1. Amends Section 161.202, Health and Safety Code, by adding Subsection (d), to provide that a provider is not required to provide more than one complete record for a patient without a charge. Requires a provider to supplement a patient's record without a charge if additional material is added to the record. Provides that this subsection does not affect the ability of a person to receive a medical or mental health record under Subsections (a)(1)-(5).