SRC-AXB H.B. 2827 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 2827 76R7299 KLA-DBy: Isett (Nelson) Health Services 5/3/1999 Engrossed DIGEST Currently, some hospitals use one document to obtain patient consent for medical treatment and authorization to disclose health care information. In such a case, consent to treatment is tied to consent to release personal information. H.B. 2827 specifies the separation of such documents to authorize their validity. PURPOSE As proposed, H.B. 2827 expands validity limitations for a hospital's disclosure authorization to include a requirement that such authorization is not in, or part of, the same document that contains the consent to medical treatment obtained from the patient. 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 241.152(b), Health and Safety Code, to provide that a disclosure authorization to a hospital is valid only if the authorization is not in the same document that contains the consent to medical treatment obtained from the patient. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1999. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.