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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to patient medical records regarding maternal death. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter J, Chapter 1001, Health and Safety |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 1001.242 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1001.242. REQUEST FOR MEDICAL RECORDS RELATED TO |
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MATERNAL DEATH; REPORT. (a) Not later than the 30th business day |
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after receiving a request from the department, a hospital, birthing |
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center, or other custodian of a patient's medical records shall |
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submit to the department the medical records of a patient who was |
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pregnant at the time of death or was pregnant at any time in the year |
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preceding the patient's death. |
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(b) Any personally identifying information in a patient's |
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medical records acquired by the department under this section is |
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confidential and is not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552, |
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Government Code. |
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(c) The department shall annually prepare and submit to the |
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legislature a written report that includes: |
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(1) the average length of time for a hospital, |
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birthing center, or other custodian of a patient's medical records |
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to submit to the department the medical records requested under |
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Subsection (a); and |
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(2) as applicable, the name and address of any |
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hospital, birthing center, or other custodian of a patient's |
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medical records who fails to comply with Subsection (a). |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |