Bill Text - SB61 (2017)

Relative to medical records of a deceased spouse or next of kin.


Revision: Jan. 24, 2017, 10:22 a.m.

SB 61  - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2017 SESSION

17-0781

01/05

 

SENATE BILL 61

 

AN ACT relative to medical records of a deceased spouse or next of kin.

 

SPONSORS: Sen. D'Allesandro, Dist 20; Sen. Bradley, Dist 3; Sen. Feltes, Dist 15; Sen. Reagan, Dist 17; Rep. Hynes, Hills. 21; Rep. McBeath, Rock. 26

 

COMMITTEE: Health and Human Services

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill clarifies the procedure for receipt of medical records of a deceased spouse or next of kin.

 

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

17-0781

01/05

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Seventeen

 

AN ACT relative to medical records of a deceased spouse or next of kin.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

1  Medical Records of Deceased Spouse or Next of Kin.  Amend RSA 560:22 to read as follows:

560:22  Medical Records of Deceased Spouse or Next of Kin.  Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary and upon proof of the requestor's identity as the spouse or next of kin of the deceased, the surviving spouse or next of kin shall have access to the information contained in the medical records of his or her deceased spouse or next of kin and be authorized to execute a standard medical authorization to be submitted with a copy of the decedent's death certificate to receive a complete copy of the decedent's medical records where there is no estate administration, unless the medical records indicate that the [deceased spouse] decedent has [indicated] directed that the surviving spouse or next of kin should not have access to those records.  A health care provider, as defined in RSA 332-I:1, II(b), shall not be required to initiate a conversation with a patient on the subject of access to the information in a medical record by a surviving spouse or next of kin.

2  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect January 1, 2018.