Patient access to health records.

(1) Existing law generally governs a patient's access to his or her health records. Existing law requires a health care provider to provide any patient, former patient, or the representative of a patient or former patient a copy, at no charge, of the relevant portion of the patient's health records upon presenting to the health care provider a written request and proof that the health records are needed to support an appeal regarding eligibility for specified public benefit programs. Existing law makes a violation of these provisions by certain health care providers an infraction. This bill would make those health care providers provide those patients with a copy of those health records at no charge to support a claim for eligibility for a public benefit program. The bill would specify additional public benefit programs to which these requirements would apply. The bill would make related conforming changes. By making the existing criminal penalties applicable to additional duties of a health care provider, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 123110 of the Health and Safety Code proposed by SB 241 to be operative only if this bill and SB 241 are enacted and this bill is enacted last. (2) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.