Bill Text: NY A08080 | 2013-2014 | General Assembly | Amended


Bill Title: Requires a health care provider or facility which has determined to cease to do business or which is transferring its ownership, at least sixty days prior to such action, notify the commissioner of health of its intent and shall provide a copy of its plan for transfer of patient records to another provider, facility or practitioner.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-06-05 - print number 8080a [A08080 Detail]

Download: New_York-2013-A08080-Amended.html
                           S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
       ________________________________________________________________________
                                        8080--A
                              2013-2014 Regular Sessions
                                 I N  A S S E M B L Y
                                     June 18, 2013
                                      ___________
       Introduced  by M. of A. PERRY -- read once and referred to the Committee
         on Health -- recommitted to the Committee on Health in accordance with
         Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered
         reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
       AN ACT to amend the education law and the public health law, in relation
         to the transfer of patient medical records in certain circumstances
         THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
       BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
    1    Section  1.  Subdivision  40  of section 6530 of the education law, as
    2  added by chapter 606 of the laws of 1991, is amended to read as follows:
    3    40. Failing to provide access by qualified persons to patient informa-
    4  tion in accordance with the standards set forth  in  [section]  SECTIONS
    5  SEVENTEEN  AND  eighteen of the public health law, SUCH SECTION EIGHTEEN
    6  as added by chapter [497] FOUR  HUNDRED  NINETY-SEVEN  of  the  laws  of
    7  [1986] NINETEEN HUNDRED EIGHTY-SIX;
    8    S  2. The public health law is amended by adding a new section 18-b to
    9  read as follows:
   10    S 18-B. REQUIREMENT FOR TRANSFER OF INFORMATION. 1.  DEFINITIONS.  FOR
   11  THE  PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOW-
   12  ING MEANINGS:
   13    (A) "CEASE TO DO BUSINESS IN THIS STATE" SHALL MEAN ANY CASE  WHERE  A
   14  HEALTH CARE PROVIDER WHO HAS ENGAGED IN AN ON-GOING PRACTICE OR BUSINESS
   15  WITHIN  THIS  STATE  AS A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER, CEASES TO ENGAGE IN SUCH
   16  BUSINESS, PROVIDED HOWEVER, THAT THIS TERM SHALL NOT  INCLUDE  A  HEALTH
   17  CARE  PRACTITIONER  WHOSE PRACTICE IS MERGED, CONSOLIDATED, COMBINED, OR
   18  ACQUIRED BY ANOTHER HEALTH CARE PROVIDER AND  HE  OR  SHE  CONTINUES  TO
   19  PROVIDE  SERVICES  INCLUDING  MEDICAL  CARE,  DIAGNOSIS  OR TREATMENT TO
   20  PATIENTS AS AN EMPLOYEE, CONTRACTOR, OR OWNER  OF  THE  MERGED,  CONSOL-
   21  IDATED, COMBINED, OR ACQUIRING HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.
   22    (B)  "FAILURE  TO  PROVIDE  ACCESS  TO  MEDICAL INFORMATION OR MEDICAL
   23  RECORDS" SHALL MEAN ANY  CIRCUMSTANCE  WHERE  A  HEALTH  CARE  PROVIDER,
        EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                             [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                  LBD01923-18-4
       A. 8080--A                          2
    1  HEALTH  CARE  FACILITY  OR  HEALTH  CARE PRACTITIONER, AS SUCH TERMS ARE
    2  DEFINED IN SECTION EIGHTEEN OF THIS  TITLE,  SUCH  SECTION  EIGHTEEN  AS
    3  ADDED  BY  CHAPTER  FOUR  HUNDRED  NINETY-SEVEN  OF THE LAWS OF NINETEEN
    4  HUNDRED  EIGHTY-SIX,  THAT  IS  PLANNING  TO CEASE TO DO BUSINESS IN THE
    5  STATE AND FAILS TO ACT IN ACCORDANCE TO THE REQUIREMENTS  PRESCRIBED  BY
    6  THE  COMMISSIONER  FOR  TRANSFER  OF PATIENT INFORMATION AS SUCH TERM IS
    7  DEFINED IN SUCH SECTION  EIGHTEEN  OF  THIS  TITLE  OR  PATIENT  MEDICAL
    8  RECORDS AS DESCRIBED IN SECTION SEVENTEEN OF THIS TITLE.
    9    (C)  "HEALTH  CARE PROVIDER," "HEALTH CARE FACILITY," AND "HEALTH CARE
   10  PRACTITIONER" SHALL HAVE THE SAME MEANING AS IN SECTION EIGHTEEN OF THIS
   11  TITLE, AS ADDED BY CHAPTER FOUR HUNDRED  NINETY-SEVEN  OF  THE  LAWS  OF
   12  NINETEEN HUNDRED EIGHTY-SIX.
   13    (D)  "PATIENT  INFORMATION"  SHALL HAVE THE SAME MEANING AS IN SECTION
   14  EIGHTEEN OF THIS TITLE, AS ADDED BY CHAPTER FOUR HUNDRED NINETY-SEVEN OF
   15  THE LAWS OF NINETEEN HUNDRED EIGHTY-SIX.
   16    (E) "PATIENT MEDICAL RECORDS" SHALL MEAN THE RECORDS THAT, UPON  WRIT-
   17  TEN  REQUEST  BY A COMPETENT PATIENT, PARENT OR GUARDIAN OF AN INFANT, A
   18  GUARDIAN APPOINTED PURSUANT TO ARTICLE EIGHTY-ONE OF THE MENTAL  HYGIENE
   19  LAW,  OR  CONSERVATOR OF A CONSERVATEE, ARE REQUIRED TO BE PROVIDED TO A
   20  PHYSICIAN OR HOSPITAL PURSUANT TO SECTION SEVENTEEN OF THIS TITLE.
   21    2. A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER WHICH HAS IN ITS POSSESSION PATIENT INFORMA-
   22  TION OR PATIENT MEDICAL RECORDS AND WHICH HAS DETERMINED TO  PERMANENTLY
   23  CEASE  TO  DO  BUSINESS  OR PRACTICE IN THIS STATE SHALL, AT LEAST SIXTY
   24  DAYS PRIOR TO SUCH ACTION, NOTIFY THE  COMMISSIONER  OF  ITS  INTENT  TO
   25  CEASE OPERATIONS IN THIS STATE, IN THE FORM AND MANNER PRESCRIBED BY THE
   26  COMMISSIONER,  AND  SHALL  PROVIDE  A  COPY OF ITS PLAN, IN THE FORM AND
   27  MANNER PRESCRIBED BY THE COMMISSIONER, FOR TRANSFER OF PATIENT  INFORMA-
   28  TION  OR  PATIENT MEDICAL RECORDS TO ANOTHER PROVIDER, FACILITY, PRACTI-
   29  TIONER OR PATIENT, AS REQUESTED BY THE PATIENT OR REQUIRED  PURSUANT  TO
   30  LAW.    THE  SIXTY  DAY REQUIREMENT FOR NOTIFICATION TO THE COMMISSIONER
   31  SHALL BE WAIVED IF A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER  DETERMINES  TO  CEASE  TO  DO
   32  BUSINESS  OR  PRACTICE  IN  THIS STATE AS A RESULT OF ILLNESS, INJURY OR
   33  DEATH.
   34    3.  WITHIN TEN DAYS OF BEING NOTIFIED BY A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER OF THE
   35  PROVIDER'S DETERMINATION TO CEASE TO DO BUSINESS  OR  PRACTICE  IN  THIS
   36  STATE, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL PRESCRIBE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR TRANSFER OF
   37  PATIENT  INFORMATION  AND  PATIENT  MEDICAL  RECORDS, PROVIDED THAT SUCH
   38  REQUIREMENTS SHALL INCLUDE (A) A MAXIMUM PERIOD OF TIME, NOT  TO  EXCEED
   39  SIXTY  DAYS  FROM  THE  DATE  THAT THE HEALTH CARE PROVIDER, HEALTH CARE
   40  FACILITY OR HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER CEASES TO PRACTICE TO  DO  BUSINESS
   41  IN  THIS  STATE,  FOR THE COMPLETION OF THE TRANSFER, AND (B) A PLAN FOR
   42  NOTIFYING PATIENTS OF THE CLOSURE OR CESSATION OF DOING BUSINESS IN  NEW
   43  YORK AND INFORMING SUCH PATIENTS OF THEIR RIGHT TO REQUEST THEIR PATIENT
   44  INFORMATION  OR  PATIENT  MEDICAL  RECORDS  BE  SENT  TO THE HEALTH CARE
   45  PROVIDER, HEALTH CARE FACILITY OR HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER OF HIS OR HER
   46  CHOICE OR RETURNED TO THEMSELVES.  IF THE DETERMINATION TO CEASE  TO  DO
   47  BUSINESS  OR  PRACTICE  IN  THIS  STATE WAS MADE AS A RESULT OF ILLNESS,
   48  INJURY OR DEATH THE HEALTH CARE PROVIDER SHALL HAVE AN ADDITIONAL  SIXTY
   49  DAYS TO COMPLY WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION.
   50    4.   NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL AUTHORIZE THE DISCLOSURE OF PATIENT
   51  INFORMATION OR PATIENT MEDICAL RECORDS THAT ARE PROHIBITED FROM  DISCLO-
   52  SURE PURSUANT TO LAW.
   53    5.  IF THE COMMISSIONER SHALL DETERMINE THAT THE FAILURE OF ANY HEALTH
   54  CARE PROVIDER, HEALTH CARE FACILITY,  OR  HEALTH  CARE  PRACTITIONER  TO
   55  ADHERE  TO  THE  TERMS OF THE PLAN THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE COMMIS-
   56  SIONER FOR THE  TRANSFER  OF  PATIENT  INFORMATION  OR  PATIENT  MEDICAL
       A. 8080--A                          3
    1  RECORDS  AND SUCH FAILURE SHALL HAVE CAUSED OR MAY CAUSE A THREAT TO THE
    2  HEALTH OF AN INDIVIDUAL PATIENT WHO IS THE SUBJECT OF  SUCH  INFORMATION
    3  OR  MEDICAL  RECORDS  BECAUSE  MORE  THAN SIX MONTHS HAS ELAPSED SINCE A
    4  PRIOR  LABORATORY  TEST,  THE  RESULTS  OF  WHICH  ARE  CONTAINED IN THE
    5  PATIENT'S INFORMATION OR MEDICAL RECORDS, THE COMMISSIONER MAY ORDER NEW
    6  LABORATORY TESTS TO BE PERFORMED BY A PRACTITIONER CHOSEN OR APPROVED BY
    7  THE COMMISSIONER. IN  ORDER  TO  EXPEDITE  SUCH  LABORATORY  TESTS,  THE
    8  COMMISSIONER  MAY  ORDER  PAYMENT  FOR  SUCH  LABORATORY  TESTS FROM ANY
    9  ACCOUNT UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE DEPARTMENT, AND SHALL ASSESS  ANY  SUCH
   10  HEALTH  CARE PROVIDER, HEALTH CARE FACILITY, OR HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER
   11  WHO FAILED TO RELEASE THE PATIENT'S  INFORMATION  OR  PATIENT'S  MEDICAL
   12  RECORDS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PLAN APPROVED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR THE
   13  EXPENSES  ASSOCIATED  WITH  THE  COST  OF  SUCH  LABORATORY TESTS.   FOR
   14  PURPOSES OF THIS SUBDIVISION, THE TERM "LABORATORY TESTS" SHALL INCLUDE,
   15  BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, TESTS AND EXAMINATIONS ADMINISTERED  IN  CLINICAL
   16  LABORATORIES  OR  BLOOD BANKS AS THOSE TERMS ARE DEFINED IN SECTION FIVE
   17  HUNDRED SEVENTY-ONE OF THIS CHAPTER.
   18    6. IF THE COMMISSIONER SHALL DETERMINE THAT A  HEALTH  CARE  PROVIDER,
   19  HEALTH  CARE  FACILITY  OR  HEALTH  CARE PRACTITIONER HAS WILLFULLY, AND
   20  WITHOUT GOOD CAUSE, FAILED TO ADHERE TO THE TERMS OF THE PLAN  THAT  HAS
   21  BEEN  APPROVED  BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR THE TRANSFER OF PATIENT INFORMA-
   22  TION OR PATIENT MEDICAL RECORDS, THE COMMISSIONER MAY ASSESS  A  PENALTY
   23  NOT TO EXCEED FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR EACH OF THE FIRST TWENTY FAILURES
   24  AND TWO HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS FOR EACH ADDITIONAL FAILURE THEREAFTER BUT
   25  ANY  PROVIDER,  FACILITY OR PRACTITIONER SHALL NOT BE ASSESSED A PENALTY
   26  UNDER THIS SUBDIVISION  OF  MORE  THAN  THIRTY  THOUSAND  DOLLARS.    AN
   27  AGGRIEVED  PROVIDER, FACILITY OR PRACTITIONER MAY APPEAL SUCH ASSESSMENT
   28  TO THE MEDICAL RECORD ACCESS REVIEW COMMITTEES DESIGNATED BY THE COMMIS-
   29  SIONER PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION FOUR OF SECTION EIGHTEEN OF  THIS  TITLE,
   30  SUCH  SECTION  AS ADDED BY CHAPTER FOUR HUNDRED NINETY-SEVEN OF THE LAWS
   31  OF NINETEEN HUNDRED EIGHTY-SIX.
   32    7. THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL NOT AFFECT ANY RIGHTS AFFORDED
   33  PURSUANT TO SECTION SEVENTEEN OR SECTION EIGHTEEN OF  THIS  TITLE,  SUCH
   34  SECTION  EIGHTEEN  AS  ADDED BY CHAPTER FOUR HUNDRED NINETY-SEVEN OF THE
   35  LAWS OF NINETEEN HUNDRED EIGHTY-SIX.
   36    8. ANY ASSESSMENT MADE PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION SHALL BE  IN  ADDITION
   37  TO ANY OTHER ASSESSMENT OR PENALTY THAT IS AUTHORIZED BY LAW.
   38    9.  NOTHING  IN THIS SECTION SHALL AFFECT OR EXTEND THE PERIOD OF TIME
   39  THAT A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER IS REQUIRED TO RETAIN  A  PATIENT'S  MEDICAL
   40  INFORMATION AND MEDICAL RECORDS.
   41    S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
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