Senate Bill 2810

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 41-10-1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER OR ITS AGENTS OR BOTH TO TIMELY PROVIDE MEDICAL AND BILLING RECORDS AFTER A VALID REQUEST FROM A PATIENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 41-10-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

41-10-1. (1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (3), a person, knowing that the information is misleading or inaccurate, shall not intentionally, willfully or recklessly place or direct another to place in a patient's medical record or chart misleading or inaccurate information regarding the diagnosis, care, treatment or cause of a patient's condition. A violation of this subsection is punishable as follows: a person who intentionally or willfully or recklessly violates this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for not more than one (1) year, or a fine of not more then One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), or both.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (3), a person shall not intentionally or willfully alter or destroy or direct another to alter or destroy a patient's medical records or charts for the purpose of concealing his or her responsibility for the patient's injury, sickness or death. A person who violates this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than one (1) year, or a fine of not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), or both.

(3) Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply to either of the following:

(a) Destruction of a patient's original medical record or chart if all of the information contained in or on the medical record or chart is otherwise retained by means of mechanical or electronic recording, chemical reproduction, or other equivalent techniques that accurately reproduce all of the information contained in or on the original.

(b) Supplementation of information or correction of an error in a patient's medical record or chart in a manner that reasonably discloses that the supplementation or correction was performed and that does not conceal or alter prior entries.

(4) A health care provider or its agent(s) or both shall provide medical and billing records within thirty (30) days from the date a valid request from the patient is received.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2020.