House Bill 1329

AN ACT TO CREATE NEW SECTION 73-25-41, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE PHYSICIANS TO RETAIN MEDICAL RECORDS IN THE ORIGINAL, MICROFILMED, OR SIMILARLY REPRODUCED FORM FOR A MINIMUM PERIOD OF SIX YEARS FROM THE DATE A PATIENT IS LAST TREATED BY THE PHYSICIAN; TO PROVIDE THAT GRAPHIC MATTER, IMAGES, X-RAY FILMS, AND LIKE MATTER THAT WERE NECESSARY TO PRODUCE A DIAGNOSTIC OR THERAPEUTIC REPORT SHALL BE RETAINED, PRESERVED AND PROPERLY STORED BY A PHYSICIAN IN THE ORIGINAL, MICROFILMED OR SIMILARLY REPRODUCED FORM FOR A MINIMUM PERIOD OF THREE YEARS FROM THE DATE A PATIENT IS LAST TREATED BY THE PHYSICIAN; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. The following shall be codified as Section 73-25-41, Mississippi Code of 1972:

73-25-41. (1) Medical records shall be retained by a physician in the original, microfilmed, or similarly reproduced form for a minimum period of six (6) years from the date a patient is last treated by the physician.
(2) Graphic matter, images, X-ray films, and like matter that were necessary to produce a diagnostic or therapeutic report shall be retained, preserved and properly stored by a physician in the original, microfilmed or similarly reproduced form for a minimum period of three (3) years from the date a patient is last treated by the physician. Such graphic matter, images, X-ray film, and like matter shall be retained for a longer period when requested in writing by the patient.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2024.