HCS HB 1382 -- MISSOURI PATIENT PRIVACY ACT

SPONSOR:  Hobbs (Ervin)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass by consent" by the Committee on
Insurance Policy by a vote of 10 to 0.

This substitute establishes the Missouri Patient Privacy Act
which prohibits the disclosure of patient-specific health
information to any employer, public or private payer, or employee
or agent of a state department or agency without the written
consent of the patient excluding information submitted as part of
a medical claim.  Health information may be disclosed to a health
insurer; labor benefit trust; employer; state employee; the
Missouri Consolidated Health Care Plan; the Department of Health
and Senior Services; the Department of Insurance, Financial
Institutions and Professional Registration; or the MO HealthNet
Division within the Department of Social Services in connection
with the person's official duties including overseeing state
health programs, tracking infectious diseases, administering
state wellness initiatives and programs, researching state
medical trends, and assessing the quality and affordability of
health care.

The substitute does not prohibit disclosure of personal health
information consistent with federal law and does not require
health care providers to obscure or remove the information when
disclosing it.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2011, FY 2012, and
FY 2013.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill will keep personal
health information private and will help make it consistent with
federal law.

Testifying for the bill was Representative Ervin.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 14, 2010 at 3:10 pm