SENATE HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES AND SENIOR CITIZENS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 2893

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MAY 6, 2021

      The Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 2893.

      As amended by the committee, this bill revises P.L.2019, c.217 (C.26:2H-5n et al.), which sets forth certain requirements concerning the fees that may be charged for patient medical and billing records, to provide that these records may be provided without fee to any patient or attorney representing a patient who has a pending application for, or who is current receiving, federal Social Security disability benefits.      Current law already authorizes patient records to be furnished without fee to low income patients, not-for-profit corporations representing a patient, and attorneys representing a patient on a pro bono basis.

      The bill further specifies that patient records are to be delivered in the manner specified by the requestor, including mailing the records to any address or faxing the records to any number specified by the requestor, including the requestor’s attorney.  Nothing in the bill will alter the ability of hospitals and health care professionals to assess a fee for the costs of delivering the records, unless the records are otherwise to be provided without charge.

      As reported by the committee with amendments, Senate Bill No. 2893 is identical to Assembly Bill No. 4139, which was also amended and reported by the committee on this date.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amendments add a provision authorizing an attorney representing a patient who has a pending application for, or who is currently receiving, Social Security disability benefits, to receive copies of the patient’s medical and billing records without fee.