HBA-MPM H.B. 2827 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2827 By: Isett Public Health 4/6/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Section 241.152 (Written Authorization for Disclosure of Health Care Information), Health and Safety Code addresses situations in which the disclosure of health care information is authorized. In some instances, however, hospitals will use one document to obtain a patient's consent for medical treatment and to authorize the disclosure of health care information. In such instances, if a patient or the patient's legally authorized representative consents to treatment, they also consent to the release of certain health care information. H.B. 2827 specifies that an authorization to disclose health care information must be contained in a separate document than that which contains the consent to receive medical treatment. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 241.152(b), Health and Safety Code, to provide that a disclosure authorization to a hospital is valid only if it is not contained in the same document that contains the consent to medical treatment obtained from the patient. SECTION 2.Effective date: September 1, 1999. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.