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First Substitute H.B. 81

This document includes House Floor Amendments incorporated into the bill on Fri, Jan 30, 2009 at 11:15 AM by ddonat. -->

Representative Stephen E. Sandstrom proposes the following substitute bill:


             1     
HEALTH CARE PATIENT IDENTITY

             2     
PROTECTION

             3     
2009 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Chief Sponsor: Stephen E. Sandstrom

             6     
Senate Sponsor: Stephen H. Urquhart

             7     
             8      LONG TITLE
             9      General Description:
             10          This bill amends the Health Care Facility Licensing and Inspection Act by providing
             11      measures to discourage identity theft and health insurance fraud, and to protect the
             12      accuracy of medical records.
             13      Highlighted Provisions:
             14          This bill:
             15          .    defines terms;
             16          .    requires a medical facility or a health professional office to, prior to providing
             17      services to a patient, request identification for:
             18              .    the patient; and
             19              .    an individual who consents to the provision of services to the patient, if the
             20      patient lacks the capacity to consent;
             21          .    permits a medical facility or a health professional office to use certain methods to
             22      document or confirm a patient's identity;
             23          .    prohibits a medical facility or a health professional office that is subject to the
             24      federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) from
             25      denying services to an individual on the basis that the individual does not provide


             26      identification when requested;
             27          .    provides that a medical facility or a health professional office is not subject to a
             28      private right of action for failing to ask for identification; and
             29          .    prohibits the imposition of penalties if a medical facility or a health professional
             30      office does not request documentation.
             31      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             32          None
             33      Other Special Clauses:
             34          None
             35      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             36      ENACTS:
             37          26-21-25, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             38     
             39      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             40          Section 1. Section 26-21-25 is enacted to read:
             41          26-21-25. Patient identity protection.
             42          (1) As used in this section:
             43          (a) "EMTALA" means the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor
             44      Act.
             45          (b) "Health professional office" means:
             46          (i) a physician's office; or
             47          (ii) a dental office.
             48          (c) "Medical facility" means:
             49          (i) a general acute hospital;
             50          (ii) a specialty hospital;
             51          (iii) a home health agency;
             52          (iv) a hospice;
             53          (v) a nursing care facility;
             54          (vi) a residential-assisted living facility;
             55          (vii) a birthing center;
             56          (viii) an ambulatory surgical facility;


             57          (ix) a small health care facility;
             58          (x) an abortion clinic;
             59          (xi) a facility owned or operated by a health maintenance organization;
             60          (xii) an end stage renal disease facility;
             61          (xiii) a health care clinic; or
             62          (xiv) any other health care facility that the committee designates by rule.
             63          (2) (a) In order to discourage identity theft and health insurance fraud, and to reduce
             64      the risk of medical errors caused by incorrect medical records, a medical facility or a health
             65      professional office shall request identification from an individual prior to providing in-patient
             66      or out-patient services to the individual.
             67          (b) If the individual who will receive services from the medical facility or a health
             68      professional office lacks the legal capacity to consent to treatment, the medical facility or a
             69      health professional office shall request identification:
             70          (i) for the individual who lacks the legal capacity to consent to treatment; and
             71          (ii) from the individual who consents to treatment on behalf of the individual described
             72      in Subsection (2)(b)(i).
             73          (3) A medical facility or a health professional office:
             74          (a) that is subject to EMTALA:
             75          (i) may not refuse services to an individual on the basis that the individual did not
             76      provide identification when requested; and
             77          (ii) shall post notice in its emergency department that informs a patient of the patient's
             78      right to treatment for an emergency medical condition under EMTALA;
             79          (b) may not be penalized for failing to ask for identification;
             80          (c) is not subject to a private right of action for failing to ask for identification; and
             81          (d) may document or confirm patient identity by:
             82          (i) photograph;
             83          (ii) fingerprinting;
             84          (iii) palm scan; or
             85          (iv) other reasonable means.
             85a      H. (4) The identification described in this bill:
             85b          (a)    is intended to be used for medical records purposes only; and
             85c          (b)    shall be kept in accordance with the requirements of the Health Insurance
             85d      Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. .H


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