H.B. 421 Enrolled

1

MEDICAL FINANCIAL RECORDS AMENDMENTS
2 2010 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: Bradley G. Last
5 Senate Sponsor: Daniel R. Liljenquist
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill modifies the Utah Health Code to allow hospitals to obtain financial
10 information of a patient from a bank or other financial institution when assisting with
11 Medicaid eligibility of a patient.
12 Highlighted Provisions:
13 This bill:
14 . requires a bank to release financial records to a hospital when determining whether
15 a patient qualifies for Medicaid; and
16 . specifies the information the bank shall receive before releasing financial records.
17 Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
18 None
19 Other Special Clauses:
20 This bill takes effect on July 1, 2010.
21 Utah Code Sections Affected:
22 ENACTS:
23 26-18-3.2, Utah Code Annotated 1953
24
25 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
26 Section 1. Section 26-18-3.2 is enacted to read:
27 26-18-3.2. Release of financial information.
28 (1) (a) Upon request from a hospital, or a designated agent of a hospital, a bank or
29 other financial institution shall provide the hospital, or the designated agent of the hospital,

30 financial records of a patient upon the receipt of a notarized document that includes the
31 following patient information:
32 (i) name;
33 (ii) address;
34 (iii) Social Security number; and
35 (iv) patient permission to release the information required by this Subsection (1) to the
36 bank or financial institution.
37 (b) The document required by this Subsection (1) shall be signed by the patient and
38 acknowledged by a notary public.
39 (2) A hospital, or a designated agent of the hospital, may only request the information
40 required under Subsection (1), if the hospital or the agent of the hospital:
41 (a) determines that the patient has no ability to pay; and
42 (b) has received adequate documentation from the patient, such as a valid driver
43 license or passport, to verify the identity of the patient.
44 Section 2. Effective date.
45 This bill takes effect on July 1, 2010.