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SB 470

AN ACT EXCLUDING PATIENT HEALTH INFORMATION AND MEDICAL RECORDS RELATING TO PLASTIC SURGERY FROM THE STATE-WIDE HEALTH INFORMATION EXCHANGE.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Saud Anwar

Connecticut bill would exclude plastic surgery records from state health information exchange, limiting provider access to those medical records across care systems.

REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Public Health
#medicalrecords #patients #state-widehealthinformationexchange
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Bill Summary · SB 470

Legislative bill overview

SB 470 would exclude patient health information and medical records specifically related to plastic surgery from Connecticut's state-wide health information exchange (HIE). The bill prevents plastic surgery records from being shared through the centralized system that typically allows authorized healthcare providers to access patient data across different medical facilities and providers.

Why is this important

Health information exchanges are designed to improve care coordination and patient safety by giving providers access to complete medical histories. Excluding an entire category of medical procedures could create gaps in patient records available to emergency physicians, primary care doctors, and other specialists, potentially affecting treatment decisions. This raises questions about whether patients undergoing plastic surgery should have different privacy protections than those receiving other medical care.

Potential points of contention

  • Privacy vs. Care Coordination: Proponents may argue patients deserve enhanced privacy for elective cosmetic procedures, while opponents contend this fragments medical records and compromises care quality and emergency response capabilities
  • Scope and Consistency: The bill singles out plastic surgery without clearly defining what qualifies as "plastic surgery" (reconstructive vs. cosmetic), and doesn't address why this specialty receives different treatment than other sensitive medical areas
  • Implementation Challenges: Determining which records qualify for exclusion and managing multiple tiers of information access across the state system could create administrative burdens and potential errors in data filtering

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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