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HB 455

Medical records; persons seeking disability benefits may obtain at no charge until determination of disability.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by John Hines

Mississippi bill eliminates medical record fees for disability benefit applicants from application through final determination, removing financial barriers to documentation.

Died In Committee
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Bill Summary · HB 455

Legislative bill overview

HB 455 would require healthcare providers to furnish medical records at no charge to individuals applying for disability benefits, covering the period from application through the final disability determination. This eliminates fees that providers are otherwise permitted to charge under state law for copying and providing medical records to applicants seeking Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.

Why is this important

Medical records are essential documentation for disability claims, and copying fees can create significant financial barriers for applicants who are already in precarious economic situations. Removing these costs could increase access to necessary documentation and potentially improve approval rates for legitimate claims. However, the bill died in committee without advancing further in the legislative process.

Potential points of contention

  • Provider burden and cost: Healthcare facilities would absorb the expense of copying, scanning, and mailing records without compensation, which some providers argue shifts costs to their operations or other patients
  • Scope and duration ambiguity: The bill's language around "until determination of disability" could be interpreted broadly, potentially requiring free records for extended periods or multiple appeal processes
  • Administrative complexity: Providers would need systems to identify which record requests qualify under this exemption versus standard fee-based requests, creating compliance and billing challenges

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

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