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Bill

HB 4224

Relating to information regarding consumer access to health care records.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Donna Howard and 3 co-sponsors

Texas law now requires healthcare providers to inform patients of their rights to access medical records, effective September 1, 2025.

Effective on 9/1/25
#consumerprotection(i0080) #electronicinformationsystems(i0311) #healthcareproviders(i0387) #health--general(i0385) #hospitals(i0400) #medicalrecords(s0104) #openrecords(i0548)
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Bill Summary · HB 4224

Legislative bill overview

HB 4224 mandates that healthcare providers in Texas must provide consumers with clear, accessible information about their rights to obtain and access their health care records. The bill establishes requirements for how and when this information must be disclosed to patients, likely including timelines, formats, and contact information for record requests.

Why is this important

Patient access to medical records is fundamental to informed healthcare decision-making, enabling consumers to verify accuracy, obtain second opinions, and maintain continuity of care across providers. This bill standardizes transparency practices across Texas healthcare systems, addressing inconsistent implementation of federal patient access rights by ensuring all providers adequately inform patients of these existing legal entitlements.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation costs: Healthcare providers may face expenses adapting administrative systems and staff training to comply with new disclosure requirements
  • Definition ambiguity: The bill's effectiveness depends on how specifically "information" and "consumer access" are defined in regulations—vague standards could result in inconsistent compliance
  • Competitive concerns: Standardized disclosure requirements could disadvantage smaller healthcare facilities with limited administrative resources compared to large hospital systems

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

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