Sec. 159.006. INFORMATION FURNISHED BY PHYSICIAN. (a) Unless the physician determines that access to the information would be harmful to the physical, mental, or emotional health of the patient, a physician who receives a written consent for release of information as provided by Section 159.005 shall furnish copies of the requested billing or medical records, or a summary or narrative of the records, including records received from a physician or other health care provider involved in the care or treatment of the patient.
(b) The physician may delete confidential information about another patient or a family member of the patient who has not consented to the release.
(c) In accordance with Section 159.005, on receipt of a written request by a subsequent or consulting physician of a patient of the requested physician, the requested physician shall furnish a copy of the complete billing or medical records of the patient to the subsequent or consulting physician. The duty to provide billing or medical records to a subsequent or consulting physician may not be nullified by contract.
(d) A physician shall provide the information requested under this section not later than the 15th business day after the date of receipt of the written consent for release under Subsection (a) or the written request under Subsection (c).
(e) If the physician denies the request, in whole or in part, the physician shall:
(1) furnish the patient with a written statement, signed and dated, providing the reason for the denial; and
(2) place a copy of the statement denying the request in the patient's:
(A) billing records, if the request was for billing records; or
(B) medical records, if the request was for medical records.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999. Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 984, Sec. 5, eff. June 15, 2001.
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