Sec. 161.202.  FEES.  (a)  A health care provider or health care facility may not charge a fee for a medical or mental health record requested by a patient or former patient, or by an attorney or other authorized representative of the patient or former patient, for use in supporting an application for disability benefits or other benefits or assistance the patient or former patient may be eligible to receive based on that patient's or former patient's disability, or an appeal relating to denial of those benefits or assistance under:
(1)  Chapter 31, Human Resources Code;
(2)  the state Medicaid program;
(3)  Title II, the federal Social Security Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. Section 401 et seq.);
(4)  Title XVI, the federal Social Security Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. Section 1382 et seq.);
(5)  Title XVIII, the federal Social Security Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. Section 1395 et seq.);
(6)  38 U.S.C. Section 1101 et seq., as amended;  or
(7)  38 U.S.C. Section 1501 et seq., as amended.
(b)  A health care provider or health care facility may charge a fee for the medical or mental health record of a patient or former patient requested by a state or federal agency in relation to the patient or former patient's application for benefits or assistance under Subsection (a) or an appeal relating to denial of those benefits or assistance.
(c)  A person, including a state or federal agency, that requests a record under this section shall include with the request a statement or document from the department or agency that administers the issuance of the assistance or benefits that confirms the application or appeal.
(d)  A health care provider or health facility is not required to provide more than one complete record for a patient or former patient requested under Subsection (a)(6) or (7) without charge.  If additional material is added to the patient or former patient's record, on request the health care provider or health facility shall supplement the record provided under Subsection (a)(6) or (7) without charge.  This subsection does not affect the ability of a person to receive a medical or mental health record under Subsections (a)(1)-(5).
Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 707, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 28, 1995.  Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 201, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.