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Read. Follow. Verify.Massachusetts bill requires medical providers to fulfill patient records requests within 15 business days
Last action · January 29, 2026: Accompanied a study order, see S2931Sponsors: Mike Rush and 1 other
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What This Bill Would Do
By Mr. Rush, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1621) of Michael F. Rush and Paul McMurtry for legislation relative to medical records requests. Public Health.
Patients gain a legally enforceable 15-business-day timeline to obtain health records, lab reports, and x-rays at a reasonable cost, shifting the timeframe for accessing personal medical information.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
patients
Patients gain the right to receive their diagnoses, treatment information, and complete health records within a mandatory 15-business-day window.
providers
Healthcare providers must adhere to a strict 15-business-day timeline for fulfilling written requests and provide records at a reasonable cost.
Key Facts
- Providers must supply complete and current information regarding a patient's diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis within 15 business days of a written request.
- Patients or their authorized representatives can request copies of health records, including laboratory reports, x-rays, and prescriptions, at a reasonable cost.
- Providers may furnish a summary of the record instead of full copies if the patient consents.
- Providers are permitted to exclude written speculations about a patient's health condition from the provided records, except for information necessary for informed consent.
Show all 5 facts
- Patients may request pertinent portions of their health record relating to a specific condition rather than the entire file.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a healthcare provider have to fulfill a medical records request?
Can a provider exclude certain information from my medical records?
Do I have to pay for copies of my medical records?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
6 actions- Jan 29, 2026SenateAccompanied a study order, see S2931
- Nov 3, 2025SenateCommitteeBill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Health Care Financing
- Nov 3, 2025SenateAccompanied by S1519
- Jun 30, 2025JointHearing scheduled for 07/10/2025 from 09:00 AM-01:00 PM in A-1
- Feb 27, 2025HouseHouse concurred
- Feb 27, 2025SenateCommitteeReferred to the committee on Public Health
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
malegislature.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance60How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy10Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz20Current news / social attention level
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