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Committee OKs bill letting ordering providers temporarily withhold test results from patient portals
Summary
A bill that lets ordering providers temporarily restrict automatic release of specific test results to patient portals for up to 30 days cleared committee after sponsors said it helps preserve patient‑provider continuity; opponents raised few objections and the committee voted to pass.
Representative (presenter identified in committee as) Acre introduced a bill to permit a health care provider who orders a test to place a time‑limited hold on that single test’s automatic release to the patient portal. The restriction is provider‑ and test‑specific and expires after 30 days if the provider does not release results.
Sponsor testimony said the change preserves continuity of care: providers can review complex results, schedule a follow‑up visit, and counsel patients before results appear online. Representative Acre said the hold is only temporary and cannot be used as a blanket block for a patient’s entire medical record. In committee exchanges, members asked whether another provider or the patient could still obtain results directly from the testing lab; the sponsor confirmed the lab or another treating provider could release information and that the restriction is limited to the portal upload.
Supporters said the change avoids unnecessary alarm from raw clinical language appearing in patient portals before a clinician can explain findings. Members who shared personal experience said delayed release to allow a clinician conversation can reduce patient anxiety. The committee adopted and passed the bill; the chair announced the motion carried.
Provenance evidence (selected):
"What this bill does is allows a health care provider who orders a test to to put a temporary hold on that test being automatically uploaded and available to the patient." — Representative Acre (presentation)
"All those in favor, say aye... Aye. All opposed? Ayes have it." — Chair (vote)
Ending: The committee approved the provider‑hold measure; it moves forward with committee support.
