Panel advances bill expanding parents' access to minor medical records after debate over immunization language

A Senate Health and Human Resources Committee moved House Bill 2402 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it pass as amended Wednesday after a lengthy debate over parents' access to minors' medical records and a contested provision about immunization records.

The bill, explained by counsel Ms. Redden, would “provide access to a minor child's medical records” and remove an exemption that currently required health-care providers to have prior written consent from a minor before releasing records on certain topics, including birth control, prenatal care and venereal disease. Ms. Redden told the committee the proposal also removes an exemption applying to records governed by the AIDS-related medical testing and records confidentiality act and requires a…