HB 7227, An Act Concerning Eligibility For State Contracting And Fees Charged For Health Records

TESTIMONY OF THE CONNECTICUT HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION
SUBMITTED TO THE GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION AND ELECTIONS COMMITTEE

Friday, March 21, 2025

The Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA) appreciates this opportunity to submit testimony concerning HB 7227, An Act Concerning Eligibility For State Contracting And Fees Charged For Health Records. CHA opposes the bill, as drafted.

Connecticut hospitals and health systems care for patients, strengthen the state’s economy, and support vulnerable communities across the state. Every day, they work to improve healthcare access, affordability, and health equity. Even as they face ongoing challenges, hospitals provide world-class care to everyone who walks through their doors, regardless of their ability to pay. Hospitals also support an exemplary workforce as the largest collective employer in the state, contribute significantly to the state’s economy, and invest in their communities addressing social drivers of health.

HB 7227 seeks to create a cap on medical records fees for patients, their attorneys, and personal representatives. But instead of simply stating the cap as law, which would be consistent with the current framework for medical records that has been in place for the last several decades, the bill creates a severe penalty for any healthcare provider who fails to limit charges to the newly capped fees.

The penalty would be to exclude the healthcare provider from participating in any state contract. CHA opposes this heavy-handed tactic. Threatening providers with huge penalties is not the best approach to setting a framework for access to medical records.

This is an issue that deserves attention and could benefit from stakeholder engagement to find a fair and reasonable solution. Of note, there are multiple competing bills this session that seek to address medical records fees and access, some of which are bills worked on collaboratively with various stakeholders.

CHA welcomes the opportunity to work with the committee, and other involved committees, to reach mutually agreeable bill language to solve this issue.

Thank you for your consideration of our position. For additional information, contact CHA Government Relations at (203) 294-7301.