Chambana Sun

Rep. Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur) has introduced legislation to ensure medical record transparency for the patient.

“We're here today to talk about House Bill 1137,” Caulkins said at a Jan. 31 press conference. “This bill is about patient records. It's about the patient. It's about the ability to know what's in your record in real and accurate time. It's also about knowing if there's been any change to your record that you weren't aware of at the time that you were discharged or since the last time you looked at your record."

Caulkins want patients to have access to their most up-to-date records. 

"What we hope to accomplish here is to give patients an opportunity or the comfort of knowing what they're seeing in their medical records is the most current and up-to-date version," Caulkins said. 

Other elements of the bill include: requiring that health care facilities or practitioners inform the public with at least 30 days prior notice of closure, and establishing a $20 fee to request a copy of medical records.

House Bill 1137 was introduced Jan. 12 by Caulkins. It has been assigned to the House Rules Committee.

The bill requires that healthcare facilities or healthcare practitioners notify a patient in writing when they alter the patient's record within three business days of the alteration. The bill also requires a healthcare facility or healthcare practitioner to provide an electronic copy of an altered record within seven calendar days of a patient's request.

Caulkins was first elected to the Illinois House in 2018. His legislative experience includes serving on the Public Utilities, and Prescription Drug Affordability committees. Caulkins resides in Decatur.