Public Act 097-0867
 
SB3171 EnrolledLRB097 18829 CEL 64066 b

    AN ACT concerning regulation.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 5. The Code of Civil Procedure is amended by
changing Sections 8-2001 and 8-2001.5 as follows:
 
    (735 ILCS 5/8-2001)  (from Ch. 110, par. 8-2001)
    Sec. 8-2001. Examination of health care records.
    (a) In this Section:
    "Health care facility" or "facility" means a public or
private hospital, ambulatory surgical treatment center,
nursing home, independent practice association, or physician
hospital organization, or any other entity where health care
services are provided to any person. The term does not include
a health care practitioner.
    "Health care practitioner" means any health care
practitioner, including a physician, dentist, podiatrist,
advanced practice nurse, physician assistant, clinical
psychologist, or clinical social worker. The term includes a
medical office, health care clinic, health department, group
practice, and any other organizational structure for a licensed
professional to provide health care services. The term does not
include a health care facility.
    (b) Every private and public health care facility shall,
upon the request of any patient who has been treated in such
health care facility, or any person, entity, or organization
presenting a valid authorization for the release of records
signed by the patient or the patient's legally authorized
representative, or as authorized by Section 8-2001.5, permit
the patient, his or her health care practitioner, authorized
attorney, or any person, entity, or organization presenting a
valid authorization for the release of records signed by the
patient or the patient's legally authorized representative to
examine the health care facility patient care records,
including but not limited to the history, bedside notes,
charts, pictures and plates, kept in connection with the
treatment of such patient, and permit copies of such records to
be made by him or her or his or her health care practitioner or
authorized attorney.
    (c) Every health care practitioner shall, upon the request
of any patient who has been treated by the health care
practitioner, or any person, entity, or organization
presenting a valid authorization for the release of records
signed by the patient or the patient's legally authorized
representative, permit the patient and the patient's health
care practitioner or authorized attorney, or any person,
entity, or organization presenting a valid authorization for
the release of records signed by the patient or the patient's
legally authorized representative, to examine and copy the
patient's records, including but not limited to those relating
to the diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, history, charts,
pictures and plates, kept in connection with the treatment of
such patient.
    (d) A request for copies of the records shall be in writing
and shall be delivered to the administrator or manager of such
health care facility or to the health care practitioner. The
person (including patients, health care practitioners and
attorneys) requesting copies of records shall reimburse the
facility or the health care practitioner at the time of such
copying for all reasonable expenses, including the costs of
independent copy service companies, incurred in connection
with such copying not to exceed a $20 handling charge for
processing the request and the actual postage or shipping
charge, if any, plus: (1) for paper copies 75 cents per page
for the first through 25th pages, 50 cents per page for the
26th through 50th pages, and 25 cents per page for all pages in
excess of 50 (except that the charge shall not exceed $1.25 per
page for any copies made from microfiche or microfilm; records
retrieved from scanning, digital imaging, electronic
information or other digital format do not qualify as
microfiche or microfilm retrieval for purposes of calculating
charges); and (2) for electronic records, retrieved from a
scanning, digital imaging, electronic information or other
digital format in a electronic document, a charge of 50% of the
per page charge for paper copies under subdivision (d)(1). This
per page charge includes the cost of each CD Rom, DVD, or other
storage media. Records already maintained in an electronic or
digital format shall be provided in an electronic format when
so requested. If the records system does not allow for the
creation or transmission of an electronic or digital record,
then the facility or practitioner shall inform the requester in
writing of the reason the records can not be provided
electronically. The written explanation may be included with
the production of paper copies, if the requester chooses to
order paper copies. These rates shall be automatically adjusted
as set forth in Section 8-2006. The facility or health care
practitioner may, however, charge for the reasonable cost of
all duplication of record material or information that cannot
routinely be copied or duplicated on a standard commercial
photocopy machine such as x-ray films or pictures.
    (d-5) The handling fee shall not be collected from the
patient or the patient's personal representative who obtains
copies of records under Section 8-2001.5.
    (e) The requirements of this Section shall be satisfied
within 30 days of the receipt of a written request by a patient
or by his or her legally authorized representative, health care
practitioner, authorized attorney, or any person, entity, or
organization presenting a valid authorization for the release
of records signed by the patient or the patient's legally
authorized representative. If the facility or health care
practitioner needs more time to comply with the request, then
within 30 days after receiving the request, the facility or
health care practitioner must provide the requesting party with
a written statement of the reasons for the delay and the date
by which the requested information will be provided. In any
event, the facility or health care practitioner must provide
the requested information no later than 60 days after receiving
the request.
    (f) A health care facility or health care practitioner must
provide the public with at least 30 days prior notice of the
closure of the facility or the health care practitioner's
practice. The notice must include an explanation of how copies
of the facility's records may be accessed by patients. The
notice may be given by publication in a newspaper of general
circulation in the area in which the health care facility or
health care practitioner is located.
    (g) Failure to comply with the time limit requirement of
this Section shall subject the denying party to expenses and
reasonable attorneys' fees incurred in connection with any
court ordered enforcement of the provisions of this Section.
(Source: P.A. 97-623, eff. 11-23-11.)
 
    (735 ILCS 5/8-2001.5)
    Sec. 8-2001.5. Authorization for release of a deceased
patient's records.
    (a) In addition to disclosure allowed under Section 8-802,
a deceased person's health care records must may be released
upon written request of the executor or administrator of the
deceased person's estate or to an agent appointed by the
deceased under a power of attorney for health care. When no
executor, administrator, or agent exists, and the person did
not specifically object to disclosure of his or her records in
writing, then a deceased person's health care records must may
be released upon the written request of a person, who is
considered to be a personal representative of the patient for
the purpose of the release of a deceased patient's health care
records, in one of these categories:
        (1) the deceased person's surviving spouse; or
        (2) if there is no surviving spouse, any one or more of
    the following: (i) an adult son or daughter of the
    deceased, (ii) a parent of the deceased, or (iii) an adult
    brother or sister of the deceased.
    (b) Health care facilities and practitioners are
authorized to provide a copy of a deceased patient's records
based upon a person's payment of the statutory fee and signed
"Authorized Relative Certification", attesting to the fact
that the person is authorized to receive such records under
this Section.
    (c) Any person who, in good faith, relies on a copy of an
Authorized Relative Certification shall have the same
immunities from criminal and civil liability as those who rely
on a power of attorney for health care as provided by Illinois
law.
    (d) Upon request for records of a deceased patient, the
named authorized relative shall provide the facility or
practitioner with a certified copy of the death certificate and
a certification in substantially the following form:
 
AUTHORIZED RELATIVE CERTIFICATION

 
    I, (insert name of authorized relative), certify that I am
an authorized relative of the deceased (insert name of
deceased). (A certified copy of the death certificate must be
attached.)
 
    I certify that to the best of my knowledge and belief that
no executor or administrator has been appointed for the
deceased's estate, that no agent was authorized to act for the
deceased under a power of attorney for health care, and the
deceased has not specifically objected to disclosure in
writing.
 
    I certify that I am the surviving spouse of the deceased;
or
 
    I certify that there is no surviving spouse and my
relationship to the deceased is (circle one):
        (1) An adult son or daughter of the deceased.
        (2) Either parent of the deceased.
        (3) An adult brother or sister of the deceased.
 
    I certify that I am seeking the records as a personal
representative who is acting in a representative capacity and
who is authorized to seek these records under Section 8-2001.5
of the Code of Civil Procedure.
 
    This certification is made under penalty of perjury.*
 
Dated: (insert date)
 
.................................
(Print Authorized Relative's Name)
.................................
(Authorized Relative's Signature)
.................................
(Authorized Relative's Address)
 
*(Note: Perjury is defined in Section 32-2 of the Criminal Code
of 1961, and is a Class 3 felony.)
(Source: P.A. 97-623, eff. 11-23-11.)
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.