THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY QUINN, WATSON, HARPER, ADOLPH, BAKER, BEAR, BELFANTI, BEYER, BOBACK, BOYD, CARROLL, CIVERA, COHEN, P. COSTA, CREIGHTON, DALLY, DeLUCA, FABRIZIO, FLECK, FRANKEL, GALLOWAY, GEIST, GERBER, HARKINS, HENNESSEY, KILLION, KORTZ, MAHONEY, McILVAINE SMITH, MELIO, MILLER, MILNE, MOUL, MUNDY, MURT, D. O'BRIEN, O'NEILL, PASHINSKI, PEIFER, PERZEL, PETRI, PICKETT, QUIGLEY, READSHAW, REICHLEY, ROCK, SABATINA, SCAVELLO, SIPTROTH, K. SMITH, STERN, SWANGER, VEREB, WANSACZ, YOUNGBLOOD, GODSHALL AND BROOKS, APRIL 27, 2009

AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, SEPTEMBER 11, 2009   

AN ACT

Providing for copies of patient test results to be sent directly

to patients.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Short title.

This act shall be known and may be cited as the Patient Test

Result Information Act.

Section 2.  Definitions.

The following words and phrases when used in this act shall

have the meanings given to them in this section unless the

context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Diagnostic imaging services."  Services that include any of

the following:

(1)  Magnetic resonance imaging.

(2)  Nuclear medicine.

(3)  Angiography.

(4)  Arteriography.

(5)  Computerized axial tomography.

(6)  Positron emission tomography.

(7)  Digital vascular imaging.

(8)  Bronchoscopy.

(9)  Lymphangiography.

(10)  Splenography.

(11)  Ultrasound.

(12)  EEG.

(13)  EKG.

(14)  Nerve conduction studies.

(15)  Evoked potentials.

Section 3.  Test results.

(a)  General rule.--An entity performing diagnostic imaging

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services with the exception of routine obstetrical ultrasounds

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used to monitor the development of a fetus in which no adverse

medical condition is diagnosed shall send directly to the

patient a written copy of the summary of the test results of

diagnostic imaging services performed on the patient within ten 

days of sending the test results to the patient's prescribing

physician. The written copy of the summary of the test results

may be sent directly to the patient electronically by e-mail or

facsimile.

(b)  Exception.--Routine obstetrical ultrasounds used to

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monitor the development of a fetus shall be exempted from the

requirements of subsection (a).

Section 20.  Effective date.

This act shall take effect in 60 days.