By: Hancock S.B. No. 1520     (Burkett)           A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to duties of physicians and certain other entities   regarding patient records.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 159.006, Occupations Code, is amended by   adding Subsections (f), (g), and (h) to read as follows:          (f)  If a physician retires from, terminates employment   with, or otherwise leaves a medical practice, the medical practice   shall provide to the departing physician:                (1)  a list of each patient seen or treated by the   departing physician in the two years preceding the date of the   physician's departure, along with the patient's most recent   available contact information; and                (2)  on written authorization of a patient of the   departing physician:                      (A)  access to the patient's medical records; and                      (B)  copies of the patient's medical records, on   payment of a fee not to exceed the amount prescribed by the board   under Section 159.008(a).          (g)  Unless the departing physician and medical practice   agree otherwise, the list and medical records described by   Subsection (f) shall be provided to the departing physician in the   same format in which the records are maintained by the medical   practice.          (h)  The requirements of Subsection (f) may not be waived,   voided, or nullified by contract.          SECTION 2.  Chapter 159, Occupations Code, is amended by   adding Section 159.011 to read as follows:          Sec. 159.011.  NOTICE TO PATIENT OF PHYSICIAN DEPARTING   MEDICAL PRACTICE. (a)  The board by rule shall require that a   physician notify the physician's patients before retiring from,   terminating employment with, or otherwise leaving a medical   practice and provide the patients the opportunity to request copies   of billing or medical records under Section 159.006.          (b)  The requirements of Subsection (a) may not be waived,   voided, or nullified by contract.          SECTION 3.  Section 159.006, Occupations Code, as amended by   this Act, and Section 159.011, Occupations Code, as added by this   Act, apply only to a contract entered into or renewed on or after   the effective date of this Act. A contract entered into or renewed   before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in   effect on the date the contract was entered into or renewed, and the   former law is continued in effect for that purpose.          SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.