Creates provisions relating to the disclosure of patients' citizenship or immigration status
Summary
HB 1267 would add a new section to Missouri law governing healthcare professionals’ handling of patients’ citizenship and immigration status. The bill prohibits healthcare professionals from documenting a patient’s citizenship or immigration status in medical records, except when needed to assess eligibility for social or community services. It also bars healthcare professionals from disclosing that status to any law enforcement agency.
The bill further requires the appropriate licensing board to investigate suspected violations and imposes discipline if a violation is found. An accidental disclosure would result in one year of probation on terms set by the board, while an intentional disclosure would result in a one-year license suspension for each disclosure.
Impact
The bill would create new statutory duties and penalties in Chapter 191, RSMo, specifically section 191.948, affecting healthcare professionals and their licensing boards. It would limit what may be recorded in patient medical records, restrict disclosure to law enforcement, and authorize professional discipline for violations, thereby adding a confidentiality rule tied to immigration-related information and a corresponding enforcement mechanism through licensing boards.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes, the available context suggests the measure is framed as a patient privacy and confidentiality protection for immigrants and noncitizens. No formal opposition or support is documented in the provided materials, but the structure of the bill indicates a policy preference for limiting cooperation between healthcare providers and law enforcement regarding immigration status.
Contention
The main point of contention is likely the balance between patient privacy and law enforcement access to immigration-related information. Supporters would view the bill as protecting vulnerable patients and encouraging them to seek care without fear of disclosure, while opponents may argue it restricts information sharing or creates compliance burdens for healthcare professionals and licensing boards. The bill also distinguishes between accidental and intentional disclosures, suggesting concern over both inadvertent recordkeeping errors and deliberate violations.