HB73 Alabama 2016 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Tim WadsworthRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2016

Title

Medical records, requests for, release to trial court or attorney of record, Secs. 12-21-5, 12-21-6, 12-21-7 am'd.

Summary

HB73 would let litigants in Alabama trials request medical records from providers and have certified copies delivered to the litigant, the court, or the attorney for use at trial.

What This Bill Does

If passed, the bill lets a party in a trial request medical records from a medical provider, including itemized charges. The custodian would process the request and deliver the records to the litigant, the court clerk for admission at trial, or to the attorney of record. Certified copies could be admitted as evidence under existing rules, and copies may be reproduced in clear form (photocopy, photo, microfilm) as needed. Access to the records would be restricted to the parties and their attorneys until the court orders their use at trial.

Who It Affects

• Litigants in Alabama court trials (and their attorneys) who may request medical records from providers
• Medical providers and custodians who must process requests, certify copies, and deliver records
• Courts and attorneys of record who receive certified copies for admission at trial

Key Provisions

• Defines 'medical provider' to include a broad range of professionals and facilities that provide medical services (e.g., physicians, dentists, hospitals, pharmacies, clinics, home health agencies, etc.)
• Allows a certified copy of hospital records of a medical provider to be requested by a litigant and processed by the custodian for delivery to the litigant, the court clerk for admission at trial, or the attorney of record, including itemized charges
• Requires the custodian to prepare a sealed copy with a certificate and deliver it to the court clerk or attorney on payment; the copy is admissible in evidence as prima facie proof if proper conditions are met
• Permits photocopying, photographing, or microfilming of the records as long as they are clear, with conditions affecting weight but not admissibility
• The custodian must provide a certificate form (12-21-7) certifying the copy is an exact, full, true, and correct copy and may include a statement about the reasonableness of charges; the act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Records