United States · Bill · S
S. 1360 (104th)
Medical Records Confidentiality Act of 1995
Introduced
24 October 1995
Last action
14 November 1995 · Committee
Status
Committee on Labor and Human Resources. Hearings held.
Sponsors
Sen. Bennett, Robert F. [R-UT], Sen. Dole, Robert J. [R-KS], Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT], Sen. Kassebaum, Nancy Landon [R-KS], Sen. Kennedy, Edward M. [D-MA], Sen. Frist, William H. [R-TN], Sen. Simon, Paul [D-IL], Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT], Sen. Gregg, Judd [R-NH], Sen. Stevens, Ted [R-AK], Sen. Jeffords, James M. [I-VT], Sen. Kohl, Herb [D-WI], Sen. Daschle, Thomas A. [D-SD], Sen. Feingold, Russell D. [D-WI], Sen. Simpson, Alan K. [R-WY], Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ], Sen. Mack, Connie, III [R-FL], Sen. Pell, Claiborne [D-RI], Sen. Moseley-Braun, Carol [D-IL], Sen. Cochran, Thad [R-MS], Sen. Craig, Larry E. [R-ID]
Subjects
Healthcare
Source updated
21 August 2025
Summary
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Individual's Rights Subtitle A: Review of Protected Health Information by Subjects of the Information Subtitle B: Establishment of Safeguards Title II: Restrictions on Use and Disclosure Title III: Sanctions Subtitle A: Civil Sanctions Subtitle B: Criminal Sanctions Title IV: Miscellaneous Medical Records Confidentiality Act of 1995 - Defines "health information trustee" (HIT) to mean a person or entity that creates, receives, obtains, maintains, uses, or transmits protected health information (PHI) and any employee, agent, or contractor of such a person. Title I: Individual's Rights - Subtitle A: Review of Protected Health Information by Subjects of the Information - Requires a HIT to permit an individual who is the subject of PHI to inspect and copy the information, subject to cost reimbursement and exceptions. (Sec. 102) Provides for correction or amendment of PHI, written notice of a HIT's information practices, and development of a model notice. Subtitle B: Establishment of Safeguards - Requires a HIT to maintain: (1) administrative, technical, and physical confidentiality safeguards; and (2) for at least seven years, a record of any PHI disclosure not related to treatment. Title II: Restrictions on Use and Disclosure - Prohibits disclosures except: (1) as allowed under this title; (2) compatible with the purposes for which the information was obtained; and (3) in the minimum amount necessary to accomplish the disclosure's purpose. (Sec. 202) Regulates disclosure authorizations: (1) related to treatment or payment, including providing for revocation or amendment of authorization and development and dissemination of model authorizations; and (2) not related to treatment or payment. (Sec. 204) Allows disclosure to a certified health information service for the purpose of creating nonidentifiable health information. Provides for certification. (Sec. 205) Specifies the circumstances in which disclosure is allowed: (1) to an individual's next of kin; (2) to any other person; and (3) after death. (Sec. 207) Allows disclosure to a health oversight agency for an oversight function authorized by law. (Sec. 208) Allows specified entities to disclose PHI to a public health authority or other person authorized by law for use in a legally authorized disease or injury report, public health surveillance, or public health investigation or intervention. (Sec. 209) Specifies the circumstances in which disclosure to a certified institutional review board is allowed. Provides for certification. (Sec. 210) Allows specified entities to disclose PHI in connection with certain judicial or administrative proceedings. (Sec. 211) Allows specified entities to disclose PHI pursuant to a subpoena if certain procedures are followed. Sets forth challenge procedures. (Sec. 212) Regulates disclosure related to government subpoenas, warrants, and summonses. (Sec. 213) Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to promulgate standards for disclosing, authorizing, and authenticating protected health information in electronic form. Title III: Sanctions - Subtitle A: Civil Sanctions - Imposes on HITs a civil penalty for substantial and material failure to comply with this Act. Provides, if the violations have occurred with such frequency as to constitute a general business practice, for a higher civil penalty or exclusion from Medicare and Medicaid (titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act) or any other federally funded health care programs. (Sec. 302) Allows an individual aggrieved by a violation of this title to bring a civil action for preliminary and equitable relief, actual or liquidated damages, and punitive damages. Allows assessment of attorney's fees. Subtitle B: Criminal Sanctions - Provides for criminal fines and imprisonment for violations of this title. Title IV: Miscellaneous - Declares that: (1) this Act, subject to exceptions, preempts State law; and (2) a HIT that makes a disclosure permitted by this title shall not be liable to the individual for the disclosure under common law.
This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.
Timeline
24 October 1995
Introduced
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Labor and Human Resources.
Source: IntroReferral
24 October 1995
Introduced
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S15576-15577)
Source: IntroReferral
24 October 1995
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
Source: IntroReferral
14 November 1995
Committee
Committee on Labor and Human Resources. Hearings held.
Source: Committee
Votes
No vote records are attached yet.
Versions
- Introduced in Senate · 24 October 1995 · Download file
Documents
3 official files
Introduced in Senate (text)
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Introduced in Senate (text)
Introduced in Senate · EN · 24 October 1995
Introduced in Senate (PDF)
Introduced in Senate · EN · 24 October 1995
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Introduced in Senate
summary · EN · 24 October 1995
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Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.
Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.
Sponsors
- Sen. Bennett, Robert F. [R-UT] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. Dole, Robert J. [R-KS] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Kassebaum, Nancy Landon [R-KS] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. Kennedy, Edward M. [D-MA] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Frist, William H. [R-TN] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. Simon, Paul [D-IL] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. Gregg, Judd [R-NH] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. Stevens, Ted [R-AK] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. Jeffords, James M. [I-VT] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. Kohl, Herb [D-WI] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Daschle, Thomas A. [D-SD] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Feingold, Russell D. [D-WI] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Simpson, Alan K. [R-WY] · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ] · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. Mack, Connie, III [R-FL] · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. Pell, Claiborne [D-RI] · D · Cosponsor
- Sen. Moseley-Braun, Carol [D-IL] · D · Cosponsor
- Sen. Cochran, Thad [R-MS] · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. Craig, Larry E. [R-ID] · R · Cosponsor
- · sshr00 · Standing
Related records
No cross-record relationships stored yet.
Sources
PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.
- Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/senate-bill/1360
- Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/104/s/1360
- us · 104-s-1360 · source updated 21 August 2025