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6/29/2016
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Legislation that eliminates medical records fees for veterans signed into law
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STATE HOUSE – Governor Gina M. Raimondo has signed into law legislation (2016-S 2296 Sub A / 2016-H 8319) that requires healthcare providers to give veterans their medical records at no cost if they are used to apply for any kind of benefits. The legislation was sponsored by Sen. Donna M. Nesselbush and Rep. Jan P. Malik.
“Our state’s veterans, who have already sacrificed so much for the people of Rhode Island, deserve the easiest path to receive their most well deserved benefits after their service to our country,” said Senator Nesselbush (D-Dist. 15, Pawtucket, North Providence). “And in the case of our returning veterans from the Middle East, these young men and women are coming home with desperate needs for a wide variety of medical care, from physical to psychological trauma. After what they have all done for our country, we need to do everything we can to help them access their earned and justified benefits.”
“The veterans of Rhode Island have risked so much while ensuring our American way of life can continue and with these risks comes problems and repercussions for our veterans when they return home from battle,” said Representative Malik (D-Dist. 67, Warren, Barrington). “The well-deserved benefits our veterans have access to are there to help them with their transition back to civilian life. Our veterans have already paid a cost in defending our freedoms and democracy and they should not be charged to access their benefits. They have already paid that price while they sacrificed for the good of our country.”
The fee waiver includes any charges from copying, postage, retrieval or processing fees when a veteran requests their medical records in applying for a post-service benefit. The legislation also states that a medical provider shall furnish a veteran requested health record by mail or electronically within 30 days of the request.
For more information, contact:
Andrew Caruolo, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401)222-6124
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