SB137

Senate Bill 137 authorizes healthcare providers in Arkansas to create, maintain, transmit, and store medical records in an electronic format. The bill grants providers the discretion to convert existing physical records into electronic versions. It explicitly states that providers are not required to keep separate tangible copies of records that are stored electronically, provided the electronic versions remain legible and have adequate data backup. The bill establishes that electronic records reproduced as tangible copies serve as originals for legal and administrative purposes. Furthermore, it mandates that healthcare providers must provide requested records in either electronic or tangible form to authorized parties. It also requires that health benefit plans and third-party auditors accept electronic records in place of physical documentation during audits. Finally, the bill ensures that these provisions apply to mental health and psychiatric records, while maintaining adherence to federal security and confidentiality standards.