🟡Relating to the disclosure of certain medical information by electronic means.

🟡 SB 922: Delays Online Access to Sensitive Test Results

What it says it does:
SB 922 creates a three-day waiting period before certain medical test results, such as cancer screenings or genetic markers, appear in a patient’s online health portal. The stated purpose is to give doctors time to discuss results directly with patients before they see them online.

What it actually changes:
The bill shifts control over when results are released from individual doctors to the hospital or company that runs the electronic health record system. It also includes an immunity clause that protects administrators and providers from liability if they fail to comply with the new delay rule.

Who is pushing for it:
Support comes from the Texas Medical Association, Texas Hospital Association, Texas e-Health Alliance, and several medical specialty groups that prefer direct patient contact before portal access.

Who benefits:
Large hospital systems, IT vendors, and providers who want more control over timing. They gain clear legal protection and fewer risks under the new disclosure rule.

Who gets left out or exposed:
Patients who depend on immediate access to their results, such as those in rural areas or without reliable communication from their providers. The law gives them no option to opt out or demand quicker disclosure.

Why this matters long term:
The bill sounds patient-friendly but quietly shifts power toward institutions. It limits patient choice, weakens accountability through immunity, and could normalize delayed access to personal health data across the state.

What to watch next:
Look for how hospitals and vendors interpret “sensitive” results, whether they over-classify to avoid risk, and if any future amendments add patient opt-out options or mandated provider contact.

Bottom line:
SB 922 was written to protect patients from bad news online, but it may instead create a system where hospitals, not patients, decide when people can see their own medical information.

#SB922 #TexasPolicy #PatientRights #HealthAccess #WatchTheRules