HB 4242 Michigan House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Health: electronic records; requirements for security and storage of electronic health records; provide for. Amends secs. 16213 & 20175a of 1978 PA 368 (MCL 333.16213 & 333.20175a).

House Bill 4242 amends the public health code to update requirements for how medical licensees manage patient records. It mandates that healthcare providers explicitly document medical services involving vaginal or anal penetration in patient records, with certain exceptions. The bill establishes a general minimum record retention period of 7 years, which extends to 15 years for records of these specific penetration-related services, also with specified exceptions. Additionally, it outlines procedures for protecting record integrity and confidentiality, ensuring patient access, and for the proper destruction or transfer of records.
Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
Governor
Introduced Mar 13, 2025 Last action May 13, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

House Introduced Bill As Passed by the House · 5 edits · May 6, 2025
MODERATE
This bill updates Michigan's medical record retention rules to require longer storage periods for specific sensitive services, such as those involving vaginal or anal penetration, which must now be kept for 15 years instead of 7. It also introduces strict new protocols for destroying records, mandating patient notification and written consent before deletion, and clarifies that records are not the property of the provider.
Scope change
The scope of the bill remains focused on medical licensees and health facilities, but the applicability of retention periods has expanded to include specific sensitive medical procedures that previously did not have extended retention requirements.
REQUIREMENT

Extended the mandatory retention period from 7 years to 15 years for records involving vaginal or anal penetration, excluding routine urological, gastrointestinal, reproductive, gynecological, sexual health services, medical emergencies, rectal drug administration, and temperature measurements.

Added a requirement that licensees must notify patients in writing and obtain their explicit authorization before destroying any medical record, regardless of its age.

Mandated that if a practice closes or a provider retires, they cannot destroy records under 7 years old without patient consent and must transfer records to a successor or third party unless the patient authorizes destruction.

Restricted the physical location of off-site record storage to within the United States or Canada.

DEFINITION

Included new definitions for 'medical record,' 'medical records company,' and 'patient' to clarify ownership rights and responsibilities.

Floor votes · House May 6, 2025

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
14
Key actions
3
Committee
4
May 13, 2025
Committee
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH POLICY
upper
May 13, 2025
Upper · Passed
PASSED BY HOUSE WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT
upper
May 6, 2025
Lower · Passed
passed; given immediate effect Roll Call #88 Yeas 71 Nays 39 Excused 0 Not Voting 0
lower
Mar 26, 2025
Committee
referred to second reading
lower
Mar 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
reported with recommendation without amendment
lower
Mar 13, 2025
Committee
referred to Committee on Government Operations
lower
Mar 13, 2025
Introduced
introduced by Representative Rep. Jamie Thompson
lower
1 primary · 16 co-sponsors

Sponsors