SENATE DOCKET, NO. 220        FILED ON: 1/26/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1435

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Paul R. Feeney

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to patient identity and privacy protection in waiting rooms.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 220        FILED ON: 1/26/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1435

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

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An Act relative to patient identity and privacy protection in waiting rooms.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Section 70E of chapter 111 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “law”, in line 46, the following words:- , provided that confidentiality shall extend to a facility’s common areas and waiting rooms.

SECTION 2. Said section 70E, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by adding the following paragraph:-

Providers shall develop and implement a system to protect the confidentiality of all patients and residents throughout healthcare facilities, including common areas and waiting rooms. Providers shall not be permitted to announce the first and or last name of patients in common areas and waiting rooms and shall implement a program that provides anonymity such as a patient numbering system or the use of electronic pagers.