Concerning the retention of hospital medical records.

 S-0833.1

SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5239

State of Washington

69th Legislature

2025 Regular Session

By Senate Health & Long-Term Care (originally sponsored by Senators Slatter, Nobles, and C. Wilson)

READ FIRST TIME 01/27/25.

AN ACT Relating to the retention of hospital medical records; and amending RCW 70.41.190 .

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. RCW 70.41.190 and 1985 c 213 s 27 are each amended to read as follows:

(( Unless specified otherwise by the department, a hospital shall retain and preserve all medical records which relate directly to the care and treatment of a patient for a period of no less than ten years following the most recent discharge of the patient; except the records of minors, which shall be retained and preserved for a period of no less than three years following attainment of the age of eighteen years, or ten years following such discharge, whichever is longer. ))