If an authorized representative for a patient requests, in writing, that a hospital provide the authorized representative with a copy of the patient's medical records and presents a proper authorization from the patient for the release of the information, copies must be provided to the authorized representative within a reasonable time.

A written request or authorization for release of medical records under this section satisfies the requirements of section 1711-C, subsection 3.

A patient may submit to a hospital an addition to the patient's medical records, which must be retained with the medical record by the hospital. If the hospital adds to the medical record a statement in response to the submitted addition, the hospital shall provide a copy to the patient.

Reasonable costs incurred by the hospital in making and providing copies of medical records and additions to medical records, must be borne by the requesting person, and the hospital may require payment prior to responding to the request.

Release of a patient's medical records to a person other than the patient is governed by section 1711-C.

Sec. 6. 22 MRSA §1711-A, as amended by PL 1997, c. 793, Pt. A, §2 and affected by §10, is further amended to read:

§1711-A. Fees charged for records

Whenever a health care practitioner defined in section 1711-B furnishes requested copies of a patient's treatment medical record or a medical report or an addition to a treatment record or medical report to the patient, the charge for the copies or the report may not exceed the reasonable costs incurred