2558                                        LAWS OF MARYLAND                     [Ch. 520

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act
shall take effect July 1, 1975.

Approved April 22, 1975.

CHAPTER 521

(House Bill 875)

AN ACT concerning

Insurance Claims — Medical Files

FOR the purpose of requiring insurance companies to sake
certain medical files compiled on applicants and
claimants available for review by the applicant
claimant or his agent.

BY adding to

Article 48A — Insurance Code

Section 490C

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1972 Replacement Volume and 1974 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That new Section 490C be and it is hereby
added to Article 48A — Insurance Code, of the Annotated
Code of Maryland (1972 Replacement Volume and 1974
Supplement) to read as follows:

Article 48A — Insurance Code

490C.

MEDICAL FILES COMPILED BY INSURANCE COMPANIES UNDER
LIFE OR HEALTH POLICIES ON [[CLAIMANTS SHALL BE MADE
AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION BY THE CLAMANT, OR HIS AGENT,
UPON REQUEST. AN AGENT REQUESTING TO REVIEW A CLAIMANT'S
MEDICAL FILE MUST PRODUCE AN AUTHORIZATION TO REVIEW
MEDICAL RECORDS SIGNED BY THE]] APPLICANTS AND CLAIMANTS
SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION ON DEMAND BY THE
APPLICANT, THE CLAIMANT, OR HIS AGENT. INFORMATION
PROVIDED BY A PHYSICIAN SHALL BE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
AFTER A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE OF THE MEDICAL
EXAMINATION OR SOONER UPON WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION OF THE
PHYSICIAN. AN AGENT REQUESTING TO REVIEW AN APPLICANT'S
MEDICAL FILE SHALL PRODUCE AN AUTHORIZATION TO REVIEW

MEDICAL RECORDS SIGNED BY THE APPLICANT OR CLAIMANT.