Representative DeRosa introduced House Bill 2361 and told the Joint Committee on Public Health that the bill would require medical offices to permit parents or guardians to access "basic medical information" for children through at least age 16 while preserving current legal confidentiality for sensitive services (reproductive health, gender‑affirming care, substance‑use treatment, sexually transmitted disease care and mental health). DeRosa described constituent cases in which parents had been locked out of records after previously being involved in care and said state law was silent and some providers appeared to over‑interpret HIPAA protections.
"This legislation would require medical offices to allow parents and guardians access to the child's basic medical information through at least age 16," DeRosa said, adding that the bill was intended to support parental involvement while protecting already‑sensitive care. She said discussions with public‑health staff had been mixed and that the Department of Public Health preferred to follow internal processes. Lawmakers and other parents who testified supported the need for clarity and asked the committee to consider the bill so parents can manage care and providers get definitive statutory guidance.