MT HB377

Requires parental consent before performing surgical procedures, physical examinations, mental health evaluations or treatments, or prescribing medications to children, with exceptions for emergencies and court orders

Mandates health care providers respond to parental requests for a child's health care information within 10 days (changed from 3 days), providing records free of charge or directing parents to the third party that maintains the records

Adds new exception allowing providers to withhold a child's health information from parents if the provider reasonably believes the child has been or may be subjected to domestic violence, abuse, or neglect by the parent, or that disclosure could endanger the child

Eliminates the provision that allowed minors who lawfully consented to their own health care to exclusively control access to related health information for providers not subject to HIPAA

Takes effect immediately upon passage and approval