Court Opinion

ID: 4688982
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-05-21 14:13:52.75105+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:04:51.361756
License: Public Domain

IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA

Ryan DuBoise,                                     :
                        Petitioner                :
                                                  :
                v.                                :
                                                  :
Bob Rumcik,                                       :    No. 566 M.D. 2020
                        Respondent                :    Submitted: March 12, 2021

BEFORE:         HONORABLE RENÉE COHN JUBELIRER, Judge
                HONORABLE ANNE E. COVEY, Judge
                HONORABLE ELLEN CEISLER, Judge

OPINION NOT REPORTED

MEMORANDUM OPINION BY
JUDGE COVEY                                                     FILED: May 21, 2021

                Before this Court are Bob Rumcik’s (Rumcik) preliminary objections
(Preliminary Objections), made by and through the Pennsylvania Department of
Corrections (collectively, DOC), to Ryan DuBoise’s (DuBoise) pro se petition for
review in the nature of a complaint in mandamus (Petition) filed in this Court’s
original jurisdiction. After review, this Court overrules the Preliminary Objections
in part and sustains them in part.

                                          Background1
                DuBoise is an inmate at the State Correctional Institution at Forest
(SCI-Forest).             See        Inmate      Locator,       PA.   DEP’T   OF      CORR.,
http://inmatelocator.cor.pa.gov (last visited May 20, 2021). On May 9, 2020, in
accordance with DOC’s Release of Information Policy No. DC-ADM 003, DuBoise

      1
          The following facts are as alleged in the Petition.
submitted an executed records release form to Rumcik, SCI-Forest’s Custodian of
Records, requesting his mental health treatment records from July 1, 2017 to
December 20, 2018. See Petition ¶ 5; see also DuBoise Answer to Prelim. Obj. ¶¶
23-24 and Ex. A (Declaration). On May 12, 2020, Rumcik denied DuBoise’s
request, stating that although inmates may review and discuss their mental health
records with the psychiatrist, they “are not permitted to possess their mental health
records[.]”2 Petition ¶ 6.
              On October 6, 2020, DuBoise filed the Petition, wherein he claims that
DOC violated his statutory rights under Section 6155(b)(1) of the act commonly
referred to as the Medical Records Act (MRA)3 and Section 111 of the Mental Health
Procedures Act (MHPA)4 to have DOC release his mental health records. See
Petition ¶¶ 7-8. DuBoise asks this Court to compel DOC to “disclose his mental
health records.” Petition at 3; see also Petition ¶¶ 9-10.
              On November 6, 2020, DOC filed its Preliminary Objections, arguing
that DuBoise has no clear right to relief, and the Petition should be dismissed
because: (1) a correctional medical facility is not a health care facility, as defined in
the Health Care Facilities Act (HCFA),5 to which the MRA applies (First
Preliminary Objection); and (2) DuBoise’s treatment was not rendered at a mental
health facility governed by the MHPA (Second Preliminary Objection). See DOC
Prelim. Obj. ¶¶ 20-31.

       2
          Although DuBoise declares that Rumcik’s determination is attached to the Petition as
Exhibit A, the determination is not attached thereto. See Petition ¶ 4.
        3
          42 Pa.C.S. § 6155(b)(1) (relating to patient rights to records).
        4
           Act of July 9, 1976, P.L. 817, as amended, 50 P.S. § 7111 (relating to record
confidentiality).
        DuBoise also relies on Christy v. Wordsworth-at-Shawnee, 749 A.2d 557 (Pa. Cmwlth.
2000), to support that DOC violated his statutory rights.
        5
          Act of July 19, 1979, P.L. 130, as amended, 35 P.S. §§ 448.101-448.904b.
                                              2
              On November 30, 2020, DuBoise filed an answer to DOC’s Preliminary
Objections. In response to DOC’s statement: “Because it has not been clearly
established that the MHPA controls [DuBoise’s] alleged right of access to his
records in these circumstances, his request for mandamus relief should be denied[,]”
DOC Prelim. Obj. ¶ 31, DuBoise answered: “Agreed.”6 DuBoise Answer to Prelim.
Obj. ¶ 31.

                                         Discussion
              The law is well settled:

              In ruling on preliminary objections, this Court accepts as
              true all well-pled allegations of material fact, as well as all
              inferences reasonably deducible from those facts.
              However, this Court need not accept unwarranted
              inferences, conclusions of law, argumentative allegations,
              or expressions of opinion. For preliminary objections to
              be sustained, it must appear with certainty that the law will
              permit no recovery. Any doubt must be resolved in favor
              of the non-moving party.

Dantzler v. Wetzel, 218 A.3d 519, 522 n.3 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2019) (citations omitted).

              A preliminary objection in the nature of a demurrer admits
              every well-pleaded fact in the [petition for review in the
              nature of a] complaint and all inferences reasonably
              deducible therefrom. It tests the legal sufficiency of the
              challenged pleadings and will be sustained only in cases

       6
         In his answer to DOC’s Preliminary Objections, DuBoise added that his mental health
treatment was provided at SCI-Forest by medical professionals employed by DOC’s contractor,
Centurion, which is a health care provider subject to the MRA, as defined in the HCFA. See
DuBoise Answer to Prelim. Obj. ¶¶ 23-24. DuBoise further declared that DOC did not offer him
an opportunity to even just review his mental health records. See id. Because courts reviewing
preliminary objections are limited to considering only the facts pled in the petition for review
(complaint) and the documents or exhibits attached thereto, see Allen v. Dep’t of Corr., 103 A.3d
365 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2014), this Court may not consider those new facts when determining whether
DuBoise stated a claim for which relief may be granted. However, in light of this Court’s
determination, DuBoise can either seek leave from this Court to amend the petition for review to
add those facts, or assert those facts in response to DOC’s new matter (if any) to the Petition.
                                               3
            where the pleader has clearly failed to state a claim for
            which relief can be granted. When ruling on a demurrer,
            a court must confine its analysis to the [petition for review
            in the nature of a] complaint.

Torres v. Beard, 997 A.2d 1242, 1245 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2010) (citations omitted).
“[C]ourts reviewing preliminary objections may not only consider the facts pled in
the [petition for review in the nature of a] complaint, but also any documents or
exhibits attached to it.” Allen v. Dep’t of Corr., 103 A.3d 365, 369 (Pa. Cmwlth.
2014).
            Moreover,

            [t]his Court recognizes:
                ‘The allegations of a pro se complainant are held
                to a less stringent standard than that applied to
                pleadings filed by attorneys. If a fair reading of
                the complaint shows that the complainant has
                pleaded facts that may entitle him to relief, the
                preliminary objections will be overruled.’ Danysh
                v. Dep’t[] of Corr., 845 A.2d 260, 262-63 (Pa.
                Cmwlth. 2004) (citation and emphasis omitted),
                aff’d, . . . 881 A.2d 1263 ([Pa.] 2005).
            Dep’t of Corr. v. Tate, 133 A.3d 350, 354 n.8 (Pa. Cmwlth.
            2016).
Freemore v. Dep’t of Corr., 231 A.3d 33, 37 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2020).
            In light of DuBoise’s admission that he failed to state a claim pursuant
to the MHPA for which mandamus relief can be granted, see DuBoise Answer to
Prelim. Obj. ¶ 31, this Court sustains DOC’s Second Preliminary Objection.
            Relative to DOC’s First Preliminary Objection, that DuBoise failed to
state a claim under the MRA/HCFA for which mandamus relief can be granted, see
DOC Prelim. Obj. ¶¶ 20-24, this Court has explained:

            A writ of mandamus compels the performance of a
            ministerial and mandatory duty. To prevail in mandamus,
            the petitioner must demonstrate a clear legal right for
            performance of an act by the government, a corresponding
                                         4
             duty in the government to perform the ministerial act and
             mandatory duty, and the absence of any other appropriate
             or adequate remedy. A mandatory duty is ‘one which a
             public officer is required to perform upon a given state of
             facts and in a prescribed manner in obedience to the
             mandate of legal authority.’ [Filippi v. Kwitowski, 880
             A.2d 711, 713 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2005)]. Where the public
             official has discretion in how to perform the act,
             mandamus may compel the exercise of discretion, but it
             may not interfere with the manner in which the discretion
             is exercised. ‘A writ of mandamus is an extraordinary
             remedy,’ the purpose of which is ‘to enforce rights that
             have been clearly established. . . .’ Tindell v. Dep’t of
             Corr., 87 A.3d 1029, 1034 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2014) (citation
             omitted).

Sanders v. Wetzel, 223 A.3d 735, 739 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2019) (citations omitted).
             Here, DuBoise argues that DOC is compelled by Section 6155(b)(1) of
the MRA and the HCFA, to allow him to obtain and possess copies of his mental
health records.
             Section 6155(b)(1) of the MRA provides:

             A patient . . . shall have the right of access to his medical
             charts and records and to obtain photocopies of the same,
             without the use of a subpoena duces tecum, for his own
             use. A health care provider or facility shall not charge a
             patient . . . a fee in excess of the amounts set forth in
             [S]ection 6152(a)(2)(i) [of the MRA] (relating to subpoena
             of records).

42 Pa.C.S. § 6155(b)(1). The MRA does not define the terms health care provider
or health care facility. However, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has ruled relative
to those definitions that “the MRA should be construed in pari materia with the
HCFA.” Landay v. Rite Aid of Pa., Inc., 104 A.3d 1272, 1285 (Pa. 2014).
             Section 103 of the HCFA defines health care provider as “[a]n
individual, a trust or estate, a partnership, a corporation (including associations, joint
stock companies and insurance companies), the Commonwealth, or a political

                                            5
subdivision or instrumentality (including a municipal corporation or authority)
thereof, that operates a health care facility.” 35 P.S. § 448.103 (emphasis added).
Health care facility is defined, in relevant part, therein as

               any health care facility providing clinically related
               health services, including, but not limited to, a general or
               special hospital, including psychiatric hospitals,
               rehabilitation hospitals, ambulatory surgical facilities,
               long-term care nursing facilities, cancer treatment centers
               using radiation therapy on an ambulatory basis and
               inpatient drug and alcohol treatment facilities, both profit
               and nonprofit and including those operated by an
               agency or [s]tate or local government. The term shall
               also include a hospice. . . .
Id. (emphasis added).
               Although DOC’s SCI medical facilities are not specifically listed as
health care facilities under the HCFA,7 Section 103 of the HCFA specifies that the
definition is “not limited to” the entities listed thereafter, and the health care facility
definition expressly includes “any health care facility providing clinically related
health services . . . including those operated by an agency or [s]tate . . .
government.” 35 P.S. § 448.103 (emphasis added).
               SCI is defined in Section 102 of the Prisons and Parole Code as “[a]
correctional facility, prison or jail owned or operated by the Commonwealth.” 61
Pa.C.S. § 102 (emphasis added). Further, in accordance with Section 3303 of the
Correctional Institution Medical Services Act (CIMSA), 61 Pa.C.S. § 3303, DOC
established a Prison Medical Services Program that provides inmate access to
medical services and health care professionals, subject to fees in certain

       7
         In support of its position that it is not subject to the MRA, DOC refers to a footnote in
Hodges v. Pennsylvania Department of Health, 29 A.3d 1190 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2011), wherein this
Court reiterated the Department of Health’s argument that SCI medical facilities are not included
in Section 103 of the HCFA. However, the Court’s recognition of the Department of Health’s
argument therein was not a precedential ruling.
                                                6
circumstances.8 See Section 93.12(a) of DOC’s Regulations, 37 Pa. Code § 93.12(a);
see also DOC Policy Nos. 13.1.1 (Management and Administration of Health Care),9
13.2.1 (Access to Health Care). Mental health treatment is included among the
medical services DOC provides to inmates.10 See Section 93.12(b), (d)(6) of DOC’s
Regulations, 37 Pa. Code § 93.12(b), (d)(6); see also DOC Policy No. 13.8.1 (Access
to Mental Health Care).
               Because SCIs are owned or operated by the Commonwealth and they
provide medical services to inmates, it appears that DOC operates health care
facilities at the SCIs and may be subject to the MRA. If that is the case, unless

       8
          Section 3303(g) of CIMSA declares: “Medical services fees collected under this chapter
shall be deposited in the General Fund.” 61 Pa.C.S. § 3303(g). Pursuant to Section 302 of the
Fiscal Code, Act of April 9, 1929, P.L. 343, as amended, 72 P.S. § 302, the General Fund is the
“fund of money in the State Treasury available for appropriation annually by the General
Assembly, as approved by [the] Governor, for general, lawful purposes.” Pa. Env’t Def. Found.
v. Commonwealth, 108 A.3d 140, 145 n.12 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2015), rev’d in part on other grounds,
vacated in part, 161 A.3d 911 (Pa. 2017).
        9
           Section 1.A of DOC Policy No. 13.2.1 (Access to Health Care) specifies that the
following medical/mental health/dental services shall be routinely available to every DOC inmate:
medically necessary care; emergency services; intake health screening; in-patient care; out-patient
care; specialty services; periodic physical examinations; sick call; access to health care for inmates
in Restricted Housing Units and Inpatient Mental Health Units; discharge planning services;
pharmacy services; and other services (i.e., organ transplants) on a case-by-case basis. See DOC
Policy              No.             13.2.1             at           1-1             -            1-13.
www.cor.pa.gov/About%20Us/Documents/DOC%20Policies/13.02.01%20Access%20to%20He
alth%20Care.pdf (last visited May 20, 2021). This Court “take[s] judicial notice of [DOC]
polic[ies] . . . which appear[] on [DOC’s] official website[.]” Sanders, 223 A.3d at 738.
        10
           According to DOC Policy No. 13.8.1 (Access to Mental Health Care), DOC offers the
following mental health services: mental health problem screening; outpatient services for the
detection, diagnosis, and treatment of mental illness; crisis intervention and the management of
acute psychiatric episodes; stabilization of the mentally ill and the prevention of psychiatric
deterioration in the correctional setting; preventative treatment; referral and admission to a
licensed mental health unit/facility; and facilities for an offender whose psychiatric needs exceed
the treatment capability of the facility.               See DOC Policy No. 13.8.1 at 1-2.
www.cor.pa.gov/About%20Us/Documents/DOC%20Policies/13.08.01%20Access%20to%20Me
ntal%20Health%20Care.pdf (last visited May 20, 2021).
                                                  7
subject to another DOC prohibition,11 DuBoise may “have the right of access to his
medical charts and records and to obtain photocopies of the same . . . for his own
use . . . [subject to] . . . a fee [not] in excess of the amounts set forth in [S]ection
6152(a)(2)(i) [of the MRA.]” 42 Pa.C.S. § 6155(b)(1).
               Based on the foregoing, this Court cannot declare with certainty that
the law will not permit DuBoise to succeed in his mandamus challenge under the
MRA.        Dantzler. Accordingly, this Court overrules DOC’s First Preliminary
Objection.

                                           Conclusion
               For all of the above reasons, DOC’s First Preliminary Objection
(relating to the MRA) is overruled, and DOC’s Second Preliminary Objection
(relating to the MHPA) is sustained.

                                              _________________________________
                                              ANNE E. COVEY, Judge

       11
         Based solely on the allegations in the Petition, without Rumcik’s determination, this
Court cannot determine whether a DOC policy affected Rumcik’s response. Notwithstanding,
DOC policies
               do[] not create rights in any person nor should it be interpreted or
               applied in such a manner as to abridge the rights of any individual.
               Th[e] polic[ies] should be interpreted to have sufficient flexibility to
               be consistent with law and to permit the accomplishment of the
               purpose[(s)] of the policies of [DOC].
DOC Policy No. 13.1.1 (Management and Administration of Health Care) Section VIII; DOC
Policy No. 13.2.1 (Access to Health Care) Section VIII; DOC Policy No. 13.8.1 (Access to Mental
Health Care) Section VII.
                                                  8
          IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA

Ryan DuBoise,                               :
                   Petitioner               :
                                            :
             v.                             :
                                            :
Bob Rumcik,                                 :   No. 566 M.D. 2020
                   Respondent               :

                                     ORDER

             AND NOW, this 21st day of May, 2021, Bob Rumcik’s First
Preliminary Objection, made by and through the Pennsylvania Department of
Corrections (collectively, DOC), to Ryan DuBoise’s (DuBoise) pro se petition for
review in the nature of a complaint in mandamus (Petition) is OVERRULED, and
DOC’s Second Preliminary Objection is SUSTAINED.
             DOC is directed to file an answer to DuBoise’s allegations as set forth
in his Petition which relate to the Medical Records Act, 42 Pa.C.S. §§ 6151-6160,
within 30 days of the date of this Order.

                                       _________________________________
                                       ANNE E. COVEY, Judge
           IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA

Ryan DuBoise,                             :
                         Petitioner       :
                                          :
                   v.                     :   No. 566 M.D. 2020
                                          :   Submitted: March 12, 2021
Bob Rumcik,                               :
                         Respondent       :

BEFORE:     HONORABLE RENÉE COHN JUBELIRER, Judge
            HONORABLE ANNE E. COVEY, Judge
            HONORABLE ELLEN CEISLER, Judge

OPINION NOT REPORTED

CONCURRING AND
DISSENTING OPINION BY
JUDGE COHN JUBELIRER                          FILED: May 21, 2021

      Respectfully, I would explicitly give Ryan DuBoise 30 days to amend his
Petition for Review before requiring the Department of Corrections and Bob Rumcik
(collectively, DOC) to file an answer thereto. Accordingly, I write separately.
      In footnote 6, the Majority recognizes that Mr. DuBoise included facts in his
answer to DOC’s Preliminary Objections that, while possibly material, may not be
considered because they were not included in Mr. DuBoise’s Petition for Review.
The Majority then indicates that Mr. DuBoise can seek leave from this Court to
amend his Petition for Review to include these facts and clarify what the Majority
perceives as his “admission.”
      However, the Court’s Order directs DOC to file an answer without granting
Mr. DuBoise leave to amend. I believe that, especially in light of Mr. DuBoise’s
status as an incarcerated, pro se litigant, judicial economy is best served by explicitly
granting him such leave to amend. This will save both the parties’ and this Court’s
time and resources. Indeed, this Court may have to expend further time and
resources in addressing such a motion when this matter could simply be handled by
explicitly granting Mr. DuBoise leave to amend in this Order. Further, the Court
would be requiring DOC to expend time and resources in drafting and filing an
answer that may become irrelevant should the Court grant a motion to amend the
Petition for Review. Granting leave to amend to an incarcerated, pro se litigant is
not telling a party how to plead; rather, it is a prudent and practical course in light
of the interests of both judicial economy and the resources and time of the parties
before us.

                                         _____________________________________
                                         RENÉE COHN JUBELIRER, Judge

                                        RCJ – 2