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Table A-5.Overview of State Law: Maximum Fees Doctors and Hospitals May Charge Patients for Copies ofMedical RecordsGeneral Request for Records:Medical Doctors (MDs)StateAlabamaGeneral Request for Records:HospitalsA medical provider may condition therelease of medical records upon thepayment by the requesting party of thereasonable costs of reproducing therecord. The reasonable cost ofreproducing written or typed documentsmay not exceed:A medical provider may condition therelease of medical records upon thepayment by the requesting party of thereasonable costs of reproducing therecord. The reasonable cost ofreproducing written or typed documentsmay not exceed: 1.00 per page for the first 25 pages; 0.50 per page for pages 26 and up;A search fee of 5.00;Requests for Records toSupport Claim/AppealRelated to Social Security orOther Public Benefits:MDs and HospitalsN/A 1.00 per page for the first 25 pages; 0.50 per page for pages 26 and up;A search fee of 5.00;plus the actual cost of mailing the record.In addition, the actual costs ofreproducing x-rays or other specialrecords may be included.Ala. Code § 12-21-6.1 (2008); Ala.Admin. Code r. 545-X-4-.08(2) (2007).Ala. Code § 12-21-6.1 (2008).Physicians should give primaryconsideration to the ethical andprofessional duties owed to otherphysicians and to their patients, andwaive copying charges when appropriate.Ala. Admin. Code r. 3Appendix A — Overview and Detailed Tablesplus the actual cost of mailing therecord. In addition, the actual costs ofreproducing x-rays or other specialrecords may be included.

Table A-5.Overview of State Law: Maximum Fees Doctors and Hospitals May Charge Patients for Copies ofMedical Records (continued)General Request for Records:Medical Doctors (MDs)General Request for Records:HospitalsGenerally, a health care provider maycharge a person who requests copies ofmedical records or payment records areasonable fee for the production of therecords. Except as necessary forcontinuity of care, a health care provideror contractor may require the paymentof any fees in advance.Generally, a health care provider orcontractor may charge a person whorequests copies of medical records orpayment records a reasonable fee for theproduction of the records. Except asnecessary for continuity of care, a healthcare provider or contractor may requirethe payment of any fees in advance.Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 12-2295(A) (2008).Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 12-2295(A) (2008).Providers may charge a maximum of:Providers may charge a maximum of: StateArizonaArkansas 0.50 per page for pages 1–25, and 0.25 per page for pages 26 and up.Requests for Records toSupport Claim/AppealRelated to Social Securityor Other Public Benefits:MDs and HospitalsN/AN/A 0.50 per page for pages 1–25, and 0.25 per page for pages 26 and up.These fees do not apply to x-rays.Providers may impose an additional laborcharge up to 15.00 for each request, aswell as the actual cost of any requiredpostage.Providers may impose an additional laborcharge up to 15.00 for each request, aswell as the actual cost of any requiredpostage.A reasonable retrieval fee for recordsstored at an off-site location may becharged in lieu of the permitted laborcharge.A reasonable retrieval fee for recordsstored at an off-site location may becharged in lieu of the permitted laborcharge.Ark. Code Ann. § 16-46-106 (2008).Ark. Code Ann. § 16-46-106 (2008).(continued)A-24Appendix A — Overview and Detailed TablesThese fees do not apply to x-rays.

Table A-5.StateCaliforniaOverview of State Law: Maximum Fees Doctors and Hospitals May Charge Patients for Copies ofMedical Records (continued)General Request for Records:Medical Doctors (MDs)General Request for Records:HospitalsA health care provider may charge“reasonable clerical costs” incurred inlocating and making the records availablefor inspection.Cal. Health & Safety Code § 123110(a)(2008).Cal. Health & Safety Code § 123110(a)(2008).Further, a health care provider maycharge a fee for copying that may notexceed 0.25 per page or 0.50 perpage for records that are copied frommicrofilm and any additional reasonableclerical costs incurred in making therecords available.Further, a health care provider maycharge a fee for copying that may notexceed 0.25 per page or 0.50 per pagefor records that are copied frommicrofilm and any additional reasonableclerical costs incurred in making therecords available.Cal. Health & Safety Code § 123110(b)(2008).Cal. Health & Safety Code § 123110(b)(2008).Any patient or former patientor the patient’s representativeis entitled to one copy, at nocharge, of the relevant portionof the patient’s records insupport of an appeal regardingeligibility for a public benefitprogram.Cal Health & Safety Code §123110(d) (2008).If the patient’s appeal issuccessful, the health careprovider may bill the patientfor the copies provided free ofcharge.Cal. Health & Safety Code §123110(e) (2008).(continued)A-25Appendix A — Overview and Detailed TablesA health care provider may charge“reasonable clerical costs” incurred inlocating and making the recordsavailable for inspection.Requests for Records toSupport Claim/AppealRelated to Social Securityor Other Public Benefits:MDs and Hospitals

Table A-5.StateColoradoOverview of State Law: Maximum Fees Doctors and Hospitals May Charge Patients for Copies ofMedical Records (continued)General Request for Records:Medical Doctors (MDs)Health care providers may chargereasonable costs for copying patientrecords.Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-1-802(1)(b)(I)(2007).Reasonable costs for providers are notstatutorily defined. However, theColorado Board of Medical Examinersconsiders the rules governing copyingfees for hospitals and other healthfacilities to be reasonable guidelines forphysicians providing copies of medicalrecords.Available -07.pdf.Inspecting recordsN/AHospitals may not charge dischargedpatients or their representatives forinspecting patient records.6 Colo. Code Regs. § 1011-1, chap. II,5.2.2.2; and 5.2.3.3 (2008).Copying recordsA hospital may charge the patient ortheir personal representative thereasonable cost of copying the patient’srecord. Reasonable costs may notexceed: 14.00 for the first 10 pages, 1.50 per page for records copiedfrom microfilm. 0.50 per page for pages 11–40, 0.33 per page for pages 41 and up,andA hospital may also charge actualpostage or shipping costs and applicablesales tax, if any.Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-1-801(b)(I)(2007); 6 Colo. Code Regs. § 1011-1,chap. II, 5.2.3.4 (2008).(continued)A-26Appendix A — Overview and Detailed TablesSee Colorado Board of MedicalExaminers, Policy 40-7: “GuidelinesPertaining to the Release and Retentionof Medical Records.”General Request for Records:HospitalsRequests for Records toSupport Claim/AppealRelated to Social Securityor Other Public Benefits:MDs and Hospitals

Table A-5.StateConnecticutOverview of State Law: Maximum Fees Doctors and Hospitals May Charge Patients for Copies ofMedical Records (continued)General Request for Records:Medical Doctors (MDs)Effective October, 2008, a provider maycharge no more than 0.65 per page,“including any research fees, handlingfees or related costs” for furnishing ahealth record in response to a patient’srequest. The cost of first class postage, ifapplicable, may also be charged to thepatient. With respect to furnishing a copyof an x-ray, a provider may charge theamount necessary to cover the cost ofmaterials.Conn. Gen. Stat. § 20-7c(c) (2008).General Request for Records:HospitalsRequests for Records toSupport Claim/AppealRelated to Social Securityor Other Public Benefits:MDs and HospitalsA hospital may not charge more thanHealth care providers and 0.65 per page, including any researchhealth care institutions,fees, clerical fees, handling fees orincluding hospitals, may notrelated costs for furnishing or providingcharge for furnishing a healthaccess to a health record in response to a record (or part of a record) topatient’s request. The cost of first classa patient his attorney orpostage, if applicable, may also beconservator if the record ischarged.necessary for supporting aclaim or appeal under anyA hospital may charge the amountprovision of the Social Securitynecessary to cover its cost of materialsAct and the request isfor furnishing a copy of an x-ray or foraccompanied byfurnishing an original retained slide, anoriginal tissue block, or a new section cut documentation of the claim orappeal.from a retained pathology tissue block.A hospital may not deny a person accessto a copy of their records because of theperson’s inability to pay the requiredfees. An affidavit from the personattesting to an inability to pay such feesis presumptive evidence of their inabilityto pay.Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 20-7c(c)(2008); 19a-490b(a) (2008).Conn. Gen. Stat. § 19a-490b(d) (2008).DelawareA-27The health care provider’s fee forcopying the records must be reasonable.The health care provider may requireprepayment if the provider gives writtennotice of requirement within 14 days ofreceipt of request.The health care provider’s fee for copyingthe records must be reasonable. Thehealth care provider may requireprepayment if the provider gives writtennotice of requirement within 14 days ofreceipt of request.Del. Code Ann. tit. 10, § 3926(a) (2008).Del. Code Ann. tit. 10, § 3926(a) (2008).N/A(continued)Appendix A — Overview and Detailed TablesConn. Gen. Stat. § 19a-490b(a) (2008).

Table A-5.Overview of State Law: Maximum Fees Doctors and Hospitals May Charge Patients for Copies ofMedical Records (continued)General Request for Records:Medical Doctors (MDs)StateDistrict of ColumbiaA licensed physician may charge areasonable fee for duplicating recordsand the fee may be required prior toproviding the records in non-emergencysituations.General Request for Records:HospitalsRequests for Records toSupport Claim/AppealRelated to Social Securityor Other Public Benefits:MDs and HospitalsN/AN/AHospitals may charge up to 1.00 perpage for paper records.N/AD.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 17, § 4612.2(b)(2008).FloridaMDs may condition the release of patientmedical records upon payment of thereasonable costs of reproducing therecords (written or typed documents orreports), which may not be more thanthe following:For nonpaper records, a hospital maycharge up to 2.00 per page. 1.00 per page for the first 25 pages;and 0.25 per page for pages 26 and up.Fla. Stat. Ann. § 395.3025(1) (2008).Providers may charge the actual cost ofreproducing other special kinds ofrecords.Fla. Admin. Code Ann. 64B8-10.003(2008).A patient whose records are copied orsearched for the purpose of continuing toreceive medical care is not required topay a charge for copying or for thesearch.Fla. Stat. Ann. § 395.3025(1) (2008).(continued)A-28Appendix A — Overview and Detailed Tables Hospitals may also charge may alsocharge a fee of up to 1.00 for each yearof records requested, as well as sales taxand actual postage.