The bill amends the Medical Records Access Act to update the fees that healthcare providers, health facilities, or medical records companies can charge for copies of medical records. It specifies that the initial fee for a request will increase from $20.00 to $31.54, and outlines new per-page fees for copies: $1.58 for the first 20 pages, 79 cents for pages 21 through 50, and 32 cents for pages beyond 50. Additionally, it clarifies that any postage or shipping costs incurred will be charged, and it allows for fees to be adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index starting January 1, 2028.

The bill also introduces provisions for medically indigent individuals, stating that they will not be charged for one set of copies of their medical records, but any additional requests will incur the standard fees. It removes the requirement for patients to pay an initial fee for their medical records and mandates that healthcare providers may refuse to fulfill requests until applicable fees are paid. Overall, the bill aims to balance the costs associated with accessing medical records while ensuring that vulnerable populations are not financially burdened.

Statutes affected:
House Introduced Bill: 333.26269