Foster Introduces Legislation to Make it Easier for Patients to Access Medical Records

Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) introduced the Medical Records Access Fairness Act, which would require health care providers to give patients access to their medical records at no cost at least once per year. 

Medical records fees that doctor's offices charge patients can often be a financial burden. If a patient is unable to afford to pay for copies of their own medical records, it can delay or prevent care. According to a 2018 study from the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office, patients who have long medical histories can incur costs of thousands of dollars on medical record copies, which are often charged per page and per recipient. The study also describes a situation in which one patient was charged over $100 for an electronic copy.

"Quality health care hinges on doctors having all of the necessary information about their patient's case, but costly medical records can make this impossible," said Rep. Foster. "Too often, the fees charged to access these records amount to thousands of dollars, which is especially burdensome for patients with chronic diseases and complex medical histories. This bill would give patients easier access to their medical records, removing an unreasonable financial burden and improving the health and well-being of many Americans."

The Medical Records Access Fairness Act is supported by the Chronic Disease Coalition, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the National Organization for Rare Diseases, and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

A copy of the bill can be found here.  

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