how much can you charge an attorney for medical records

by Neil Nitzsche 6 min read

Generally, you can charge an attorney whatever your state law permits you to charge for requests for medical records – even if that fee would exceed the HIPAA cost-based rate. In a common scenario, an attorney represents a patient that your agency transported, and the attorney wants a copy of their client’s patient care report.

Full Answer

Do you have to charge attorney fees for medical records?

Sep 18, 2018 · Generally, you can charge an attorney whatever your state law permits you to charge for requests for medical records – even if that fee …

How much does it cost to get a medical record?

Feb 15, 2018 · Flat Fee for Electronic Copies of Medical Records Maintained Electronically. A health care provider may charge a flat fee as a charge for patients who are requesting a copy of their electronic medical records or medical records that are maintained electronically. However, this fee cannot exceed $6.50, including postage, labor and supplies.

Can I charge per page fees for electronic copies of records?

Jan 01, 2022 · * Search and retrieval of records (cannot be charged if requestor is requesting their own personal health record) $25.20 Flat fees (providers may not charge the above search and retrieval fee in addition to a flat fee) Production of records to support any claim under Social Security or any Federal or State financial needs-based program; $31.94

Can a healthcare provider charge a retrieval fee for medical records?

If the requested records are stored on any microform or other electronic medium, a retrieval or processing fee, which must include the fee for providing the first 10 pages of the copies and which may not exceed $69.74, and: $1.54 per page thereafter.

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Do you have to pay for a copy of your medical records?

Medical records costs In general, the holder cannot charge a medical records fee for supplying you with the copies . There are some limited exceptions to this rule, such as where the request is deemed to be 'manifestly unfounded' or 'excessive'.

How much can I charge for medical records in Florida?

The exclusive charge for copies of patient records may include sales tax and actual postage, and, except for nonpaper records that are subject to a charge not to exceed $2, may not exceed $1 per page. A fee of up to $1 may be charged for each year of records requested.

How much can you charge for electronic medical records in Florida?

A licensed facility, health care practitioner, or an entity fulfilling a request on behalf of a facility or practitioner has the option to charge a flat fee of no more than $6.50 to provide an electronic copy of patient records and reports that are maintained electronically.Mar 29, 2017

Do doctors charge for medical letters?

It is a requirement of many of the major airlines and without one, check-in staff can refuse to let you board your flight. The chances are you will not even have to visit the surgery but you will still have to pay for a note from the doctor, who is allowed to set their own fee.Aug 17, 2013

What is PWW law?

For over 20 years, PWW has been the nation’s leading EMS industry law firm. PWW attorneys and consultants have decades of hands-on experience providing EMS, managing ambulance services and advising public, private and non-profit clients across the U.S.

Who is Ryan Stark?

Ryan Stark is an attorney with Page, Wolfberg & Wirth, LLC, The National EMS Industry Law Firm.

Background

The HIPAA Privacy Rule requires medical practices to provide patients, upon request, with access to medical information about them maintained by the practice. HIPAA also imposes limits on the fees that can be charged to patients to access their own records.

Guidance for Practices

The Privacy Rule states that a personal representative (for example, someone with a health care power of attorney or a child’s parents) must be treated like the patient, so the fee limitation also applies to requests from a personal representative.

When a Request Includes a HIPAA Authorization

In some cases, a patient’s attorney may directly request the patient’s medical records pursuant to a HIPAA authorization.

What is the HIPAA Privacy Rule?

According to the Privacy Rule , below are the guidelines that health care providers must follow.

How much does a health care provider charge for a copy of a medical record?

However, this fee cannot exceed $6.50, including postage, labor and supplies.

Can a medical provider charge a fee for copies of medical records?

When the patient requests his or her own medical records, some states allow health care providers to charge a patient or their legal representative a fee per each page copied. Some states also allow health care providers to charge a reasonable clerical fee.

Can a patient be charged for a copy of their medical records?

It is just as important to know when a patient cannot be charged for a copy of their medical records. If your state allows for patients, former patients or their representatives to one free copy of the relevant portion of the patient’s record necessary to support an appeal regarding eligibility for a public benefit program, such as health care programs for people with low incomes, or social security disability benefits, then you should follow the state law on this matter.

Do medical records need to be released?

Keep in mind that to protect patient confidentiality, medical records should only be released with a written authorization from the patient (if living) or their legal representative (if the patient is deceased or incompetent). Knowing when to follow the correct law is not always easy.

Arkansas

Reasonable fees for retrieval of hospital, physicians' records, or EMS records if those records are stored off-site.

Delaware

Reproduction costs for non-photocopiable records, e.g. x-rays, microfilm, etc.

Maryland

Per-page fee is 75% of the per-page fee for paper records, capped at $80.00 total.

New Hampshire

Pages 1-30 = $15.00 (flat rate applies if record is less than 30 pages)

Rhode Island

Actual cost and reasonable fees for non-photocopiable records, capped at $25.00.

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Alabama

  • Search Fee: $5.00 Pages 1 - 25: $1.00 per page Pages 26+: $0.50 per page X-rays / Other Media: Actual cost of reproduction Per Section 12-21-6.1 Alabama Code Reproduction
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California

  • Search Fee: $4.00 (or $6.00 depending on requestor) Evidence Fee: $15.00 Pages 1+: $0.10 per page Microfilm: $0.20 per page Cal. Evid. Code § 1158 (2), Cal. Evid. Code § 1563 (6)
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Colorado

  • Search Fee: $18.53 flat fee (First ten pages) Pages 11 - 40: $0.85 per page Pages 41+: $0.57 per page Microfilm: $1.50 per page 6CCR 1011-1 Chapter 2 Part 5.2.3.4
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Delaware

  • Pages 1 - 10: $2.00 per page Pages 11 - 20: $1.00 per page Pages 21 - 60: $0.90 per page Pages 61+: $0.50 per page Microfilm and other media: Actual cost of reproduction Delaware Administrative Code, Title 24: Chapter 1700, Section 29 Worker's Comp: Search Fee: $25.00 Pages 1 - 20: $1.25 per page Pages 21 - 60: $0.90 per page Pages 61+: $0.30 per page 19 Del.C. 2322B…
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Florida

  • Search Fee: $1.00 (Per year per request) Pages 1+: $1.00 per page Microfilm: $2.00 per page Statute 395.3025 (1) Worker's Comp: Pages 1+: $0.50 per page 69L-7.601
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Georgia

  • Search Fee: $25.88 Pages 1 - 20: $0.97 per page Pages 21 - 100: $ 0.83 per page Pages 101+: $0.66 per page Certification Fee: $9.70 O.C.G.A. 31-33-3 Worker’s Comp: Search Fee: $30.00 flat fee (first 150 pages) Pages 151+: $0.20 per page X-rays: $9.50 per copy Page 15 Section IV
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Illinois

  • Search Fee: $29.09 Pages 1 - 25: $1.09 per page Pages 26 - 50: $0.73 per page Pages 50+: $0.36 per page Microfilm or other media: $1.82 per page Worker’s Comp: Search Fee: $20.00 flat fee 735 ILCS 5/8-2005
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Indiana

  • Search Fee: $20.00 flat fee (first 10 pages) Pages 11 - 50: $0.50 per page Pages 51+: $0.25 per page Affidavit/Certification: $20.00 760 IAC 1-71-3(a)
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Iowa

  • A reasonable fee may be charged. Iowa Code Section 622.10 Worker's Comp: Search Fee: $20.00 flat fee (first 20 pages) Pages 21 - 30: $1.00 per page Pages 31 - 100: $0.50 per page Pages 101 - 200 : $0.25 per page Pages 200+: $0.10 § 876.8.9
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Kansas

  • A reasonable fee may be charged. K.S.A. 65-4971(b) Worker's Comp: Flat Fee Pages 1 - 10: $16.00 Flat Fee Pages 11-50: $12.00 ($28.00 total) Pages 51+: $0.35 per page Xrays: $5.00 per image WC - page 369
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Alabama

  • The HIPAA Privacy Rule requires medical practices to provide patients, upon request, with access to medical information about them maintained by the practice. HIPAA also imposes limits on the fees that can be charged to patients to access their own records. Under HIPAA, the amount of money that a practice may charge for copies of a patient’s medical records varies, based on tw
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Arkansas

California

Colorado

  1. Limit on Fees Mandated by State Law
  2. Search Fee/ Labor Charge/ Processing Charge
  3. Copy Fees for First Pages
  4. Copy Fees for Additional Pages
See more on therecordsco.com

Connecticut

  1. Limit on Fees Mandated by State Law
  2. Search Fee/ Labor Charge/ Processing Charge
  3. Copy Fees for First Pages
  4. Copy Fees for Additional Pages
See more on therecordsco.com

Delaware

  1. Limit on Fees Mandated by State Law
  2. Copy Fees for First Pages
  3. Reproduction Costs
  4. Electronic Records
See more on therecordsco.com

Georgia

  1. Limit on Fees Mandated by State Law
  2. Search Fee/ Labor Charge/ Processing
  3. Copy Fees for First Pages
  4. Copy Fees for Additional Pages
See more on therecordsco.com

Indiana

  1. Limit on Fees Mandated by State Law
  2. Copy Fees for First Pages
  3. Additional Fees and Costs
See more on therecordsco.com

Iowa

  1. Limit on Fees Mandated by State Law
  2. Search Fee/ Labor Charge/ Processing Charge
  3. Copy Fees for First Pages
  4. Copy Fees for Additional Pages
See more on therecordsco.com

Kentucky

  1. Limit on Fees Mandated by State Law
  2. Search Fee/ Labor Charge/ Processing Charge
  3. Copy Fees for First Pages
  4. Copy Fees for Additional Pages
See more on therecordsco.com