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Medical Records: Fees and Challenges Associated with Patients' Access

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Report Type Reports and Testimonies
Report Date May 14, 2018
Release Date May 14, 2018
Report No. GAO-18-386
Summary:

Federal law requires health care providers to give patients access to their medical records.

We found that some patients incurred fees they believed to be excessive to access their records; for example, patients with chronic conditions can have lengthy records, and copying costs can be significant. Also, some patients are unaware that they can challenge providers who deny them access.

We also found that providers may bear costs for responding to record requests, including staff time. Fulfilling requests can be complex, as information may be stored in multiple electronic records or in a mix of paper and electronic records.

 

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