Record Types
Medical Records Requests by Record Type
Start with the record type and the organization that holds it. These guides explain the portal, request, format, fee, and response questions to verify before you submit.
How do I access my medical records?
Identify the organization that holds the record, check its verified patient portal, and use its formal access-request process when the needed information is not available there. A covered entity generally must act on a HIPAA access request within 30 calendar days; one additional 30-day extension requires written notice during the initial period.
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Our team can assist with your records request
Five Steps for a Traceable Access Request
Step 1
Identify the record type
List the report, note, image, bill, or other record you need and the date range involved.
Step 2
Identify the record holder
Confirm which healthcare organization, health plan, or laboratory maintains the requested information.
Step 3
Check the verified portal
Look for records already available to view or download, while recognizing that a portal may not contain the complete designated record set.
Step 4
Submit the correct request
Follow the record holder’s access process and provide the details it needs to locate the record and verify identity or authority.
Step 5
Track the response
Keep the confirmation. A covered entity generally must act on a HIPAA access request within 30 calendar days; one additional 30-day extension requires timely written notice.
Categories
Browse by record type
Lab Results
Find the performing laboratory, check MyQuest, Labcorp Patient, or your health system’s portal, and request a completed report when portal access is incomplete.
View guideImaging & Radiology
Request both the radiology report and, when needed, the image files. Confirm the delivery format and viewing instructions with the record holder.
View guideBilling Records
Identify whether you need a provider’s itemized bill, a health plan’s explanation of benefits, payment history, or another billing document.
View guideOperative Reports
Ask the facility which operative, anesthesia, pathology, implant, and discharge records are available for the encounter you are documenting.
View guideDischarge Summaries
Locate the discharge summary and associated instructions in the hospital portal or request them from the organization’s records department.
View guidePathology Reports
Request the completed pathology report from the laboratory or facility that maintains it. Ask a qualified clinician to interpret the findings.
View guideVisit Notes
Check the visit or clinical-notes area in the patient portal, or include the relevant dates and clinician in a formal access request.
View guideWhy it matters
Why a precise request matters
A complete personal copy
A focused request helps you collect the reports, notes, images, and billing records needed for your own archive without assuming one portal contains everything.
Care transitions
When you change clinicians or health systems, ask the receiving team which records it needs and use secure channels designated by the organizations involved.
Administrative documentation
Insurers, employers, attorneys, and government programs can have different documentation rules. Obtain the record, then follow the receiving organization’s instructions.
Selected health systems
Find the medical records department for your hospital in our hospital directory.
State-specific rules require current verification
State law can provide additional access rights or different requirements. Our state-law guides are offline while their sources, jurisdictional scope, effective dates, and reviewed revisions are revalidated. MedicalRecords.com does not provide legal advice.
Read the official HHS right-of-access guidanceFAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the fastest place to check for my medical records?
What can a covered entity charge for copies?
Can a covered entity deny an access request?
What if I need records for an external deadline?
Can I request records held in another state?
Research Methodology
Federal access, response-time, fee, and denial statements were checked against the current text of 45 CFR § 164.524 and current HHS Office for Civil Rights guidance. Category descriptions and workflow steps were limited to records-access navigation and do not interpret clinical information or state-specific law.
Publication History
August 8, 2026: Reconciled the hub to current federal access sources, removed synthetic freshness and unsupported review attribution, and narrowed category and FAQ copy to verifiable access guidance.
- 45 CFR § 164.524 — Access of individuals to protected health information. Electronic Code of Federal RegulationsView sourceAccessed 8/8/2026
- Individuals’ Right under HIPAA to Access their Health Information. U.S. Department of Health and Human ServicesView sourceAccessed 8/8/2026
- Permissible fees for copies under the HIPAA right of access. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2016View sourceAccessed 8/8/2026
How It Works
What you get
Authorization-Aware Process
The workflow collects authorization for the requested records. HIPAA generally requires a covered entity to act within 30 calendar days, with one limited extension.access-ecfr
Digital-First Delivery
Authenticated digital delivery is used when supported for the order. Other delivery methods may be required.
$50 Starting Service Price
The order flow discloses service tiers and selected add-ons. Record holders may charge separate copy fees.
Tired of being put on hold by medical records departments?
We coordinate eligible requests and follow-up while the record holder controls availability, copy fees, delivery methods, and processing time.
Starting at $50 · authorization required · provider-controlled timing