State medical records laws
Medical records laws by state
How long does a provider have to give me my medical records?
Federal HIPAA allows up to 30 days (one 30-day extension if you are told in writing), and fees must be reasonable and cost-based. Many states are stricter — shorter deadlines, per-page caps, or free copies in some situations. Pick your state below for the deadline, the fee rule, and the statute behind it.
Choose your state
Each guide gives the response deadline, what a provider may charge, how long records must be kept, rules for sensitive records, and the agency that takes complaints — with the statute cited.
Northeast
Midwest
- Illinois30 days$1.38/page
- Indiana30 days$1.00/page
- Iowa30 days (HIPAA)Reasonable, cost-based (HIPAA)
- Kansas30 daysState fee schedule
- Michigan30 days$1.60/page
- Minnesota30 days$1.00/page
- Missouri30 days (HIPAA)$0.70/page
- Nebraska30 days$0.50/page
- North Dakota30 days (HIPAA)$0.75/page
- Ohio30 days (HIPAA)State fee schedule
- South Dakota30 days (HIPAA)$0.33/page
- Wisconsin30 days (HIPAA)$1.48/page
South
- Alabama30 days (HIPAA)$1.00/page
- Arkansas30 days$0.50/page
- Delaware30 days (HIPAA)State fee schedule
- Florida30 days (HIPAA)$1.00/page
- Georgia30 days$0.97/page
- Kentucky30 days (HIPAA)$1.00/page
- Louisiana15 days$1.00/page
- Maryland21 business days$0.50/page
- Mississippi30 days (HIPAA)$1.00/page
- North Carolina30 days (HIPAA)$0.75/page
- Oklahoma30 days (HIPAA)$0.50/page
- South Carolina30 days (HIPAA)$0.90/page
- Tennessee10 business daysState fee schedule
- Texas15 business days$0.50/page
- Virginia30 daysState fee schedule
- West Virginia30 daysState fee schedule
West
- Alaska30 daysReasonable, cost-based (HIPAA)
- Arizona30 days (HIPAA)State fee schedule
- California15 days$0.25/page
- Colorado30 days (HIPAA)State fee schedule
- Hawaii30 days (HIPAA)Reasonable, cost-based (HIPAA)
- Idaho30 days (HIPAA)Reasonable, cost-based (HIPAA)
- Montana10 days$0.50/page
- Nevada10 business days$0.60/page
- New Mexico30 days (HIPAA)$0.25/page
- Oregon30 days$0.50/page
- Utah30 days (HIPAA)State fee schedule
- Washington15 business days$1.24/page
- Wyoming30 daysReasonable, cost-based (HIPAA)
Compare copy fees across states
The fees guide puts every state's per-page rate, flat fee, and electronic-copy rule side by side.
Medical records fees by stateCommon questions
Does HIPAA or my state's law decide how fast I get my records?
Both apply, and the stricter one wins for you. HIPAA (45 CFR 164.524) gives a provider up to 30 days to act on your request, with one 30-day extension if they tell you in writing. A state can shorten that deadline but cannot lengthen it. Each state page shows the deadline that applies there.
What can a provider charge for a copy of my records?
Under HIPAA a provider may charge only a reasonable, cost-based fee covering labor for copying, supplies, and postage — not retrieval or search time. Many states set a specific per-page cap or a flat fee that is lower than what HIPAA would allow; the state page lists it with the statute.
Can a provider refuse to release my records because I owe them money?
No. Under HIPAA your right of access does not depend on paying an outstanding bill. A provider may charge the permitted copying fee for the copies themselves, but cannot withhold records over unpaid treatment charges.
Where do I complain if a provider ignores my request?
File with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (OCR) within 180 days. Most states also license the provider — a medical board or health department — and the state page names the agency for that state.
Federal baseline
The HIPAA right of access is in 45 CFR § 164.524. For the request process, templates, and what to do when a provider stalls, see the records-access hub.