State medical records law
Missouri medical records laws
How do I get my medical records in Missouri, and what can a provider charge?
Missouri law only says records must be furnished 'within a reasonable time,' so the HIPAA deadline controls: 30 days, with one 30-day extension if the provider tells you in writing. For 2026 (effective Feb 1, 2026), Missouri caps charges at a $30.32 search/retrieval fee plus $0.70 per page, plus postage; an extra $28.39 may apply if records are stored off-site, and notarization (if requested) is capped at $2. Electronic copies cost the lesser of those fees or $132.89. Amounts adjust every February 1 by medical-care CPI; HIPAA's cost-based limit still applies to patients' own requests.
- Response deadline
- 30 days (HIPAA)
- Copy fees
- $0.70/page
- Retention — physician offices
- At least 7 years from the date of the last professional service
How Missouri differs from federal HIPAA
- Missouri sets a dollar cap (CPI-adjusted yearly) including a search/retrieval fee; HIPAA bars search fees for patients, so a patient's own request is still limited to HIPAA's reasonable cost-based fee.
- Electronic copies are capped at a flat maximum ($132.89 in 2026).
- No fixed state deadline ('reasonable time'), so HIPAA's 30 days applies.
How long a provider has to respond
Missouri law only says records must be furnished 'within a reasonable time,' so the HIPAA deadline controls: 30 days, with one 30-day extension if the provider tells you in writing.(Mo. Rev. Stat. § 191.227, 45 CFR 164.524)
Under 45 CFR § 164.524, a provider may take one 30-day extension only if it tells you in writing, within the first 30 days, why and when you will get the records.
What a provider can charge
For 2026 (effective Feb 1, 2026), Missouri caps charges at a $30.32 search/retrieval fee plus $0.70 per page, plus postage; an extra $28.39 may apply if records are stored off-site, and notarization (if requested) is capped at $2. Electronic copies cost the lesser of those fees or $132.89. Amounts adjust every February 1 by medical-care CPI; HIPAA's cost-based limit still applies to patients' own requests.(Mo. Rev. Stat. § 191.227, Mo. DHSS, Fees for Medical Records (effective 2/1/26), 45 CFR 164.524)
- Paper copies
- $0.70 per page (2026 CPI-adjusted rate)
- search and retrieval fee (max, effective Feb 1, 2026)
- Up to $30.32
- Electronic copies
- Same $30.32 + $0.70/page, or $132.89 total, whichever is less (when the provider keeps records fully in an EHR and you accept its electronic format).
A provider cannot refuse to give you your records because you owe money for treatment. Compare every state on the medical records fees by state page.
How long records must be kept
- Physician offices: At least 7 years from the date of the last professional service(Mo. Rev. Stat. § 334.097)
If a provider doesn't comply
No state private right of action for denied access was found in § 191.227; HIPAA has none — file with HHS OCR or the licensing board.(Mo. Rev. Stat. § 191.227)
Missouri State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts
physicians
HIPAA violations by any covered entity, within 180 days
How to request your records in Missouri
- Ask the provider's medical records (health information) department for its request form, or write your own request with your name, date of birth, dates of care, the records you want, and the format (paper or electronic).
- Keep a copy and note the date — the 30 days (HIPAA) clock runs from when the provider receives it.
- If the deadline passes or the bill exceeds the rules above, use the complaint routes on this page.
Templates and step-by-step help are on the records-access hub. Find a Missouri hospital's records office, or browse hospitals in Missouri.
Common questions about Missouri medical records
How long does a Missouri provider have to give me my records?
Missouri law requires records 'within a reasonable time' without setting a number of days, so the federal HIPAA rule applies: 30 days, with one 30-day extension if you are told in writing.(Mo. Rev. Stat. § 191.227, 45 CFR 164.524)
How much can a Missouri provider charge for copies in 2026?
Under the schedule effective February 1, 2026, the maximum is a $30.32 search/retrieval fee plus $0.70 per page and postage, with up to $28.39 more for off-site records. HIPAA's reasonable cost-based limit also applies when you request your own records.(Mo. DHSS, Fees for Medical Records (effective 2/1/26), 45 CFR 164.524)
How much do electronic copies cost in Missouri?
If the provider keeps your records entirely in an electronic health record, electronic copies cost the lesser of $30.32 plus $0.70 per page or $132.89 total (2026 amounts).(Mo. Rev. Stat. § 191.227, Mo. DHSS, Fees for Medical Records (effective 2/1/26))
Do Missouri's fees change every year?
Yes. The fees adjust each February 1 based on the medical-care component of the Consumer Price Index, and the Department of Health and Senior Services publishes the new amounts.(Mo. Rev. Stat. § 191.227, Mo. DHSS, Fees for Medical Records (effective 2/1/26))
How long must a Missouri doctor keep my records?
Physicians must keep patient records at least 7 years from the date of the last professional service.(Mo. Rev. Stat. § 334.097)
Where can I complain if a Missouri provider won't release my records?
You can file with the Missouri State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts (for physicians) or with the HHS Office for Civil Rights within 180 days.(Missouri State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts)
Sources
Checked against official sources on November 3, 2026.
- Mo. Rev. Stat. § 191.227 — Health care records to be furnished to patient — fees (FindLaw mirror; revisor.mo.gov would not fetch) (official text via a public mirror)
- Mo. DHSS, Fees for Medical Records (effective 2/1/26) — Annual CPI-adjusted fee schedule under § 191.227
- Mo. Rev. Stat. § 334.097 — Physician patient records — retention (FindLaw mirror) (official text via a public mirror)
- 19 CSR 30-20.094 — Hospital medical records rule — rescinded (Justia regulations mirror) (official text via a public mirror)
- Missouri State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts — Complaint form page
- 45 CFR 164.524 — HIPAA right of access