$148 for a PDF? Patient Access to Medical Records Hit or Miss

A watchdog agency cites egregious cases as the federal government promotes interoperability of health data.

The fees patients pay for copies of their own medical records vary drastically, sometimes running afoul of the restrictions written into federal law, according to a Government Accountability Office report released this week.

The watchdog agency’s report provided a list of egregious cases, including one in which a patient was charged $148 for a digital copy of her medical record. Two others were charged more than $500 apiece for a single request, the report said, citing an unnamed patient advocacy organization.

Some providers may be unaware of their duties under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which requires providers and insurers to...