OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Rick West, R-Heavener, recently passed a bill that would remove the requirement that fees be assessed to people accessing their medical records.

House Bill 2964, would change the language in statute from shall to may. The bill would allow fees to be assessed, but the amount charged could only be up to the amounts currently allowed in state statute, not more.

"This was a constituent request," West explained. "A man in my district requested his medical records and was surprised to find that the hospital was required to charge this fee. This would allow local health care providers to determine if they wish to charge these fees or waive them for the people they serve."

Current state statute requires fees ranging from 30 cents per page for digital records to 50 cents per page for X-rays and other printed images, to a $20 base fee for other records, plus the cost of mailing or delivery. Statute says that in no event shall a charge for the reproduction of electronically stored and delivered medical records exceed $200, plus postage or delivery fee. 

The bill passed the House unanimously on a vote of 92-0. It has been engrossed to the Senate where it is authored by Sen. Kendal Sacchieri, R-Blanchard.