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Medical Records Access Fairness Act of 2026
To amend the HITECH Act to allow an individual to obtain a copy of such individual's protected health information at no cost unless certain circumstances apply, and for other purposes.
Summary
This bill would amend the HITECH Act to require health care providers to provide individuals with free access to copies of their protected health information in most cases. Health care providers could charge fees only in two circumstances: when an individual requests a duplicate copy of information already provided in the same calendar year, or when requesting a non-electronic copy of information that is already available for free on the provider's online portal. The bill allows individuals to request their records be transmitted to other health care providers in any readily usable format. Health care providers are not required to provide free copies to an individual's attorney. The Secretary of Health and Human Services would have six months to implement regulations, with the requirements becoming effective 180 days after the bill's enactment.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
- Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11] (D-IL)
1 cosponsor
- Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3] (D-OH)
Money behind the sponsor
Top reported contributors to Bill Foster’s campaign committee (2024 cycle) — who funds the bill’s sponsor, not a claim about this bill. Data from FEC.
- FERMILAB $22,943
- NULL $18,250
- BOSTON UNIVERSITY $17,800
- UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO $17,560
- NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY $17,476
Organizations whose employees gave the most — itemized individual contributions grouped by the donor’s reported employer (FEC Schedule A). Full finance for Bill Foster → · Outside spending →
Actions (2)
- Mar 4, 2026 Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. · house
- Mar 4, 2026 Introduced in House
Similar bills (6)
Bills with similar text or summary — includes reintroductions across Congresses. Ranked by semantic similarity of the bill text (computed locally); a neutral discovery aid, not a claim the bills are duplicates.
Full text
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 4, 2026
Mr. Foster (for himself and Mrs. Beatty) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
A BILL
To amend the HITECH Act to allow an individual to obtain a copy of such individual’s protected health information at no cost unless certain circumstances apply, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Medical Records Access Fairness Act of 2026”.
SEC. 2. ACCESS OF INDIVIDUALS TO PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION AT NO COST UNLESS CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES APPLY.
Section 13405 of the HITECH Act (42 U.S.C. 17935) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
“(f) Access of Individuals to Protected Health Information at No Cost Unless Certain Circumstances Apply.—
“(1) Access of individuals to protected health information at no cost unless certain circumstances apply.—
“(A) In general.—In providing an individual (and, if the individual expressly requests, a health care provider or a family caregiver) with access to a copy of such individual’s protected health information (or a summary or explanation of such information) in accordance with section 164.524 of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations, a health care provider may only impose a fee on such individual if the individual is requesting—
“(i) a duplicate copy (or summary or explanation) of protected health information that was previously provided to such individual in the same calendar year of the request; or
“(ii) a non-electronic copy (or summary or explanation) of protected health information that the health care provider has made accessible for the individual, at no cost, on an online portal of the health care provider.
“(B) Copies transmitted to other health care providers.—In the case of an individual who expressly requests a health care provider to transmit to another health care provider a copy of such individual’s protected health information (or a summary or explanation of such information), such transmitting provider may transmit such copy (or summary or explanation) in any form and format to the extent that such form and format is readily usable by such receiving provider.
“(C) Rule of construction.—Nothing in this subsection may be construed as requiring a health care provider to provide, at no cost, a copy of an individual’s protected health information (or a summary or explanation of such information) to any attorney of such individual.
“(2) Regulations.—Not later than six months after the date of the enactment of this subsection, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall promulgate and amend regulations as necessary to implement the requirements described in this subsection.
“(3) Effective date.—This subsection shall apply with respect to requests for access to protected health information made on or after the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this subsection.”. <all>
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