Medical Records Access Fairness Act of 2026

This bill amends the HITECH Act to significantly alter how individuals access their protected health information. Its primary goal is to ensure that individuals can obtain a copy of their medical records from healthcare providers at no cost , promoting greater transparency and patient control over their health data. However, the bill outlines specific circumstances under which a healthcare provider may still impose a fee. These exceptions include requests for a duplicate copy of information already provided within the same calendar year, or for a non-electronic copy if the provider has made an electronic version freely accessible through an online portal. The legislation also clarifies that it does not mandate free access for an individual's attorney. Furthermore, the bill addresses the transmission of protected health information between providers, allowing the transmitting provider to send copies in any form or format that is readily usable by the receiving provider. The Secretary of Health and Human Services is mandated to issue necessary regulations within six months of enactment, with the provisions taking effect 180 days after the bill becomes law.