medical records copying fee

Physicians may demand payment of these fees and charges before turning the records over to a patient or other authorized person (such as the patient's parent, guardian or lawyer), but probably not before complying with a proper subpoena. Production may not be withheld under an emergency request from a state or local governmental unit concerning a child protective services or adult protective services case pending payment. med chi's Professional Ethics Committee has opined that records should not be withheld from another health practitioner pending payment of the copying fees if to do so would hinder an ill patient from receiving needed medical attention. No fee may be charged to transfer the records of Medicaid recipient to another provider. Finally, the law does not authorize any practitioner to withhold production of the medical records until the fees for medical services themselves have been paid.