Arkansas Medical Record Fees: 2026 Statutory Guide
Medical record access in Arkansas is a two-fold requirement. Ark. Code § 16-46-106 dictates the maximum fees, while 20 CAR § 41-113 establishes the hospital licensing mandate to maintain and provide these records.
1. Statutory Fee Schedule (2026)
Arkansas recently updated its fee structure to simplify electronic delivery. Records that exist in an electronic format are now subject to a flat-fee cap.
| Service Type | Paper Records Fee | Electronic (Digital) Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Labor Charge | $25.00 | Included in Flat Fee |
| First 25 Pages | $0.50 per page | N/A (See Cap) |
| Pages 26+ | $0.25 per page | N/A (See Cap) |
| Electronic Record Cap | N/A | $75.00 (Max Total Fee) |
| Postage / Shipping | Actual Cost | $0.00 |
| Certification / Notary | $2.00 per record | $2.00 per record |
The Electronic Safe Harbor
Under Ark. Code § 16-46-106(c), if records are stored electronically, the provider must provide them in an electronic format if requested. The total fee—including labor and processing—is capped at $75.00. Providers are prohibited from charging per-page fees for digital exports if the total exceeds this amount.
2. Regulatory Compliance (20 CAR § 41-113)
While the statute sets the price, the Code of Arkansas Rules (CAR) sets the standard for how hospitals must manage your request:
- Timely Access: Hospitals must ensure records are “permanently maintained” and retrievable. Under Rule 41-113, failure to provide access can be a violation of their operating license.
- Accuracy: Errors in records must be corrected by a single line-through (keeping the original legible), ensuring the integrity of the medical evidence for legal proceedings.
- Format Rights: If the hospital uses an Electronic Health Record (EHR) system, they are mandated to provide the data in a usable digital format to the patient or their authorized attorney.
3. Mandatory Free Records
- Government Benefits: Under Ark. Code § 16-46-106(e), patients are entitled to one free copy for Social Security Disability or other government-funded benefit appeals. Note: This waiver often does not apply if a private attorney is paying the costs upfront.
- Indigent Care: Many Arkansas hospitals, in compliance with federal charitable status, offer fee waivers for patients who meet federal poverty guidelines.
Audit Tip
If you are dealing with a hospital, 20 CAR § 41-113 is your leverage. Because hospitals are required by this rule to maintain high-functioning “Health Information Services,” they cannot claim that a digital export is “unduly burdensome” to justify exceeding the $75.00 electronic cap.
Audit Your Invoice
Check for a $15.00 Retrieval Fee being added to the $25.00 Labor Charge. Under the 2026 law, these are “alternative” charges. A provider may charge the $25 labor fee OR a $15 retrieval fee (usually for off-site paper records), but they generally should not stack both for