Colorado Medical Record Fees: 2026 Statutory Guide
Under C.R.S. § 25-1-801, Colorado law establishes specific guidelines for medical record access. Notably, Colorado is a patient-friendly state regarding initial access for personal use.
1. Statutory Fee Schedule (2026)
Colorado uses a tiered pricing model adjusted annually for inflation by the CDPHE. However, the primary rule for patients is the annual free copy.
The “First Copy” Rule
Most licensed Colorado health facilities provide one free copy of medical records per year to the patient or their personal representative for personal use. Fees typically only apply to subsequent requests within the same calendar year or to third-party requests (like insurance companies).
2026 Maximum Allowable Rates
If the “Free Copy” rule has already been exhausted, the following maximum rates apply to paper records or records maintained in legacy formats:
| Service Type | Rate / Fee |
|---|---|
| Annual Personal Request | $0.00 (First Copy) |
| First 10 Pages (Subsequent) | $18.53 (Flat Fee) |
| Pages 11 – 40 | $0.85 per page |
| Pages 41+ | $0.57 per page |
| Certification Fee | $10.00 |
| Microfilm Records | $1.50 per page |
| Postage / Imaging | Actual Cost |
Audit Rule: Electronic Exports
Under federal HIPAA guidelines (45 CFR 164.524), if your records are stored electronically, the facility should only charge a “reasonable, cost-based fee” for digital delivery (often a flat $6.50), regardless of the state’s per-page paper rates.
2. Mandatory Free Access & Rights
Beyond the annual free copy, Colorado law ensures access through the following:
- Free Inspection: Under C.R.S. § 25-1-801(1), a facility cannot charge a fee for a patient to simply sit and inspect their records during business hours.
- Social Security / Veterans Benefits: Under the Laura Hershey Disability Support Act, certain third parties may obtain one free copy to assist a patient with disability benefit applications or appeals.
3. Patient Rights & Deadlines
- 30-Day Deadline: Providers must fulfill record requests within 30 days.
- Attorney Access: Since the passage of HB22-1293, attorneys representing patients are subject to these same fee limitations and cannot be charged “commercial” rates for patient-authorized requests.
Audit Tip for 2026
If you are a patient requesting your own records for the first time this year, your balance should be $0.00. Any invoice charging the $18.53 base fee for an initial annual request should be disputed under the facility’s patient access policy and C.R.S. § 25-1-801’s “reasonableness” standard.
Audit Your Invoice
Check your invoice for “Administrative Fees” or “Retrieval Fees” that exceed the $18.53 base rate. In Colorado, the base fee for the first 10 pages is the retrieval fee—charging both is an overcharge.
Not sure if your invoice is accurate? Use our Medical Record Fee Calculator to audit your charges against these active Colorado statutes.
Please understand that the materials on this web page are for general information purposes only, and is not intended as legal advice.