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.