64B8-10.003: Costs of Reproducing Medical Records
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The Board proposes the development of a rule amendment to address the costs associated with the reproduction of medical records.
SUBJECT AREA TO BE ADDRESSED: Costs for the reproduction of medical records.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: 456.057(18), 458.309 FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 456.057(18) FS.
IF REQUESTED IN WRITING AND NOT DEEMED UNNECESSARY BY THE AGENCY HEAD, A RULE DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP WILL BE NOTICED IN THE NEXT AVAILABLE FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE WEEKLY.
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT AND A COPY OF THE PRELIMINARY DRAFT, IF AVAILABLE, IS: Larry McPherson, Jr., Executive Director, Board of Medicine/MQA, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin #C03, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3253
THE PRELIMINARY TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT IS:
64B8-10.003 Costs of Reproducing Medical Records.
Recognizing that patient access to medical records is important and necessary to assure continuity of patient care, the Board of Medicine urges physicians to provide their patients a copy of their medical records, upon request, without cost, especially when the patient is economically disadvantaged. The Board, however, also recognizes that the cost of reproducing voluminous medical records may be financially burdensome to some practitioners. Therefore, the following rule sets forth the permitted costs for the reproduction of medical records.
(1) Any person licensed pursuant to Chapter 458, Florida Statutes, required to release copies of patient medical records may condition such release upon payment by the requesting party of the reasonable costs of reproducing the records.
(2) For patients and governmental entities, the reasonable Reasonable costs of reproducing copies of written or typed documents or reports shall not be more than the following:
(a) For the first 25 pages, the cost shall be $1.00 per page.
(b) For each page in excess of 25 pages, the cost shall be 25 cents.
(3) For other entities, the reasonable costs of reproducing copies of written or typed documents or reports shall not be more than $1.00 per page.
(4)(3) Reasonable costs of reproducing x-rays, and such other special kinds of records shall be the actual costs. The phrase actual costs means the cost of the material and supplies used to duplicate the record, as well as the labor costs and overhead costs associated with such duplication.
Specific Authority 456.057(18), 458.309 FS. Law Implemented 456.057(18) 456.061, 456.058, 458.331(1) FS. HistoryNew 11-17-87, Amended 5-12-88, Formerly 21M-26.003, 61F6-26.003, 59R-10.003, Amended_________.
