Privacy Law Library

Patient access to medical records

Colorado patient records access

Health

Colorado gives patients and their personal representatives the right to inspect and obtain copies of their medical records, including X-rays, from health facilities and individual providers, consistent with HIPAA's access exceptions. Records must be delivered electronically when requested and kept electronically, inspection is free, and copy fees are limited to what HIPAA allows. The Colorado Privacy Act exempts health-care information governed by this part for purposes of records access.

Where
Colorado
Citation
C.R.S. 25-1-801 to 25-1-803
Status
In force
In force since
1976-07-01
Last amended
2024-07-01
Enforced by
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and professional licensing boards
People can sue
No
Penalties
No specific penalty in the sections reviewed.
Applies to
  • Licensed or certified health facilities and title 10 entities providing health-care services, including through managed care plans (25-1-801(1))
  • Individual licensed health-care providers, including physicians, nurses, dentists, chiropractors, optometrists, therapists, midwives, naturopathic doctors, and psychotherapists (25-1-802(1))

Rights it gives people

  • Make patient records available for inspection by the patient or personal representative at reasonable times, except records withheld under 45 CFR 164.524(a); no fee for inspection.C.R.S. 25-1-801(1)(a); 25-1-802(1)(a)
  • Provide copies of records, including X-rays, on request for no more than the HIPAA-permitted fee, and in electronic format when requested and readily producible.C.R.S. 25-1-801(1)(b)

Practices it requires

  • Release records to third persons only with a HIPAA-compliant authorization, valid subpoena, or court order.C.R.S. 25-1-801(1)(b)(I)(A)

Sources

Checked against these sources on 2026-09-25 by research agent (Claude), primary sources.

Unverified: 2025-2026 amendments to part 8 not checked; remaining subsections of 25-1-801 (for example (4) and (5)) not reviewed.

Research reference, not legal advice.