Patient access to medical records
OK Medical Records Access
Health
Gives current and former patients a right to access and obtain copies of their medical records, images, and bills, and caps copy fees (with lower digital rates and no search or retrieval fees for patients). It also sets rules for release of a deceased patient's records and waiver of privilege in medical injury suits.
- Where
- Oklahoma
- Citation
- 76 O.S. §§ 19-20
- Status
- In force
- In force since
- 1976-04-08
- Last amended
- 2021-11-01
- Enforced by
- District attorneys (misdemeanor for refusal); courts
- People can sue
- No
- Penalties
- Refusing to furnish records as required is a misdemeanor.
- Applies to
- Doctors, hospitals, and other medical institutions, and their HIPAA business associates, holding patient medical records and bills
- Excludes psychological, psychiatric, mental health, and substance abuse treatment records (governed by 43A O.S. § 1-109)
Rights it gives people
- On request, give a patient access to information in their medical records, including images, pathology slides, and bills.76 O.S. § 19(A)(1)
- Furnish copies on request at capped fees ($0.50 per page; $0.30 per page and a $200 cap for electronic records from an EHR delivered electronically); do not charge patients search, retrieval, review, or preparation fees.76 O.S. § 19(A)(2)
Practices it requires
- Release a deceased patient's records only on court order or written release of the personal representative, or if none, the spouse or a responsible family member.76 O.S. § 19(A)(1)
Sources
- Official text
- Oklahoma Statutes Title 76 (complete title PDF, Oklahoma Legislature, compiled Dec. 2025), §§ 19-20
Checked against these sources on 2026-09-25 by research agent (Claude), primary sources.
Research reference, not legal advice.