Medical records disclosure rules (patient access and subpoenas to health care providers)
LA Medical Records Disclosure Rules
Health
Louisiana has no general medical confidentiality act, but these statutes set the exclusive routes by which health care providers may disclose patient records: to the patient or authorized persons under R.S. 40:1165.1, under the health care provider-patient privilege of Code of Evidence article 510, or under a subpoena or court order that follows notice procedures protecting the patient. Patients may also get copies of information a provider has sent to third parties.
- Where
- Louisiana
- Citation
- La. R.S. 40:1165.1; La. R.S. 13:3715.1
- Status
- In force
- Enforced by
- Courts
- People can sue
- No
- Penalties
- No specific penalty identified; records sought outside the statutory procedure need not be produced.
- Applies to
- Health care providers in Louisiana (as defined in R.S. 40:1231.1) and parties seeking patient records through litigation, subpoena, or court order
Rights it gives people
- On request, give the patient a copy of any information about the patient that the provider has transmitted to any company, agency, or person, and provide records to the patient or authorized representatives subject to fee limits.La. R.S. 40:1165.1(A)
Practices it requires
- Disclose patient medical, hospital, or other treatment records only under R.S. 40:1165.1, Code of Evidence art. 510, or a subpoena or court order obtained under R.S. 13:3715.1 (for example, a litigation subpoena accompanied by an affidavit that the patient was notified).La. R.S. 13:3715.1(B)
Sources
Checked against these sources on 2026-09-25 by research agent (Claude), primary sources.
Unverified: R.S. 13:3715.1 carries a legislature note that it was included in the Unconstitutional Statutes Biennial Report dated March 14, 2016; which provision was affected was not reviewed. | Acts 2026, No. 558 (HB 609) amended health-record fees for veterans affairs requests; not reflected on legis.la.gov yet. Acts 2024, No. 185 last amended R.S. 13:3715.1. | Only the opening subsections of each statute were reviewed.
Research reference, not legal advice.