Your medical records should be free. This bill finally makes it law.
H.R. 7790 — Medical Records Access Fairness Act of 2026 · Filed by Bill Foster (D-IL) · 1 cosponsor · Introduced Mar 4, 2026 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill amends federal health privacy law to require healthcare providers to give patients free copies of their own medical records in electronic form, with limited exceptions: providers can charge only for duplicate copies requested in the same calendar year or for paper copies when electronic access is already available. Patients benefit by gaining affordable access to their health data; providers face modest compliance costs but retain reasonable fee authority for duplicates and physical copies.
Why we flagged it
The bill's core function is to expand patient rights to free access of personal health information, a consumer protection measure that increases transparency and individual agency in healthcare.
What the text implies
- May accelerate adoption of electronic health record (EHR) systems and interoperability standards, as providers optimize for low-cost digital delivery.
- Could enable patients to shop for healthcare services more effectively by comparing quality and pricing across providers using their own records.
The full analysis lists 4 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
Electronic health record (EHR) software vendors; Health data interoperability platforms; Patient advocacy organizations