Almost always, yes.
Health care providers must abide by the “Schedule of Health Care Provider Records Fees” if they choose to charge a patient, or a person authorized by the patient, for copies of the patient’s medical records.
Pursuant to section 146.83(3f)(c)2., each July 1, the Department of Health Services is required to adjust the dollar amounts specified under section 146.83(3f)(b) that a health care provider may charge for providing copies of a patient’s health care records.
The statutes also provide that a health care provider may not charge a patient or a person authorized by the patient more than 25% of the applicable fee for providing one set of copies of a patient’s health care records if the patient is eligible for medical assistance. A health care provider may require that a patient or person authorized by the patient provide proof that the patient is eligible for medical assistance before providing copies at a reduced charge. However, a health care provider may charge 100 percent of the applicable fees if a second or additional set of copies of patient health care records is requested by a patient who is eligible for medical assistance. This “reduced fee exception” does not apply if the health care provider is the Department of Health Services or the Department of Corrections.
** Fee Schedule can be found in the 2020 Wisconsin Administrative Register No. 774B as a Public Notice issued on June 29, 2020.