Medical Records Access Fairness Act

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Oct 16, 2019

Medical Records Access Fairness Act This bill prohibits health care providers from charging a fee for providing copies of individuals' protected health information. This prohibition does not apply to requests for a (1) duplicate of a copy that an individual has received within the past year, (2) nonelectronic copy that is otherwise available at no cost in electronic form through an online portal, or (3) copy to an attorney of an individual.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11] · D–IL

Committees

Energy and Commerce Committee

7 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Oct 17, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Oct 16, 2019
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Oct 16, 2019
Introduced in House
Oct 16, 2019
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Oct 16, 2019 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

HR 7422 · Medical Records Access Fairness Act

Source last updated: Apr 7, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.4698 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss H.R.4698, 116th Congress: Medical Records Access Fairness Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/4698

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2019-10-16.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hr4698/BILLS-116hr4698ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:15:56Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.4698 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.4698 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.4698, 116th Congress: Medical Records Access Fairness Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/4698

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2019-10-16.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hr4698/BILLS-116hr4698ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:15:56Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.4698 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.4698 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.4698, 116th Congress: Medical Records Access Fairness Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/4698

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2019-10-16.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hr4698/BILLS-116hr4698ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:15:56Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.4698 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.4698 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.4698, 116th Congress: Medical Records Access Fairness Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/4698

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2019-10-16.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hr4698/BILLS-116hr4698ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:15:56Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.4698 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.