US · guidance
CMS SOM App. A, Tag A-0148
§482.13(d)(2) - The patient has the right to access their medical records, including current medical
records, upon an oral or written request, in the form or format requested by the individual. If it is
readily producible in such form and format (including in an electronic form or format when such
medical records are maintained electronically); or if not, in a readable hard copy form or such
other form or format as agreed by the facility and the individual, and within a reasonable
timeframe. The hospital must not frustrate the legitimate efforts of individuals to gain access to
their own medical records and must actively seek to meet these requests as quickly as its record
keeping system permits.
Interpretive Guidelines §482.13(d)(2)
Guidance is pending and will be updated in future release.
Survey Procedures §482.13(d)(2)
• Does the hospital promote and protect the patient’s right to access information contained in
his/her clinical record?
• Does the hospital have a procedure for providing records to patients within a reasonable time
frame?
• Does the hospital’s system frustrate the legitimate efforts of individuals to gain access to their
own medical record?
• Does the procedure include the method to identify what documents were not provided and the
reason?
History
Rev. 200, Issued: 02-21-20; Effective: 02-21-20, Implementation: 02-21-20
Provenance
- Source
- cms.gov
- Retrieved
- 2026-07-22
- Edition
- som-2026-07-22
- Content hash
f71887444155c5d12ec2a6dff87c170f2c82a1be240dd85cfdc2ab2a0c38466d
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