Basically, it is anywhere from $5 to $25 for the first page and around 25 cents per page after. It varies state to state.
In Maine, it is $10 for the first page and 25 cents thereafter. We routinely charge for transfer of records, but because patients generally have never been charged, they tend to call, complain, threaten to sue, whatever. I just offer to give them the names of a few lawyers, because it is right in the state's statutes.
The only thing is you have to be a bit more careful going through the records, as there are bound to be duplicates, blank sheets, etc. Plus, do you count fax cover sheets? I guess you could call it all part of the record. We tend to remove them. Then there are the pages with insurance cards that have been copied.
Another way is to do the cost, then subtract 20% and document it. This way, in the very unlikely event they come back and demand 25 cents back due to a blank page, you are already covered. Sounds strange, but it has happened.
We, of course, never charge for records to specialists, and we also give one copy to parents at no charge.
Medicaid patients, of course, cannot be charged.
While I am at it, another little known fact (well maybe not little known on here) is you don't need a records release to give the records to the patient or to mail them. But, it doesn't hurt.
I have to admit there is a little passive-aggressiveness for me. But, people forget, it isn't just the copying and faxing or mailing a CD at the end, you also spent time and paper when they first checked in
