Article VIII. Evidence · Part 20. Inspection of Records · Last amended 2022 · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceRequires health care facilities and practitioners to let patients (and their practitioners or attorneys) examine and copy patient care records on request, sets copying fee caps, and fixes deadlines for producing them.
"Health care facility" or "facility" means a public or private hospital, ambulatory surgical treatment center, nursing home, independent practice association, or physician hospital organization, or any other entity where health care services are provided to any person. The term does not include a health care practitioner. "Health care practitioner" means any health care
practitioner, including a physician, dentist, podiatric physician, advanced practice registered nurse, registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, physician assistant, clinical psychologist, clinical social worker, therapist, or counselor. The term includes a medical office, health care clinic, health department, group practice, and any other organizational structure for a licensed professional to provide health care services. The term does not include a health care facility.
(b)Every private and public health care facility shall, upon the request of any patient who has been treated in such health care facility, or any person, entity, or organization presenting a valid authorization for the release of records signed by the patient or the patient's legally authorized representative, or as authorized by Section 8-2001.5, permit the patient, his or her health care practitioner, authorized attorney, or any person, entity, or organization presenting a valid authorization for the release of records signed by the patient or the patient's legally authorized representative to examine the health care facility patient care records, including but not limited to the history, bedside notes, charts, pictures and plates, kept in connection with the treatment of such patient, and permit copies of such records to be made by him or her or his or her health care practitioner or authorized attorney.
(c)Every health care practitioner shall, upon the request of any patient who has been treated by the health care practitioner, or any person, entity, or organization presenting a valid authorization for the release of records signed by the patient or the patient's legally authorized representative, permit the patient and the patient's health care practitioner or authorized attorney, or any person, entity, or organization presenting a valid authorization for the release of records signed by the patient or the patient's legally authorized representative, to examine and copy the patient's records, including but not limited to those relating to the diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, history, charts, pictures and plates, kept in connection with the treatment of such patient.
(d)A request for copies of the records shall be in writing and shall be delivered to the administrator or manager of such health care facility or to the health care practitioner. The person (including patients, health care practitioners and attorneys) requesting copies of records shall reimburse the facility or the health care practitioner at the time of such copying for all reasonable expenses, including the costs of independent copy service companies, incurred in connection with such copying not to exceed a $20 handling charge for processing the request and the actual postage or shipping charge, if any, plus: (1) for paper copies 75 cents per page for the first through 25th pages, 50 cents per page for the 26th through 50th pages, and 25 cents per page for all pages in excess of 50 (except that the charge shall not exceed $1.25 per page for any copies made from microfiche or microfilm; records retrieved from scanning, digital imaging, electronic information or other digital format do not qualify as microfiche or microfilm retrieval for purposes of calculating charges); and (2) for electronic records, retrieved from a scanning, digital imaging, electronic information or other digital format in an electronic document, a charge of 50% of the per page charge for paper copies under subdivision (d)(1). This per page charge includes the cost of each CD Rom, DVD, or other storage media. Records already maintained in an electronic or digital format shall be provided in an electronic format when so requested. If the records system does not allow for the creation or transmission of an electronic or digital record, then the facility or practitioner shall inform the requester in writing of the reason the records can not be provided electronically. The written explanation may be included with the production of paper copies, if the requester chooses to order paper copies. These rates shall be automatically adjusted as set forth in Section 8-2006. The facility or health care practitioner may, however, charge for the reasonable cost of all duplication of record material or information that cannot routinely be copied or duplicated on a standard commercial photocopy machine such as x-ray films or pictures. (d-5) The handling fee shall not be collected from the
patient or the patient's personal representative who obtains copies of records under Section 8-2001.5.
(e)The requirements of this Section shall be satisfied within 30 days of the receipt of a written request by a patient or by his or her legally authorized representative, health care practitioner, authorized attorney, or any person, entity, or organization presenting a valid authorization for the release of records signed by the patient or the patient's legally authorized representative. If the facility or health care practitioner needs more time to comply with the request, then within 30 days after receiving the request, the facility or health care practitioner must provide the requesting party with a written statement of the reasons for the delay and the date by which the requested information will be provided. In any event, the facility or health care practitioner must provide the requested information no later than 60 days after receiving the request.
(f)A health care facility or health care practitioner must provide the public with at least 30 days prior notice of the closure of the facility or the health care practitioner's practice. The notice must include an explanation of how copies of the facility's records may be accessed by patients. The notice may be given by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the area in which the health care facility or health care practitioner is located.
(g)Failure to comply with the time limit requirement of this Section shall subject the denying party to expenses and reasonable attorneys' fees incurred in connection with any court ordered enforcement of the provisions of this Section.
(h)Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, a health care facility or health care practitioner shall provide without charge one complete copy of a patient's records if the records are being requested by the patient or a person, entity, attorney, registered representative, or organization presenting a valid authorization for the release of records signed by the patient or the patient's legally authorized representative who has provided documentation of authority to act for the patient, or by such other requester as is authorized by statute if the patient is deceased, for the purpose of supporting a claim for: (1) federal veterans' disability benefits; (2) federal Social Security or Supplemental Security Income benefits, or both, under any title of the Social Security Act; or (3) Aid to the Aged, Blind, or Disabled benefits. Upon request, and if the records are for at least one of the approved purposes, the requester may obtain updated medical records not included in the original medical record free of charge if the request is accompanied by a valid authorization for the release of records signed by the patient, the patient's legally authorized representative who has provided documentation of authority to act for the patient, or such other requester as is authorized by statute if the patient is deceased.
Plain-English Summary
This section defines two categories: a "health care facility" (hospitals, ambulatory surgical treatment centers, nursing homes, independent practice associations, physician hospital organizations, and similar entities, but not practitioners) and a "health care practitioner" (individually licensed providers such as physicians, dentists, nurses, and therapists, along with their offices or clinics, but not facilities).
Every facility and practitioner must, on the patient's request or that of anyone presenting a valid signed authorization (or as authorized for deceased patients under Section 8-2001.5), let the patient, the patient's practitioner, or the patient's authorized attorney examine and copy the patient care records — described broadly to include history, bedside notes, charts, pictures, plates, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.
Requests must be in writing. The requester reimburses reasonable copying expenses under statutory per-page caps that scale down as page count rises, with a separate, lower rate for electronic records, plus a capped handling charge and actual postage or shipping — except that the handling charge is not collected from the patient or the patient's personal representative obtaining copies under Section 8-2001.5. The facility or practitioner has 30 days to comply, extendable to 60 days with written notice of the delay and its reason; facilities and practitioners must also give 30 days' notice before closing. Missing the deadline exposes the facility or practitioner to the requester's expenses and reasonable attorney's fees from any court-ordered enforcement.
A separate provision requires one complete copy of the records at no charge when the request supports a claim for federal veterans' disability benefits, Social Security or Supplemental Security Income benefits, or Aid to the Aged, Blind, or Disabled benefits, including later updates sought for the same purpose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can request a patient's health care records under this section?
The patient, anyone with a valid authorization signed by the patient or the patient's legally authorized representative, the patient's own health care practitioner, or the patient's authorized attorney.
How long does a facility or practitioner have to produce the records?
30 days from the written request; with a written explanation of delay given within that period, the facility or practitioner may take up to 60 days total.
Can a facility charge whatever it wants for copies?
No. The section sets per-page caps for paper copies on a sliding scale by page count, a lower rate for electronic records, a capped handling charge, and actual postage or shipping.
Is there ever a free copy of the records?
Yes — one complete copy must be provided free of charge when the records support a claim for federal veterans' disability benefits, Social Security or SSI benefits, or Aid to the Aged, Blind, or Disabled benefits.
What happens if a facility misses the deadline?
It becomes liable for the requester's expenses and reasonable attorney's fees incurred to enforce the section through the courts.
Amendment History
(Source: P.A. 102-183, eff. 1-1-22.)
Source & verification. Section text and amendment history are
reproduced verbatim from the Illinois Compiled Statutes, published by the
Illinois Compiled Statutes, Illinois General Assembly / Legislative Reference Bureau. Last verified July 20, 2026.
· Official source
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