Indiana DOI Increases Copying Charges

The Indiana Department of Insurance adopted its final rule on the guidelines for medical records copying charges, increasing those charges over objections voiced last summer by state insurance associations.

According to the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC), Indiana has some of the highest medical care costs in the country and increases adding to claim costs should not be promoted by the Department of Insurance.

The final rule establishes the following charges for copying patient medical records: $1 per page for the first 10 pages; $.50 per page for pages 11-50; $.25 per page for pages 51 and higher. A labor fee, not to exceed $20, may be charged, and if it is, then the provider or the medical records company may not charge for the copying of the first ten pages. The actual costs of mailing the medical records may be collected. If the request is for copies to be provided within two working days, an additional fee of $10 may be applied and a charge not to exceed $20 may be charged for certifying a patient’s medical records.

Gov. Mitch Daniels approved the new rule in September and it was filed with the secretary of state’s office the same day, making the rule effective 30 days after that filing. The final rule adoption was announced in the Nov. 1, 2005, issue of the Indiana Register.