Your Own Medical Records
Wis. Stat. 146.83 — inspection during business hours, and copies by the page
In Wisconsin, a patient or person the patient authorizes may, on submitting a statement of informed consent, inspect the patient's health care records at any time during regular business hours, on reasonable notice. A person who requests copies, gives informed consent and pays the applicable fees is provided them.
| Copies | The most that may be charged |
|---|---|
| CopiesPaper, the first 25 pages | The most that may be charged$1 per page |
| CopiesPaper, pages 26 to 50 | The most that may be charged75 cents per page |
| CopiesPaper, pages 51 to 100 | The most that may be charged50 cents per page |
| CopiesPaper, pages 101 and above | The most that may be charged30 cents per page |
| CopiesA print of an X-ray | The most that may be charged$10 per image |
| CopiesShipping | The most that may be chargedActual costs and any applicable taxes |
- A patient eligible for medical assistance pays no more than 25 percent of the fee for one set of copies.
- Copies to appeal a denial of Social Security disability or Supplemental Security Income cost no more than what the federal agency reimburses for them.
- The dollar amounts are adjusted each July for inflation.
- The provider gives each patient a statement paraphrasing the section, and logs each inspection.
Mental health and other records with their own confidentiality rules are governed by other sections and are not reproduced here. Whether a charge or a refusal was proper is a question for a court and for a licensed Wisconsin attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- Wis. Stat. 146.83 — Access to patient health care records
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Wisconsin attorney.