Why HB 26-1414 Matters for Colorado Injury Victims: Fairer Access to Medical Records

Key Takeaways

• Medical records are essential to personal injury claims, but Colorado law has long allowed third-party companies to charge excessive fees for them.
• Bills for medical records could run into the thousands of dollars, even for records that were already digitized.
• HB 26-1414 caps those fees and sets clear timelines for delivery.
• The law also protects injured clients who rely on legal representation to access their own records.
• Cannon Law advocated for this legislation and celebrates its passage as a meaningful step toward justice for injured Coloradans.

When someone is seriously injured in Colorado, accessing their own medical records should not be the hardest part of moving forward. For too long, it was. That changed with the passage of HB 26-1414.

What Is HB 26-1414?

HB 26-1414 is a new Colorado law that caps fees charged for medical records and establishes clear timelines for their delivery. The legislation targets a problem that had been growing for years: third-party companies managing medical records on behalf of hospitals and providers were allowed, under the old system, to set their own fees, and those fees had become unreasonably high.

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The Problem with the Old System

Medical records are not optional in a personal injury case. They are the foundation of the entire claim. Attorneys use them to evaluate cases, advise clients, negotiate with insurers, and move matters forward. Without them, a case stalls before it begins.

Under the previous system, requesting those records could cost thousands of dollars, even when the records were already stored digitally and required minimal effort to produce. These costs were not a reflection of the work involved. They were the result of a system with no meaningful limits on what third-party vendors could charge.

The burden fell hardest on injured clients who could not access their own records independently, whether due to physical limitations, cognitive impairments, or simply the overwhelming nature of recovering from a serious incident. When they turned to an attorney for help, the cost of accessing their own information only went up.

What the Law Changes

HB 26-1414 addresses this directly. By capping what can be charged for medical records and requiring delivery within a set timeframe, the law ensures that injured Coloradans and their attorneys can access the information they need without facing inflated costs or indefinite delays.

For anyone navigating a personal injury claim, delays in obtaining records push back every other step in the process, from case evaluation to settlement negotiations to filing deadlines. This law removes one of the most frustrating and unnecessary obstacles in that process.

At its core, Cannon Law exists to give a voice to people who have been harmed and help them move forward with confidence. The work we do is grounded in compassion, preparation, and a commitment to accountability. Every outcome matters, because behind every case is a person who trusted us to stand up for them.

Sam Cannon

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Testimony in Support of HB 26-1414

I testified in support of HB 26-1414 before the Colorado Senate Finance Committee on behalf of the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association. In my remarks, I spoke from years of experience representing injured Coloradans and emphasized how excessive medical records fees have created real barriers for clients trying to move forward after serious injury.

I was also joined in support of the legislation by a former client who provided testimony alongside me. They shared firsthand how difficult it can be to navigate the aftermath of a serious injury while simultaneously trying to obtain basic medical documentation. Their perspective underscored the real-world impact of the prior system and made clear why reform was necessary from the client’s point of view—not just the legal one.

We are glad this legislation passed, and we will continue advocating for policies that protect injured Coloradans and remove barriers to the justice they deserve.

If you have been injured and have questions about your rights, call Cannon Law today at 970-471-7170 for a free consultation.

Sam Cannon

Sam Cannon is a dedicated personal injury attorney representing individuals against large corporations and insurance companies. As the founder of Cannon Law, he has built his practice around advocating for injured individuals in complex cases, including traumatic brain injuries, carbon monoxide poisoning claims, and insurance bad faith disputes.

Years of Experience: 10+ years
Colorado Registration Status: Active and authorized to practice law
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