Washington state patients are encountering increasing difficulty accessing their own medical records, with complaints to the Department of Health nearly doubling from 59 in 2020 to 112 in 2024.
Some patients wait months or years for documents they are legally entitled to receive within three weeks, creating significant delays in legal cases, cancer treatment, and financial recovery from medical emergencies.
Elba Quijano experienced these barriers firsthand after a rear-end collision in South Seattle. When her attorney requested medical records from MultiCare for personal injury and insurance claims, the routine three-week process extended to four months. MultiCare initially claimed Quijano had never received treatment at their facility.
“It was really frustrating because I knew that I had gone. I knew that I went to go get checked up. I knew that I was there, I knew that I wasn’t OK,” Quijano said. Without the records, her legal case stalled, delaying critical financial assistance needed for recovery.
Washington state law requires healthcare providers to provide medical records within 15 workdays. However, patients report devastating consequences from delays, including denied workers’ compensation claims, job termination, and postponed medical care.
One patient told state officials their medical facility was “holding medical records ransom,” while others reported having “exhausted all means” trying to access their own health information.
Financial burdens extend beyond legal delays. Linda O’Brien of Pierce County faced a $2,260 bill from MultiCare to obtain cancer treatment records after being fired for requesting remote work accommodation. Facing unemployment without medical insurance, O’Brien couldn’t afford the fee and required legal assistance.
She eventually received records and won a $3 million workplace discrimination verdict, but died shortly after the settlement.
Plaintiff attorney Nicholas Lepore, who has paid over $900 for single clients’ medical records, describes the problem as systemic. “Not having those records easily available could be catastrophic,” Lepore said. “We’re filing lawsuits against hospitals for records that they should be just getting to us.”
Lepore successfully argued cases against MultiCare and Swedish Health Services, with courts ruling both systems violated state law. Judges ordered facilities to provide records and pay associated legal fees.
MultiCare Communications Manager Scott Thompson stated the organization “will be providing the requested records” and emphasized their mission to ensure patients have timely access to medical records.
Providence Swedish’s Ed Boyle said the health system is “committed to fulfilling all medical record requests in compliance with Washington State law,” noting they partner with third-party vendors due to high request volumes. Swedish characterized their legal case as “an isolated incident” caused by vendor changes and clinic operational shifts.
However, the volume of lawsuits and complaints across Washington health systems suggests broader systemic issues beyond individual facilities.
State Senator Tina Orwall of Des Moines sponsored legislation earlier this year to strengthen patient rights around healthcare information and protect against excessive fees. The bill stalled but is expected to return next session.
“It’s really about strengthening patients rights around their healthcare information but also protecting them from what can be very excessive fees,” Orwall said during February hearings in Olympia.
Current pace suggests 2025 could see 135 complaints filed, indicating the problem continues worsening despite legal requirements and patient advocacy efforts.
