A. Except as otherwise provided by law, a health care provider or contractor may charge a person who requests reproductions of medical records or payment records a reasonable fee for the reproduction of the records pursuant to this section. Except as necessary for continuity of care, a health care provider or contractor may require the payment of any fees in advance.

B. A health care provider or contractor shall not charge for the pertinent information contained in medical records provided to:

1. Another health care provider for the purpose of providing continuing care to the patient to whom the medical record pertains.

2. The patient to whom the medical record pertains for the demonstrated purpose of obtaining health care.

3. The health care decision maker of the patient to whom the medical record pertains for the demonstrated purpose of obtaining health care for the patient.

4. The Arizona medical board, the Arizona board of osteopathic examiners in medicine and surgery or an officer of the department of health services or the local health department requesting records pursuant to section 36-662.

5. The patient or the patient’s legal representative for the purpose of appealing a denial of benefits under the social security act. Any additional request for medical records and a request for medical records that were previously provided free of charge in the same calendar year are subject to a reasonable fee pursuant to subsection A of this section, except that a fee may not be charged if no medical records are located in response to the request. A legal representative must provide an appointment of representative form SSA-1696 before obtaining a patient’s medical records free of charge.