Nebraska Medical Records Retention Requirements: How Long Providers Must Keep Patient Records

General Retention Period

In Nebraska, licensed health care facilities and services must retain patient records for a minimum of seven years beginning with each service date. Your medical record retention policy should reflect this baseline and outline how you will preserve records in original, microfilm, electronic, or similar form while safeguarding confidentiality and ensuring reliable retrieval—key elements of sound health data preservation standards. ([govdocs.nebraska.gov](https://govdocs.nebraska.gov/epubs/H8310/R175.0001-2023.pdf))

The same rule requires you to protect records against loss, destruction, or unauthorized use throughout the retention period. Build procedures that cover storage locations, access logs, and chain-of-custody for both paper and electronic files to meet Nebraska’s medical record confidentiality regulations. ([govdocs.nebraska.gov](https://govdocs.nebraska.gov/epubs/H8310/R175.0001-2023.pdf))

Retention Period for Minors

Nebraska defines the age of majority as 19 years. Where chapter-specific rules apply, minors’ records must be retained beyond the baseline, calculated from the patient reaching majority. For example, health clinics must keep a minor’s record until three years after the patient turns 19 (i.e., at least until age 22). Skilled nursing facilities must keep a minor’s record for five years after the patient turns 19. For settings without a minors-specific rule, retain at least seven years from each service date and consider aligning policies with the longer, age-of-majority-based approach to reduce risk. ([nebraskalegislature.gov](https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?lang=en&statute=43-2101&utm_source=openai))

Health Clinics Record Maintenance

Health clinics must establish a complete, legible, and authenticated medical record for every patient, with entries that identify the author and accurately document diagnosis, care, treatment, and results. Nebraska’s clinic regulations also specify record content (e.g., identification data, history, exam, test results, orders, progress notes, and discharge instructions) to maintain patient health information confidentiality and clinical continuity. ([govdocs.nebraska.gov](https://govdocs.nebraska.gov/epubs/H8310/R175.0007-2007.pdf))

Retention in clinics must, at minimum, satisfy Nebraska’s seven-year baseline; clinics also have a minors rule requiring records to be kept until three years after the patient reaches age 19. Ensure your medical record retention policy reflects both requirements. ([govdocs.nebraska.gov](https://govdocs.nebraska.gov/epubs/H8310/R175.0001-2023.pdf))

Clinics must release information only to authorized health information access requesters (with patient consent or as permitted by law) and maintain confidentiality at all times. When records are ultimately destroyed, do so by shredding, incineration, electronic deletion, or an equally protective method. ([govdocs.nebraska.gov](https://govdocs.nebraska.gov/epubs/H8310/R175.0007-2007.pdf))

Hospital Record Retention

Hospitals must follow Nebraska’s general seven-year minimum retention from each service date for patient records, and also maintain a permanent patient index (e.g., name/ID, admission and discharge dates, and disposition). Hospitals must keep a complete and accurate record of all medications, devices, and biologicals received, stored, administered, provided, dispensed, or disposed of for at least seven years, and ensure patient rights include reasonable access to view their own records, consistent with safety and legal limits. ([govdocs.nebraska.gov](https://govdocs.nebraska.gov/epubs/H8310/R175.0001-2023.pdf))

Record Transfer Upon Facility Closure

If a facility closes, Nebraska requires you to transfer records to the facility or service chosen by the patient (or designee). Any records not transferred that are still within the retention window must be stored to assure confidentiality, and you must notify the Department of Health and Human Services—before close of business—of the address where the records are stored. Clinics have a parallel duty under their chapter-specific rule. These steps are central to healthcare facility record transfer compliance. ([govdocs.nebraska.gov](https://govdocs.nebraska.gov/epubs/H8310/R175.0001-2023.pdf))

Secure Record Storage

Your storage program must protect confidentiality and guard against loss, destruction, or unauthorized use for the entire retention period. Apply layered physical, administrative, and technical controls, and document who can access which systems or file rooms. Maintain an auditable inventory of locations and formats to meet Nebraska’s health data preservation standards and medical record confidentiality regulations. ([govdocs.nebraska.gov](https://govdocs.nebraska.gov/epubs/H8310/R175.0001-2023.pdf))

Confidentiality and Access Controls

Nebraska regulations require records to remain confidential and available only to authorized persons or as permitted by law, and to be released only with the patient’s consent or as required by law. Licensed facilities must also make records available for examination by authorized representatives of the Department. Separately, Nebraska law requires providers to furnish copies of a patient’s medical records within 30 days after receiving a written request, reinforcing authorized health information access while protecting patient health information confidentiality. ([govdocs.nebraska.gov](https://govdocs.nebraska.gov/epubs/H8310/R175.0001-2023.pdf))

Proper Record Destruction Methods

Once records exceed the applicable retention period, destroy them in a way that prevents reconstruction or unauthorized disclosure—shredding, incineration, electronic deletion, or another equally protective measure are all acceptable. Nebraska also requires you to permanently maintain documentation that destruction occurred, supporting record destruction compliance. ([govdocs.nebraska.gov](https://govdocs.nebraska.gov/epubs/H8310/R175.0001-2023.pdf))

FAQs.

What is the minimum retention period for adult medical records in Nebraska?

For licensed health care facilities and services, the minimum is seven years beginning with each service date. Tailor your medical record retention policy to meet or exceed this statewide baseline. ([govdocs.nebraska.gov](https://govdocs.nebraska.gov/epubs/H8310/R175.0001-2023.pdf))

How long must medical records for minors be kept?

It depends on the setting: health clinics must keep a minor’s record until three years after the patient turns 19 (at least until age 22), while skilled nursing facilities must keep a minor’s record for five years after the patient turns 19. For other settings without a minors-specific rule, retain at least seven years from each service date and consider aligning to an age‑of‑majority‑based standard. ([govdocs.nebraska.gov](https://govdocs.nebraska.gov/epubs/H8310/R175.0007-2007.pdf))

What are the requirements for transferring records when a facility closes?

Transfer records to the facility or service chosen by the patient (or designee). Store any untransferred records that are still within the retention period to assure confidentiality, and notify the Department in writing of the storage address prior to closing. Clinics have substantially the same duty under their chapter rule. ([govdocs.nebraska.gov](https://govdocs.nebraska.gov/epubs/H8310/R175.0001-2023.pdf))

Who is authorized to access medical records?

Records may be released to the patient or their designee with consent, or as otherwise permitted or required by law; authorized Department representatives may examine records. Nebraska law also requires providers to furnish copies within 30 days after receiving a written request. ([govdocs.nebraska.gov](https://govdocs.nebraska.gov/epubs/H8310/R175.0001-2023.pdf))

How must medical records be securely destroyed?

Use shredding, incineration, electronic deletion, or another equally protective method that prevents reconstruction, and keep permanent documentation of destruction. ([govdocs.nebraska.gov](https://govdocs.nebraska.gov/epubs/H8310/R175.0001-2023.pdf))