Your state regulations require health records to be kept for a statute of limitations period of 7 years. Federal law requires records to be retained for 5 years. The minimum retention period for health records in your facility should be

• A. 7 years
• B. 5 years
• C. 9 years
• D. 10 years

Answer: (A)

When several laws apply, you follow the longest required retention period to stay compliant with all rules. Here, state regulations require keeping health records for 7 years, while federal law requires 5 years. To meet both sets of requirements, you must retain records for at least 7 years. Choosing 5 years would fail to satisfy the state rule, and 9 or 10 years aren't necessary unless other laws call for it. So, the minimum retention period is seven years.