What is "a matter of public record"? Thanks.
Forbes and his staff analyzed Carlos Ferlini’s bill from St. Joseph’s, using figures that American hospitals are required to submit to the federal government each year. Those figures are a matter of public record.
I checked the dictionary, there is a saying that a matter of record is a phrase and means that the things or figures can be checked and have a record or a file. But what is a matter of public record.
Does that mean that the record and file are open to public?
Thank you very much.