Copying Medical Records

medical records copying fees

A patient may request a copy of their record for his or her own use. It is important to note that the medical record for a patient is defined by state regulation as, all "clinical information pertaining to the patient which has been accumulated by the physician, either by himself or through his agents." This includes diagnostic test results, x-rays, physician notes, and any records from prior treating or consulting physicians. The following charge list does not apply to an X-ray or any other portion of a medical record which is not susceptible to photostatic reproduction.

medical records copying fee

Physicians may demand payment of these fees and charges before turning the records over to a patient or other authorized person (such as the patient's parent, guardian or lawyer), but probably not before complying with a proper subpoena. Production may not be withheld under an emergency request from a state or local governmental unit concerning a child protective services or adult protective services case pending payment. med chi's Professional Ethics Committee has opined that records should not be withheld from another health practitioner pending payment of the copying fees if to do so would hinder an ill patient from receiving needed medical attention. No fee may be charged to transfer the records of Medicaid recipient to another provider. Finally, the law does not authorize any practitioner to withhold production of the medical records until the fees for medical services themselves have been paid.

medical records copying charges

When patients request a copy of their medical record, how much do you charge? And how do you itemize that expense? Do you have clear-cut policies about how to charge? An often overlooked element in the HIPAA Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information concerns how much an entity may charge patients or their designated representative for a copy of their medical record.

medical record copying

Our Medical Records Service keeps patient records for all MIT Medical services, except Dental and Mental Health. For access to those records, please contact the services directly. Federal regulations require that you submit a written request for access, to or copies of, your MIT Medical records and X-rays.

medical health care

Health care is a business and, like every other business, it needs good management to keep it running smoothly. Medical and health services managers, also referred to as health care executives or health care administrators, plan, direct, coordinate, and supervise the delivery of health care. Medical and health services managers include specialists and generalists. Specialists are in charge of specific clinical departments or services, while generalists manage or help manage an entire facility or system.

The structure and financing of health care are changing rapidly. Future medical and health services managers must be prepared to deal with evolving integrated health care delivery systems, technological innovations, an increasingly complex regulatory environment, restructuring of work, and an increased focus on preventive care. They will be called on to improve efficiency in health care facilities and the quality of the health care provided. Increasingly, medical and health services managers will work in organizations in which they must optimize efficiency of a variety of related services—for example, those ranging from inpatient care to outpatient followup care.

medical records copying

This web page lists the various state statutes that control the amount of money doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers can charge a patient for copies of their medical records, as well as records provided to the patient's attorney or law firm for use in personal injury cases. Note that under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) a covered entity can only charge "reasonable" cost-based fees for providing the medical records to patients. See 45 CFR 164.524(c). Arguably, fees that are not cost-based, even if permitted by a state statute, may be contrary to the HIPAA regulation and therefore preempted by this federal regulation.