Re: ?? Lots of $$$$ chrged to receive copies of son's medical record

[Guest guest]

Unfortunately, yes. You could check to see if your state has any laws

addressing access to medical records. In my state, the doctors don't even

have to give me copies of my family's records -- in fact, I had one outright

refuse to provide them to me because they were " his property " (that's how

our state sees it). But, they will send to another doctor for free. I

think it is horrible to charge outrageous fees and/or refuse to provide

records to the patient. Needless to say, I told that doctor exactly how I

felt when I explained why I would never visit his office again.

Here's a thought...have them fax the free copy to another doctor (such as

your ENT) who can then just give you the copy without charging you. Another

idea...call your state attorney general's office and ask if they will help

you.

Good luck,

Pam

> Has anyone ever heard of such fees being charged

> to release to parents of minor children? Seems unfair to me. . . I

> can understand paying a reasonable copying fee, but that seems

> unreasonable. Yikes!

[Guest guest]

Unfortunately, yes. You could check to see if your state has any laws

addressing access to medical records. In my state, the doctors don't even

have to give me copies of my family's records -- in fact, I had one outright

refuse to provide them to me because they were " his property " (that's how

our state sees it). But, they will send to another doctor for free. I

think it is horrible to charge outrageous fees and/or refuse to provide

records to the patient. Needless to say, I told that doctor exactly how I

felt when I explained why I would never visit his office again.

Here's a thought...have them fax the free copy to another doctor (such as

your ENT) who can then just give you the copy without charging you. Another

idea...call your state attorney general's office and ask if they will help

you.

Good luck,

Pam

> Has anyone ever heard of such fees being charged

> to release to parents of minor children? Seems unfair to me. . . I

> can understand paying a reasonable copying fee, but that seems

> unreasonable. Yikes!

[Guest guest]

Unfortunately, yes. You could check to see if your state has any laws

addressing access to medical records. In my state, the doctors don't even

have to give me copies of my family's records -- in fact, I had one outright

refuse to provide them to me because they were " his property " (that's how

our state sees it). But, they will send to another doctor for free. I

think it is horrible to charge outrageous fees and/or refuse to provide

records to the patient. Needless to say, I told that doctor exactly how I

felt when I explained why I would never visit his office again.

Here's a thought...have them fax the free copy to another doctor (such as

your ENT) who can then just give you the copy without charging you. Another

idea...call your state attorney general's office and ask if they will help

you.

Good luck,

Pam

> Has anyone ever heard of such fees being charged

> to release to parents of minor children? Seems unfair to me. . . I

> can understand paying a reasonable copying fee, but that seems

> unreasonable. Yikes!

[Guest guest]

>

> In my searching on this topic (I was looking to see if there was a federal

> regulation covering this, didn't find one), I did come up with the rates

for

> California and Texas.

Good idea, Kay! I think the original question comes from the state of

Minnesota, true? This is what I found for

Minnesota...http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/hpsc/dap/maxcharge.pdf

Sounds like they are charging as much as they can based on Minnesota's

rules. Looks like they can charge up to $13.55 retrieval and up to $1.03

per page. You could also try calling the MN Dept of Health to see if there

are any exceptions which you might qualify for.

Good luck,

Pam

[Guest guest]

>

> In my searching on this topic (I was looking to see if there was a federal

> regulation covering this, didn't find one), I did come up with the rates

for

> California and Texas.

Good idea, Kay! I think the original question comes from the state of

Minnesota, true? This is what I found for

Minnesota...http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/hpsc/dap/maxcharge.pdf

Sounds like they are charging as much as they can based on Minnesota's

rules. Looks like they can charge up to $13.55 retrieval and up to $1.03

per page. You could also try calling the MN Dept of Health to see if there

are any exceptions which you might qualify for.

Good luck,

Pam

[Guest guest]

>

> In my searching on this topic (I was looking to see if there was a federal

> regulation covering this, didn't find one), I did come up with the rates

for

> California and Texas.

Good idea, Kay! I think the original question comes from the state of

Minnesota, true? This is what I found for

Minnesota...http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/hpsc/dap/maxcharge.pdf

Sounds like they are charging as much as they can based on Minnesota's

rules. Looks like they can charge up to $13.55 retrieval and up to $1.03

per page. You could also try calling the MN Dept of Health to see if there

are any exceptions which you might qualify for.

Good luck,

Pam

[Guest guest]

> I had one outright

> refuse to provide them to me because they were " his property " (that's how

> our state sees it).

Same thing happened to me in Utah. We did finally get them to release a

written summary to another health care provider, but each page was stamped

(in red ink) " Not to be released to patient " .

In my searching on this topic (I was looking to see if there was a federal

regulation covering this, didn't find one), I did come up with the rates for

California and Texas.

California:

http://www.calpatientguide.org/iii.html

Your health care provider must provide copies of the records for not more

than $.25 per page, or $.50 per page for records copied from microfilm.4

Your health care provider does not have to give you copies of X-rays if they

provide them to another health care provider upon your written request

within 15 days after receipt of the request, specifying the name and address

of the health care provider to whom the records are to be delivered.5

Texas:

http://www.drjohnbaker.com/texasmedicalrecords.htm

" The new law also permits a hospital to charge a reasonable fee for

providing health care information. Unless there is a medical emergency, a

hospital is not required to permit examination or copying until the fee is

paid. What constitutes a reasonable fee is now set forth in the statute.

Thus, hospitals are now bound by the following fee structure:

.. a retrieval or processing fee, which must include the fee for providing

the first 10 pages

of the copies and which may not exceed $30; and

.. a charge for each additional page of:

.. $1 for the 11th through the 60th page of the provided copies;

.. 50 cents for the 61st through the 400th page of the provided copies;

.. 25 cents for any remaining pages of the provided copies; and

.. the actual cost of mailing, shipping, or otherwise delivering the provided

copies.

If the requested records are stored on microfiche, a hospital may change a

retrieval or processing fee, which must also include the fee for providing

the first 10 pages of the copies and

which may not exceed $45. A hospital may thereafter charge $1 per page for

the reproduction of microfiche records and the actual cost of mailing,

shipping, or otherwise delivering the provided copies. Ironically, the

statutorily-established " reasonable " fee schedule is apparently the highest

copying fee schedule in the United States. Effective September 1, 1996, and

annually thereafter, these fees may be adjusted in accordance with the most

recent changes to the consumer price index as published by the Bureau of

Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor. "

> Here's a thought...have them fax the free copy to another doctor (such as

> your ENT) who can then just give you the copy without charging you.

You took the words right out of my mouth. ;-)

Hugs,

Kay

[Guest guest]

Thanks to everyone for all your input!! In learning to be a good

advocate for my son, I have learned how to go around " policy " and

today's money for copies adventure was a new one, but an easy one to

battle. I called the ped. aud. at the main U and told her what was

up, since she was the one needing the records. She said she always

gives parents copies of pertinent information and never heard of

charging for it so - She faxed a release to the hospital here - I

went and signed it - They will fax his records to the U - I will pick

up copies for myself when we go to our appointment. It is the round

about way to do it but it gets it done. I still feel in this day and

age of high priced medical care, the fees for copies do not need to

be above basic copy fees. After all, that is part of the employees

jobs, right? I am sure there are those that abused the copying when

it was free so they had to set up fees. Instead of punishing the

masses for the few abusers, I suggest setting up an access log to

document copies given directly to patients/parents and they can have

the first set free. If they lose those and need it done again, then

they have to pay the fees. Sounds reasonable to me.

[Guest guest]

Thanks to everyone for all your input!! In learning to be a good

advocate for my son, I have learned how to go around " policy " and

today's money for copies adventure was a new one, but an easy one to

battle. I called the ped. aud. at the main U and told her what was

up, since she was the one needing the records. She said she always

gives parents copies of pertinent information and never heard of

charging for it so - She faxed a release to the hospital here - I

went and signed it - They will fax his records to the U - I will pick

up copies for myself when we go to our appointment. It is the round

about way to do it but it gets it done. I still feel in this day and

age of high priced medical care, the fees for copies do not need to

be above basic copy fees. After all, that is part of the employees

jobs, right? I am sure there are those that abused the copying when

it was free so they had to set up fees. Instead of punishing the

masses for the few abusers, I suggest setting up an access log to

document copies given directly to patients/parents and they can have

the first set free. If they lose those and need it done again, then

they have to pay the fees. Sounds reasonable to me.

[Guest guest]

Thanks to everyone for all your input!! In learning to be a good

advocate for my son, I have learned how to go around " policy " and

today's money for copies adventure was a new one, but an easy one to

battle. I called the ped. aud. at the main U and told her what was

up, since she was the one needing the records. She said she always

gives parents copies of pertinent information and never heard of

charging for it so - She faxed a release to the hospital here - I

went and signed it - They will fax his records to the U - I will pick

up copies for myself when we go to our appointment. It is the round

about way to do it but it gets it done. I still feel in this day and

age of high priced medical care, the fees for copies do not need to

be above basic copy fees. After all, that is part of the employees

jobs, right? I am sure there are those that abused the copying when

it was free so they had to set up fees. Instead of punishing the

masses for the few abusers, I suggest setting up an access log to

document copies given directly to patients/parents and they can have

the first set free. If they lose those and need it done again, then

they have to pay the fees. Sounds reasonable to me.