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rml
Citizen
Username: Rml0570
Post Number: 27
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 1:54 pm: | 
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I am in the process of switching pediatricians for my 2 children (4 years old, 19 mos old). I am fed up with the current practice and my latest interaction is about to send me over the edge...so before I completely flip out I'd like to hear whether this is common practice.
The current doctor charges a 'transfer' fee of $1.00 per page. This sounds crazy to me, especially since my youngest had many tests and could probably have a 50 page file! They won't let me just take the file (said they must retain a copy), they won't let me make my own copies (can't release the file to me), etc etc.
What other experiences have people had? Don't I legally own these?
P.S. The good news is now they will be seeing Dr. Bender thanks to many recommendations on MOL. |
Oakland
Citizen
Username: Oakland
Post Number: 30
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 2:02 pm: |
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I think that usually if a third-party (lawyer, for example) if requesting them they charge a copying fee, but if the records are for you personally, you get them for free. |
ril
Citizen
Username: Ril
Post Number: 457
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 2:09 pm: |
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I switched doctors and they would not let me actually take the records myself, but they were willing to forward the file to the new physician. |
ril
Citizen
Username: Ril
Post Number: 458
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 2:09 pm: |
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I switched doctors and they would not let me actually take the records myself, but they were willing to forward the file to the new physician. |
BGS
Citizen
Username: Bgs
Post Number: 538
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 2:10 pm: |
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No No N0-not free....ours charged the same fee...from what I understand, the Dr. needs to keep the originals for their files (legal etc down the road)- they have to pay someone to make the copies and thus we bear the brunt of that cost.... |
Pippi
Supporter
Username: Pippi
Post Number: 1666
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 2:13 pm: |
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this morning I went to a new doctor. I brought with me about 45 pages that had been faxed to me from my previous physician after I filled out a release form.
The new doc asked me "Did they charge you for this?"
I said no. He nodded, as though he were very impressed.
Until this morning, and now reading this thread, I had no idea that such a thing could even happen.
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Marty Tuohy
Supporter
Username: Martyt
Post Number: 71
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 2:42 pm: |
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Personally I am not offended by a request to pay for medical records and to me $1 per page seems reasonable.
I'm not sure if it specifically applies to doctors offices, but I think the State of NJ has actually set a maximum fee that hospitals can charge for copies of medical records. I believe it is $1 per page for the first "x" pages and then $.25 per page after that. Also, I suspect this is a maximum so they could charge less (or nothing) but that does not seem likely.
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greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 6598
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 2:44 pm: |
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They have a right to charge a copying fee and usually if you get demanding enough, they will make a copy for you. They are your records.
You can try making a stink with your insurance company, if you have managed care. They may or may not care, but a complaint against a doctor goes into their records at accreditation time. A dollar a page is quite high. They should not be profiting, only recouping their costs. |
SoOrLady
Citizen
Username: Soorlady
Post Number: 2913
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 5:41 pm: |
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I don't think $1 per page is unreasonable considering the time it takes to duplicate a large file - my PCP switched to a different practice last year, the new practice didn't take my health ins. so I couldn't "go with him". However, my health plan changed in Dec. and he takes the new plan. I will happily pay $1 a page (and if there are many, many pages, they can't charge more than $100) to transfer my records. |
Strings
Supporter
Username: Blue_eyes
Post Number: 782
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 6:45 pm: |
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I worked in a Dr's office over the summer a few years ago and all requests for copies of records had to come in writing and payment received (usually not more than $40, but the smaller files were charged less). It is a HUGE pain to copy all the files, trust me, I know, plus the doctor pays for shipping (which can be expensive for larger files) or faxing, so that's also what your fee covers. Think of it this way, yes, it's information about YOU, but the doctor wrote it, diagnosed/prescribed, etc., everything written in there, and the doctor really needs to keep that on file to legally protect him/herself.
On a side note, FWIW, a doctor can usual provide basic information such as what vaccinations were given and when for free if that's all the info you need. Sometimes you don't really NEED the whole chart, and you know it will be on file for many years at the current doctor if you ever do need it. |
Jersey Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 25
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 8:47 pm: |
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Actually, Strings, it's usually on file for only a few years. Doctors "thin" their files and put old ones into storage. They pay a fee to the storage facility and a fee to take a chart out of storage. I think seven years is the limit of time they keep inactive charts. If they are being charged, you get charged. Storage and copying are not free. Can you get anything copied for free anywhere else? |
Strings
Supporter
Username: Blue_eyes
Post Number: 783
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 10:27 pm: |
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The dr's office I worked at stored their files in the basement of the office building they were in. I do not know, however, if they were paying an additional fee for the storage space or if it is included in the price of rent for the office. Also, to keep a chart "active" (at least in the office I worked on) you had to have had an appointment within the past 2 years, 3 year files were stored in the actual office area, but not on the shelves, anything older was archived. |
Katy M.
Citizen
Username: Katymcf
Post Number: 89
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, January 21, 2006 - 11:36 am: |
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I have had the same experience as some. My dr. would charge to have them fwded to me, but if my new dr. requested them, they fwded them to my new dr. for free. |
Judy
Citizen
Username: Organizeubetter
Post Number: 27
Registered: 9-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, January 26, 2006 - 11:40 pm: |
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It is a NJ law that doctors can charge $1/page. We had a similar situation -- except that our doctor changed practices, and the records should have traveled with him. They didn't. The old office, with which he had not had an amicable parting, insisted that I pay $1/page, including for 20 years of my own records that I had provided when I arrived at the practice. Seemed they'd scanned them into the computer then thrown away the paper copies. The office insisted that the office owned my records, not my own physician -- who , it would seem, would have a much better reason for holding onto them since I would continue to be his patient! They claimed that they needed them because once or twice when my PC wasn't available, I had seen someone else in their office. I wrote letters authorizing them to release mine and my mother's records to me, telling them when I would pick them up (even sent them with a return green card). I arrived and nothing was ready -- and they refused outright to give me anything (I'd made a special trip to get them, too). Finally, I wore them down by creating a couple of scenes in the waiting room. They gave me the records, billed me, and I then paid only what I felt I should of the outrageous amount. And they haven't darkened my door again. What a scam! And they say doctors are in a healing/caring profession? |
Strings
Supporter
Username: Blue_eyes
Post Number: 786
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Friday, January 27, 2006 - 7:10 am: |
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Judy - the doctors ARE in a healing/caring profession. You're dealing with the staff, and I think many of us here (myself included) have had awful experiences with an office staff of even doctors that we love. Most of the time, doctors just sign off allowing the staff permission to copy and release papers, they're not always aware of what goes on after that. You would think after giving them proper notice they'd be able to get it together, it's too bad that you had to go through that, but at least they're not knocking down your door looking for whatever balance they think you owe. |
heart rn
Citizen
Username: Heart_rn
Post Number: 159
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Friday, January 27, 2006 - 7:13 pm: |
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Medical Records belong to the establishment. Doctors offices "own" theirs and hospitals "own" theirs. You can always pay for copies, that is your right, you just don't own them, after all, you didn't write them or put them together. |
rml
Citizen
Username: Rml0570
Post Number: 29
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, January 28, 2006 - 8:24 am: |
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The doctor's office ended up charging me $23.00 for both of my daughter's records. I paid over the phone by credit card. Was more reasonable than I thought it would have been. I'm glad I didn't freak out (too much, or at least not to them)! |
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