Doing so gives you better control over medical decisions.
They are also allowed to share certain aspects of your information when attempting to collect payment.
What Information Does a Medical Record Contain?
Verywell / Joshua Seong
A medical record is a written account of a person’s health history.
Today, most medical records are kept and shared electronically, although some providers will maintain paper records.
These websites are secure and allow you to make appointments or message your provider directly.
Most have forms that you would need to fill out.
State laws vary but typically require delivery within 30 to 60 days.
Be sure to keep a copy of the original request.
Contact your states Department of Health if you fail to receive the documents after repeated attempts.
This can make it difficult to obtain your records even if you are entitled to them.
Under federal law, others may also have the right.
This is true whether you have paid a provider or not.
With that said, there are limitations as to how far back in your history you could go.
There are even a few states that require practitioners to maintain records several years beyond the age of majority.
Records Your Provider May Deny
There are records you may be denied access to.
These mainly involve mental health records that are considered impressions rather than diagnoses.
Disclosing these may harm the provider-patient relationship if they are misconstrued or taken out of context.
With that said, a provider cannot deny access because it might hurt your feelings.
It can only be denied if the information might cause you to hurt yourself or others.
The denial must be provided to you in writing.
If the OCR agrees with your complaint, it will instruct the provider to release the information.
It can even enforce a settlement if actual harm was done.
The complaint must be filed within 180 days of the violation.
you’re able to also file a complaint if your medical confidentiality has been breached.
Do the Records Cost Anything?
Obtaining your records through an online patient portal is usually free.
For example, a provider cannot charge an excessive fee to recoup money you have not paid them.
What if My Healthcare Provider Is No Longer in Practice?
This is true even if the provider has died or dissolved the practice.
Tracking down your records can be especially challenging if a providers office is closed without any forwarding details.
How to Correct Errors
Once youve obtained a copy of your medical records, review them carefully.
Most providers will readily agree to correct factual errors or track down missing reports.
Examples include a diagnosis of alcohol or HIV.
Cutting these is not only unethical but may subject the provider to legal action.
They can decide if the correction is warranted.
Summary
Under federal law, you are allowed access to and copies of your medical records.
Knowing how to get your medical records can give you better control over medical decisions.
U.S. Department of Health and Human and Services.Your rights under HIPAA.
HealthIt.gov.How to get your health records.
Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights.Your health information, your rights.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Personal representatives.
HealthIt.gov.State medical record laws: minimum medical record retention periods for records held by medical doctors and hospitals.
Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights.HIPAA privacy rule and sharing information related to mental health.
Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights.Filing a complaint.
American Medical Association.Obtaining medical records from closed practices.
American Academy of Family Physicians.Starting, closing, or selling a practice.
