Question:
I have BC/BS Community Blue-I have had a hard time getting my medical records.

Have sent for records several times, made calls and sent checks to cover cost of the records. What records will BC/BS require?    — Rosemary M. (posted on May 23, 2002)

May 22, 2002
If you are not too far away geographically, it is sometimes better to go directly to the doctors office to find out who you are dealing with. In some large practices, there is a whole records department with several employees. Find one of them and become their friend! Buddy up to them and enlist their help. I had struggles with records, too, because my pcp changed practices and when she left so did a lot of patients. Even if they couldn't go with her, they went to other places since she was only able to take a limited number of us with her. The old practice sent my WHOLE FILE, not just a copy, to the new practice and the new practice said that they could only send copies of their stuff, not records from other practices. So I was stuck between a rock and hard place. I found someone who had sympathy for my plight (after going over there) and had a name and a face and someone I could call directly. It took a few weeks to get it done but persistence was the key. Good Luck! May the force be with you! LOL!
   — Sheila L.

May 25, 2002
I can answer this for you. I worked in the medical records dept for a long time. First thing you need to realize is that they receive ALOT of requests for copies of medical records from the patients,insurance companies, other doctors and clinics, and lawyers. The ones requested by lawyers, insurance companies and doctors are the first to be taken care of and the rest to follow. Have you gone to the clinic or called there requesting for a release form for medical records? It is NOT a good idea to walk into the clinic/doctor's office and ask for copies of your medical records right then and there since it takes time and they are busy with chart requests, etc. I would suggest that you ask for a release form, fill it out and ask them how long it will take, also, they may not be the ones that does the copying, they may have another company such as CopyMed to come in and do the copying for them and then you pay a fee for this. Call and find out what your clinic's procedures are and please be patient.(a weekly follow-up is good, after 2 weeks, go to the clinic and find out what the hold up is.) P.S. If you don't want to pay the fee, talk to the surgeon's office and fill out the release for Med.Records there and they can fax that over to your primary or where ever the records are and they will get them there faster then if you just requested them. The Surgeon's office will know exactly what they are looking for, such as labs, anything related to your weight,etc. GOOD LUCK!
   — Jena C.