Question:
Have any of you tried to get medical records from previous doctors ...

to be told you have to pay for them? My previous PCP wants $25 for the first 25 pages and then .25 for each page after that! That's alot of money for a copy of MY medical records.    — Lily C. (posted on June 2, 2002)

June 1, 2002
Most doctors offices charge for medical records. It's because they have to take the time copying them and mailing them out - plus for the persons time who's actually doing the copying and mailing. It's not unusual.
   — Patty H.

June 2, 2002
In most, if not all states there are laws governing medical records and release of information. I don't know what state you are in, but here in California there is the Medical Board of Calif. located in Sacramento. There is a web site for them and probably is a web site for your states' Board on the net also. In Calif. most physicans, as a courtesy, send copies of records at no charge to another physican, but they can also charge for them if they want. But if you want the copies for other reasons they can also charge for them. The law states in Calif that they can charge a reasonable fee for the clerical expense in locating the records to copy or for the patient to view, and can charge 25 cents a copy or 50 cents a copy if they have to go to microfilm. Check your states laws and file a complaint if your doctor's office is in violation.
   — Vickie S.

June 2, 2002
I work in medical records,and i'm sure that all places are different.We never used to charge the person for their own medical records,only if lawyers or insurance companies were requesting them for you.Only this year did we start to charge,after finding out that we were the only ones not charging.We only charge the person after the first 100 pages,and then its 10 cents a page.That money is used towards the cost of our paper.I thaught this was also very unfair,until I had to copy a chart that took me 4 hours and 4 packs of paper,then it made more sence.Just a suggestion,sometimes its better for you to have the insurance company request your records,they will know exactly what they are looking for and may not need as much copied.They will be billed,not you(in most cases)some will send you the bill,others won't.I hope this helped alittle bit ......good luck and take care.
   — kim M.

June 2, 2002
Hey that sounds like kasier hospitals fee's I payed the same amount for my records and got them in 2 weeks. The reason why we have to pay is because the originals belong to the hospital and they have to charge you a fee for coping and fee for someone to go through the dates you order.
   — sheri B.