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Is their a time limit once I have requested my medical records?

Under HIPAA, a healthcare provider must provide you with your medical records within 30 days of your request. If it will take longer than 30 days to fulfill your request, the medical care provider must provide you a reason for delay. Some healthcare providers have a form letter that is generated in order to circumvent the 30 day timeline.

How do I get my medical records?

Here is how to obtain your medical records most effectively and efficiently:

1) contact the healthcare provider and inquire specifically who and where to send your request. Sometimes this is in-house and other times through a third party medical records service provider.

2) Always make your request in writing.

3) Include all identifying information (including your name, address, DOB, SSN, and medical record number or account if you are aware of it).

4) Complete and sign a HIPAA compliant medical records authorization or medical records release form.

5) Specify whether you want medical records copies, to review original records, or both.

Do I need to specify which medical records I want?

You can be general or very specific. Often, your entire medical records file is important, including pre-accident or pre-incident medical records, even if this is not immediately apparent. However, if you've treated with a physician for 25 years and don't want reams of obviously unrelated medical records, a more specific request is advisable. You can specify a certain time period of medical treatment or treatment for a specific condition although the healthcare provider will sometimes balk at doing its own research to differentiate between treatment for multiple reasons. You can limit your request to certain diagnostic testing results such as MRI, CT scan, and x-ray films and reports, prescriptions for medication, labs, emergency room, anesthesiologist, treatment, vaccination, consultation, dictated versus handwritten, discharge records, and many other ways. However, getting the medical records you need in this manner may require considerable experience and judgment and you are well advised to consult with an experienced personal injury attorney if your situation involves injuries and damages due to the negligence of another.

Will the medical records of one healthcare provider include records of another?

Upon review of the medical records you obtain you may find that they may or may not include the medical records of other third party healthcare providers. For example, family care doctors or primary care physicians medical records may include the medical records of specialists such as neurologists, orthopedic specialists, or radiologists. These may be only the records that this healthcare provider received from that specialist and often do not include the third party specialist's complete medical records file, which can be essential to evaluating your particular situation. You should make a separate request for your complete medical record from the third party medical care provider.

Do I have to pay for my medical records?

Under HIPAA, healthcare providers are allowed to charge reasonable costs incurred in copying and providing medical records. State laws put certain limits on these charges. Some healthcare and medical records providers charge less than the limit and sometimes have no charges. In our experience, some healthcare providers also attempt to charge costs far in excess of the legal limit under HIPAA and state laws. In these instances, an advisory of the medical records fee provisions, both HIPAA and state law, can bring the costs within legal limits. In order to prevent surprise, it is advisable to request the copy charges before having the copies made. Some medical records providers require upfront payment before providing your medical records.

What can I do if my medical records request is denied or my medical records are incomplete?

Occasionally, medical records will appear to be missing or incomplete. Usually, this is simply a mistake and the situation can be remedied and complete copies obtained through follow-up inquiry in writing. However, some patient advocates believe that certain hospitals and healthcare providers purposely make it difficult for their patients to obtain their complete medical records when a medical malpractice lawsuit is potentially involved. There are several avenues of recourse if you are facing such a situation, including the Office of Civil Rights in Washington, D.C. online, file a complaint with the medical board of Missouri or Kansas (however this can take years to be investigated), or contact an experienced personal injury lawyer.

Once you have your complete medical records, you have the primary component necessary to have a medical malpractice attorney review any potential medical negligence claim. In the meantime, do NOT provide a recorded statement to anyone or sign any documents with an insurance adjuster or you may minimize or destroy any claim for injuries and damages. If your claim is for personal injury rather than medical malpractice, you are advised to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer first, before you go on an extended chase for your medical records, because your claim can be minimized and destroyed in various ways while you are in the process of obtaining your medical records thereby making all of your efforts worthless. The best personal injury attorneys in Missouri and Kansas provide free consultations without obligation and you have everything to gain and nothing to lose by not getting immediate information about how to protect your rights in your particular situation.

At Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys, we have been representing personal injury victims including medical malpractice victims for more than 15 years. We have made thousands of medical requests and have dealt with virtually every kind of medical records provider and every kind of problem obtaining medical records. We can obtain your medical records or help you obtain your own medical records. Call us for a free consultation with no obligation at 816-471-5111.