My regular doctor went on sick leave and while he was gone I also got sick and had to find a new doctor because he wasn't available. Since my problem is chronic the new GP sent a request to my regular doctor's office to get some of my recent test results so he could look them over and understand my condition better. Anyway my doctor came back a few days ago and now I'm being charged $40 for "transfer of medical records". Is it right for a doctor to do this, esspecially in this sort of situation? I'm also wondering if I should pay him at all.
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Your kind of ****ed. If you see a doctor; they have to keep the records for 5 years. Getting a copy of the records for yourself is extremely price gouging. A family member of mine had to get a copy for litigation and had to pay around $500. Hospitals and doctors offices are getting really bad on extreme pricing any service. I had to get a new GP and I only paid $130 cause I had no insurance and paid cash. My other family members had to pay $200 cause they had insurance. Why? The doctors office refused to say about them but said I was cheaper cause there was no insurance paper work. Just pay it and move on cause any recourse you could take will cost more than the bill.
Yes. There is an administrative burden for the transfer of records. Since very little is digitized even today, it most likely required staff to spend time tracking down your file and the appropriate papers and communicating it over. Just about any organization would charge a fee for using their staff's time.
HIPPA specifically states that doctors offices are allowed to charge a "reasonable fee" for making copies of records. From http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/consumers/medicalrecords.html
"... a provider may charge for the reasonable costs for copying and mailing the records. The provider cannot charge you a fee for searching for or retrieving your records."
"... a provider may charge for the reasonable costs for copying and mailing the records. The provider cannot charge you a fee for searching for or retrieving your records."
My regular doctor went on sick leave and while he was gone I also got sick and had to find a new doctor because he wasn't available. Since my problem is chronic the new GP sent a request to my regular doctor's office to get some of my recent test results so he could look them over and understand my condition better. Anyway my doctor came back a few days ago and now I'm being charged $40 for "transfer of medical records". Is it right for a doctor to do this, esspecially in this sort of situation? I'm also wondering if I should pay him at all.
Can he do that? Yup.
Is it right? Eh. Since your problem is chronic, that would imply records that go back years. I've seen patients that you'd have to lug around a briefcase for, coming from a room that's full of similar briefcases that you have to sift through. For some patients, looking for records could take hours. $40 seems a bit much, though.
Should you pay him? If you don't, don't expect to be able to come back, which can be a problem because sometimes your new doctor might want to consult with your old one. I wouldn't recommend it.
Talk to your old doctor if it makes you feel better. I wouldn't be surprised if he had little control over the $40 fee itself. I've seen secretaries/nurses/office clerks/residents/interns do legwork for doctors then they add that fee themselves (since a doctor won't be digging around records), and it won't be unusual for them to be the ones tacking on the fee. It might be the hospital tacking on the fee. You still have to pay even if that were the case.
One way doctor's are supplementing their income is by these fees. My doctor now charges for everything. If I go get a TB test for work, I have to pay 5 dollars for the print out even though my insurance covers for the test. If I need a note for work, I pay 5 dollars for the note!
HIPPA specifically states that doctors offices are allowed to charge a "reasonable fee" for making copies of records. From http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/consumers/medicalrecords.html
"... a provider may charge for the reasonable costs for copying and mailing the records. The provider cannot charge you a fee for searching for or retrieving your records."
Out of the blackness and stench of the engulfing swamp emerged a shimmering figure. Only the splattered armor and ichor-stained sword hinted at the unfathomable evil the knight had just laid waste.
My regular doctor went on sick leave and while he was gone I also got sick and had to find a new doctor because he wasn't available. Since my problem is chronic the new GP sent a request to my regular doctor's office to get some of my recent test results so he could look them over and understand my condition better. Anyway my doctor came back a few days ago and now I'm being charged $40 for "transfer of medical records". Is it right for a doctor to do this, esspecially in this sort of situation? I'm also wondering if I should pay him at all.
Yes, unfortuantely our "universal healthcare" allows for these gouging user fees, despite the fact that Canadian doctors make a furtune from provincial health plan billings. His high six-figure income not being enough for him, he can charge you $40 for soemthing you have no choice about. It's disgusting, but it's perfectly legal. LAME
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Not much you can do about it either. Just a part of todays greedy and selfish society.
Say we pass a law making it illegal for a doctor's office or hospital to charge for a transfer/request of medical records. You go to see a doctor that isnt your normal doctor. He requests your records from your doctors office. they say they will send them "as soon" as they find them and mail them. the new doctor now tells you he will contact you when he receives your records. 6 weeks later you get a call to come in. he calls you in to tell you that the thing you came in for 6 weeks ago is nothing. he then charges you for a 2nd visit he told you to come in for, to tell you nothing is wrong and could have said over the phone. /end hyperbole
One way or another, a Medical Doctor is going to charge you and get the money in the end. If you want to "screw" the doctor as much as you can, ask to setup a payment plan and pay him $5 a month. Make him wait 8 months to get his damn $40.
My regular doctor went on sick leave and while he was gone I also got sick and had to find a new doctor because he wasn't available. Since my problem is chronic the new GP sent a request to my regular doctor's office to get some of my recent test results so he could look them over and understand my condition better. Anyway my doctor came back a few days ago and now I'm being charged $40 for "transfer of medical records". Is it right for a doctor to do this, esspecially in this sort of situation? I'm also wondering if I should pay him at all.
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"... a provider may charge for the reasonable costs for copying and mailing the records. The provider cannot charge you a fee for searching for or retrieving your records."
Good work.
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Can he do that? Yup.
Is it right? Eh. Since your problem is chronic, that would imply records that go back years. I've seen patients that you'd have to lug around a briefcase for, coming from a room that's full of similar briefcases that you have to sift through. For some patients, looking for records could take hours. $40 seems a bit much, though.
Should you pay him? If you don't, don't expect to be able to come back, which can be a problem because sometimes your new doctor might want to consult with your old one. I wouldn't recommend it.
Talk to your old doctor if it makes you feel better. I wouldn't be surprised if he had little control over the $40 fee itself. I've seen secretaries/nurses/office clerks/residents/interns do legwork for doctors then they add that fee themselves (since a doctor won't be digging around records), and it won't be unusual for them to be the ones tacking on the fee. It might be the hospital tacking on the fee. You still have to pay even if that were the case.
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UBG B/U/G control
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WUR Control
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RRR Goblins
Legacy
BBB Pox
UBG B/U/G Control
UWU StoneBlade
UW Miracle Control
[Clan Flamingo]
How is HIPPA relevant to Canadian law?
Didn't see he was from Canada. No idea how it works up there.
Yes, unfortuantely our "universal healthcare" allows for these gouging user fees, despite the fact that Canadian doctors make a furtune from provincial health plan billings. His high six-figure income not being enough for him, he can charge you $40 for soemthing you have no choice about. It's disgusting, but it's perfectly legal. LAME
- Willy Wonka
The Quote function doesn't work for me on this forum. Sorry for any confusion created.
Say we pass a law making it illegal for a doctor's office or hospital to charge for a transfer/request of medical records. You go to see a doctor that isnt your normal doctor. He requests your records from your doctors office. they say they will send them "as soon" as they find them and mail them. the new doctor now tells you he will contact you when he receives your records. 6 weeks later you get a call to come in. he calls you in to tell you that the thing you came in for 6 weeks ago is nothing. he then charges you for a 2nd visit he told you to come in for, to tell you nothing is wrong and could have said over the phone. /end hyperbole
One way or another, a Medical Doctor is going to charge you and get the money in the end. If you want to "screw" the doctor as much as you can, ask to setup a payment plan and pay him $5 a month. Make him wait 8 months to get his damn $40.
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