How to Get a Copy of Your Medical Records
Getting your medical records released to you can be difficult if you don't know where to start.
[edit] Steps
- Get a list of all medical providers that you would like medical records from.
- Write out a medical release stating that you would like your records released to you and you alone. Leave blanks for the information in #3
- In your letter specify the effective dates. I would make this at least one month no more than 2 months. This will give the office plenty of time to get you the records together. Specify the medical providers name, address, your name, address, medical record number ( you can get this from the staff) any identiffication numbers i.e. Social security number or insurance ID#.
- Call each office and ask them how much they will charge you for a copy of your records. Most offices will charge you for this service. They will never allow you to take your records and copy them yourself.
- Ask each office when you could reasonably expect the copies to be ready for pickup and set a date with them.
- On the specified date take in your medical release and a check for the full amount of the copies.
[edit] Tips
- Keep in mind that if you want true copies of any films i.e. X-rays, MRI,etc this will cost more.
- You could hire a copy service to do this and many medical offices require you to use one when getting your records. This option can be very costly.
- Be specific about what you want. Do you want billing information included? Do you want the providers handwritten notes? The providers typed reports?
- If you have had the provider for a long period of time it might be cost effective to give them date parameters. So instead of going back 7 years they only go back as far as the information you need.
- Try to get copies for free....If you have a fax machine, or easy access to one, ask the doctor's office if they will fax the pages to you instead of copying and mailing them.










