Non - Va Medical Records

[donews]

Ok heres the situation.

I am trying to gather most of my non-VA medical records for an IMO and to have for when the VA looses them.

Every doctor / Hospital I contacted except two want upto $0.75 per page for copies of these records.

One hospital that I use a lot due to its proximity to my home wants $1800.00 for a full copy of my medical records.

They will send them to another doctor free of charge.

Three times they have send a CASE of records to the VA and the records room has lost them all three times.

The only doctors I have are all VA doctors.

Does anyone know if there is a service out there that will request all my records and then charge me a small fee and then ship them to me?

Or does anyone have a suggestion as to how I might go about obtaining the records cheaper or free?

I mean we have a right for a free copy of our credit report, but no right to free copies of our medical records, there is something just very wrong about that.

[Ricky]

Ok heres the situation.

I am trying to gather most of my non-VA medical records for an IMO and to have for when the VA looses them.

Every doctor / Hospital I contacted except two want upto $0.75 per page for copies of these records.

One hospital that I use a lot due to its proximity to my home wants $1800.00 for a full copy of my medical records.

They will send them to another doctor free of charge.

Three times they have send a CASE of records to the VA and the records room has lost them all three times.

The only doctors I have are all VA doctors.

Does anyone know if there is a service out there that will request all my records and then charge me a small fee and then ship them to me?

Or does anyone have a suggestion as to how I might go about obtaining the records cheaper or free?

I mean we have a right for a free copy of our credit report, but no right to free copies of our medical records, there is something just very wrong about that.

Yes Don it is a shame. Up until Hippa came along most of the laws governing rights to medical records was governed by each individual state. Now some states would not allow you to have a copy of your own medical records. However, if you read into Hippa you will see that you do have a right to have a copy of your own medical records, however, they can charge you a fair fee for copying, handling and mailing. I know of no service that would do this for you - Without researching the issue I would issue a guess that a service provider outside of a medical facility that tried to do so would be in violation of the law. since all of your doctors are VA docs then you are going to have to have the VAMC request them again.

However, as a side note have you ever had the VARO obtain the records in support of the claims process? if so maybe asking for you C&P file or an update to it might assist you.

75 cents per page seems a bit on the high side due to the age of the computer aged record keeping process. Now the crooks at the hospital that want 1800 buck should be told to go to hell! Or maybe just keep trying to use the ole honey gathers more bees that vinegar trick and see if you can slip it out of them. Boy ole boy if I ever got my hands on them...... the records that is they would surely become lost!!!!! I guess I am blessed here as I have not run into that problem. On flim type things as long as I take in an unopened cd they will down load it as many times as I need. On printed records all I do is ask and they just print them off. My theory is that my insurance company pays for the things to be produced therefore, they belong to the insurance company and me.

The only time I have ever had a problem with with a dentist. They pulled this give us your arm and third child and we will make you one copy. One day I convinced them to let me hand carry to a perio appointment on the south side of town. Well....... I ain't never been back. They called once and I told them that since I lived xxxx miles from the office I would have to figure in the cost of the gas, wear and tear on the vehicle and my time which would come to somewhere in the 400.00 dollar range and if they would have the check ready I would deliver them within 7-10 days!!!!!! never heard from them again. As a matter of fact I just look in my desk drawer and yep they are still there!!!! Sorry I could not offer any helpful advice, just a funny story - that is why the call me the clown my friend.

[Chuck75]

I hate to say this--

First, the recent practice of charging for medical records is a government (read political)

sop to the medical records operations.

Next, and more important, depending upon VA doctors without another doctor as a check/counterbalance is less than ideal, and should only be the case due to a lack of other options. A once or twice a year visit to a private physician is not very expensive, and, in the case of $1800 records, can have quite a return on the cost(~10:1). A dissenting medical opinion is often quite useful to have when it comes to evaluating medical treatment by the VA. The real problem with the VA is "cost management", which can be to the veteran's detriment when it comes to "quality of care", and even the drugs prescribed.

========================================

Yes Don it is a shame. Up until Hippa came along most of the laws governing rights to medical records was governed by each individual state. Now some states would not allow you to have a copy of your own medical records. However, if you read into Hippa you will see that you do have a right to have a copy of your own medical records, however, they can charge you a fair fee for copying, handling and mailing. I know of no service that would do this for you - Without researching the issue I would issue a guess that a service provider outside of a medical facility that tried to do so would be in violation of the law. since all of your doctors are VA docs then you are going to have to have the VAMC request them again.

However, as a side note have you ever had the VARO obtain the records in support of the claims process? if so maybe asking for you C&P file or an update to it might assist you.

75 cents per page seems a bit on the high side due to the age of the computer aged record keeping process. Now the crooks at the hospital that want 1800 buck should be told to go to hell! Or maybe just keep trying to use the ole honey gathers more bees that vinegar trick and see if you can slip it out of them. Boy ole boy if I ever got my hands on them...... the records that is they would surely become lost!!!!! I guess I am blessed here as I have not run into that problem. On flim type things as long as I take in an unopened cd they will down load it as many times as I need. On printed records all I do is ask and they just print them off. My theory is that my insurance company pays for the things to be produced therefore, they belong to the insurance company and me.

The only time I have ever had a problem with with a dentist. They pulled this give us your arm and third child and we will make you one copy. One day I convinced them to let me hand carry to a perio appointment on the south side of town. Well....... I ain't never been back. They called once and I told them that since I lived xxxx miles from the office I would have to figure in the cost of the gas, wear and tear on the vehicle and my time which would come to somewhere in the 400.00 dollar range and if they would have the check ready I would deliver them within 7-10 days!!!!!! never heard from them again. As a matter of fact I just look in my desk drawer and yep they are still there!!!! Sorry I could not offer any helpful advice, just a funny story - that is why the call me the clown my friend.

[Ron II]

Ok heres the situation.

I am trying to gather most of my non-VA medical records for an IMO and to have for when the VA looses them.

Every doctor / Hospital I contacted except two want upto $0.75 per page for copies of these records.

Hello,

I ran into this problem when I first filed my claim. I had never used the VA and all my doctors were in private practice. I filled out the appropriate forms for the release of my records to the VA. After six weeks or so, I checked with the VA and they had a record of receiving one set of records (out of 12 doctors)--I had lived in three places and had several specialists. I called the other 11 offices and most of them claimed they had never received the request from the VA.

I doubt that was true...

I decided to gather all my medical records myself and then send them to the VA, retaining copies for myself. About half of the offices gave me the copies free and without problem. The others required a bit more work. I first sent a fax to each of them telling them what I needed and why.

I explained that I was a veteran who served in Vietnam, blah...blah...blah and I had serious medical problems that would be attended by the VA if I could just receive those records. I added that I was unable to pay for the records, but I could pay for the postage if required.

That tactic brought all the records, but one. I called the records clerk and made an oral request for the records. When she refused, I repeated my true story about being a vet etc; and may I please speak directly to Dr. so-and-so? I received those records free too.

So...I was lucky--it really depends on the person who handles the request who is usually low on the totem pole and likely underpaid and under appreciated.

Ron

p.s.

I actually let my claim lie dormant for six months after electronic filing. The actions I describe above occurred after I got off my butt.

Edited March 1, 2008 by Manitou Sprgs

[Ricky]

Hello,

I ran into this problem when I first filed my claim. I had never used the VA and all my doctors were in private practice. I filled out the appropriate forms for the release of my records to the VA. After six weeks or so, I checked with the VA and they had a record of receiving one set of records (out of 12 doctors)--I had lived in three places and had several specialists. I called the other 11 offices and most of them claimed they had never received the request from the VA.

I doubt that was true...

I decided to gather all my medical records myself and then send them to the VA, retaining copies for myself. About half of the offices gave me the copies free and without problem. The others required a bit more work. I first sent a fax to each of them telling them what I needed and why.

I explained that I was a veteran who served in Vietnam, blah...blah...blah and I had serious medical problems that would be attended by the VA if I could just receive those records. I added that I was unable to pay for the records, but I could pay for the postage if required.

That tactic brought all the records, but one. I called the records clerk and made an oral request for the records. When she refused, I repeated my true story about being a vet etc; and may I please speak directly to Dr. so-and-so? I received those records free too.

So...I was lucky--it really depends on the person who handles the request who is usually low on the totem pole and likely underpaid and under appreciated.

Ron

p.s.

I actually let my claim lie dormant for six months after electronic filing. The actions I describe above occurred after I got off my butt.

Excellent way to handle the situation Ron. I never thought about doing it that way since I do not have a problem here. Don I would do exactly as Ron has done.

[Berta]

"Three times they have send a CASE of records to the VA and the records room has lost them all three times"

I know the feeling-

Send the Director a BILL for copy fees-

seriously

The VA should have sent you an authorization form saying, upon your signature,they would obtain these private records-

I think you should fax a letter to this RO's director asking for some accountability on this- this is outrageous-

and send a copy of the FAX (put a CC: on the bottom) to your Congressman or women and enclose a cover letter to them explaining what you told us here.

The COngressperson might send you an authorization form before they will write to the VA-this will take time-but if those records are critical to your claim- might as well wait to get this resolved-before they can deny without the complete clinical record.

I would also even send this to your Senators- to make sure one of them or all of them responds.

[Pete53]

We all need to keep a file or box to drop in anything that we do with a Doc or Lab. I always ask my Doc for a copy of my visit and diagnosis and lab work when I pay my copay. Take it home and drop it in my medical box.