Medical records problem, i really need your advice!?

Question

I need to register my daughter for kindergarten and the school requested a copy of my daughter's immunization record. I called the doctor's office were she had her shots and asked them if they could provide me with a copy of her record and they told me that because i have and outstanding balance they would not give me the record. I looked it up and found out that according to the nys patients bill of rights they must give it to me. So i kept calling and they kept taking down messages and then finally when i called today one of the ladies there told me to never call there office again and started to yell and harrass me saying that they dont care about the law and that i should pay my bill, told me to never call again and hung up the phone while i was still talking. Now i am so mad! I never knew i owned that much money $1000and all i needed was a copy of my daughters shots,what am i supposed to do?Hold her from school?This is rediculous,there must be a way,i really need somebodys advice.

Answer 1

You need to report them. Also, ask for a detailed listing of what they claim you owe.

Please use the following contact information if you need assistance or have further questions:

Access to Patient Information Coordinator
Office of Professional Medical Conduct
433 River Street, Suite 303
Troy, New York 12180-2299
Or Call

For information regarding records held by physicians or health care facilities:
1-800-663-6114

The Doctor's office has to complete a "Denial of Access to Patient Information and Appeal Form" and have a valid reason for withholding information. Non-payment does not constitute a valid reason.

Answer 2

Sounds like they are holding you hostage to pay that bill. GEEZ, my doc office wants the money right away before you go out the door..Cash, check, or charge card. I understand you need the records, and I'm not sure they should legally withhold them from you for not paying the amount owed, but there doesn't seem to be much of a choice here. Pay the doctor bill somehow, and you'll get the records right away. Whether they're Right or Wrong, they have you over a barrel. I find it hard to believe that you didn't know you owed that much since I'm sure they've been trying to collect it for awhile now. This can't be for just one visit. I know my doctor's office would never let me run a tab like that. Borrow the money if you have to, and pay the bill. I feel it's the only choice you have.. If you keep calling them, they could press charges against you for harrassment. This is just my opinion, and I could be wrong. But I would advise to pay the bill in any case, since you owe it and they'll put it into collections if you let it go. That will affect any good credit you have as well as drive you nuts with constant calls and letters from a collection agency.. Good Luck..

Answer 3

Hannah Simmon offered very useful information. You can also contact your State Department of Health who will also have these records (physicians are supposed to send these records to this organization.) To elaborate a bit on Hannah's post NYS law regarding the release of medical records is as follows:

Section 18 requires that within 10 days of a written request for access to records, the provider must give the qualified person the opportunity to inspect the records. Providers must also provide copies of records if copies are requested. Providers are permitted to charge reasonable fees to recover costs for inspections and copying. However, a qualified person cannot be denied access to information solely because of inability to pay.

The law also states that access to the following records or parts of records may be denied:

personal notes and observations maintained by the practitioner;
information that was disclosed to the practitioner under the condition that it would be kept confidential and it has been kept confidential since then;
information about the treatment of a minor that, in the opinion of the practitioner, should not be disclosed to the parents or guardians (a patient over the age of twelve may be told that his/her parents or guardians have requested the patient's records, and if the patient objects, the provider may deny the request);
information that the practitioner determines may reasonably be expected to substantially harm the patient or others;
substance abuse program records and clinical records of facilities licensed or operated by the Office of Mental Health (these records may be disclosed pursuant to a separate process in Section 33.16 of the Mental Hygiene Law);
information obtained from other examining or treating practitioners which may be requested from the other practitioners directly;
when other provisions of law prevent their release. For example, Section 17 of the Public Health Law prohibits the release to parents or guardians of records concerning the treatment of a minor for venereal disease or for performance of an abortion.

Section 18 requires a provider who denies access to part or all of a record to inform the qualified person, which of the above reasons caused the denial.

You can certainly write to the organization Hannah listed or you can call them directly at 1-800-663-6114.

Answer 4

Assuming NY law actually says what you believe it does, print a copy of the law and take it with you to the doctor's office. If they still don't give you the records, call the local Bar Association from the office. Even if you are wrong, most doctor's will release the records just to avoid dealing with a lawsuit.

Answer 5

it is going to possibly not impact your activity opportunities in any respect, hiring agencies do not in many cases circulate into that plenty intensity in you scientific information until eventually some thing is a crimson flag such as you have an aggressive scientific record and the criminal record that made them look at it extra. yet for a visa i cant think of so yet who is familiar with on that one.

Answer 6

Or else you may contact a legal expert online at websites like
http://askexpert.info/legaladvice.htm