Obtaining Records
1. Obtain ALL of your medical records as soon as possible. You have a right to copies of all of them.
2. You will have to sign a release, and pay for the copying. This includes both the office and hospital records from the doctor, and sometimes any consultants, although their records will probably be in the charts.
3. If the hospital or doctor is reluctant to turn over a copy of the records, remind them that the records, by law, are your personal property. If time permits, check the copies against the original, to make sure that the original records have not been altered
4. If the individual is deceased, you still may be able to obtain the records if you are related by marriage or by blood. If not, get advice from an attorney, or have the attorney obtains the records, even if he or she is not going to prosecute the case.
5. Sometimes the hospital risk manager or patient representative will be of assistance.
Here are three resources for information on hospital billing:
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