Who has ownership of medical records?

[debodun]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? NY

When I wanted to get a second opinion, I asked a doctor for my records. His staff said that they could make copies for me, but that the doctor would retain the original file. They wanted to charge me $1 for each page, and since my records are "extensive" it would come to over $100. Are medical records the property of the patient or the doctor? What is a reasonable fee to pay, if any, to obtain them?

[racer72]

The records belong to the doctor, not you. $1 a page sounds reasonable. Why don't you have your "second opinion" doctor request the records, generally doctors will supply other doctors with medical records without charge. Of course, the records supplied to the second doctor belong to him, not you.

[ecmst12]

Records are the property of the doctor's office. You are entitled to a copy under HIPAA, but not only is the doctor permitted to retain the original, he is REQUIRED to. Once the copy is in your hands, the COPY becomes your property. They are allowed to charge you for copying and it represents not only the material cost but the time involved in copying the record. $1/page sounds a little high but not unreasonably so especially for NY.

[ajkroy]

This is a common misconception. The doctor owns the records. He or she must keep those records for years (as many as 18, depending upon the age of the patient), for potential reference and/or legal purposes.

You are entitled to copies with proper advance notice. It is common to charge the patient for the time and effort taken to reproduce the records, though $100 seems excessive (and some states have caps on how much an office can charge). Be prepared that the record will most likely only contain information actually generated from that office and any records from previous providers will not be included.

[ecmst12]

It would be incorrect for the office to only include THEIR records although many do this. If they try to tell you that, inform them that they are required to release copies of EVERYTHING in your file with the possible exception of mental health records.

[lealea1005]

Be prepared that the record will most likely only contain information actually generated from that office and any records from previous providers will not be included.

Unless otherwise requested, the entire medical record on hand will be copied.

Each state has their own regulations regarding charges for review and copying a medical record.

The Physician also has a "reasonable time" to get the copies to the patient.

[You Are Guilty]

Unless otherwise requested, the entire medical record on hand will be copied.

Each state has their own regulations regarding charges for review and copying a medical record.

The Physician also has a "reasonable time" to get the copies to the patient.

HIPAA gives them a "reasonable time" to produce them. More than 2 weeks is generally not "reasonable" in NY absent extenuating circumstances.
http://www.health.state.ny.us/publications/1443/

Copy costs are limited to $0.75/page as per statute. (You also are permitted to inspect (not a copy) the records within ten days of your request.)

§ 17. Release of medical records. Upon the written request of any
competent patient, parent or guardian of an infant, a guardian appointed
pursuant to article eighty-one of the mental hygiene law, or conservator
of a conservatee, an examining, consulting or treating physician or
hospital must release and deliver, exclusive of personal notes of the
said physician or hospital, copies of all x-rays, medical records and
test records including all laboratory tests regarding that patient to
any other designated physician or hospital provided, however, that such
records concerning the treatment of an infant patient for venereal
disease or the performance of an abortion operation upon such infant
patient shall not be released or in any manner be made available to the
parent or guardian of such infant, and provided, further, that original
mammograms, rather than copies thereof, shall be released and delivered.
Either the physician or hospital incurring the expense of providing
copies of x-rays, medical records and test records including all
laboratory tests pursuant to the provisions of this section may impose a
reasonable charge to be paid by the person requesting the release and
deliverance of such records as reimbursement for such expenses,
provided, however, that the physician or hospital may not impose a
charge for copying an original mammogram when the original has been
released or delivered to any competent patient, parent or guardian of an
infant, a guardian appointed pursuant to article eighty-one of the
mental hygiene law, or a conservator of a conservatee and provided,
further, that any charge for delivering an original mammogram pursuant
to this section shall not exceed the documented costs associated
therewith. However, the reasonable charge for paper copies shall not
exceed seventy-five cents per page. A release of records under this
section shall not be denied solely because of inability to pay.
For the purposes of this section the term "laboratory tests" shall
include but not be limited to tests and examinations administered in
clinical laboratories or blood banks as those terms are defined in
section five hundred seventy-one of this chapter.

Although, a lot of doctors/hospital will try to ding you with extra charges (i.e. retrieval fee; handling charge, etc.) which will bring the cost over $0/.75/page.