A local neurologist did my initial EMG/NCV studies and gave me a copy of the results as I left his office. But several months later, when the tests were re-done by a senior neurologist at the major medical complex in our region, I was told I needed to apply to get copies of ANY reports, including the physician's notes. Application was complicated and slow (couldn't be done online). I finally received an "invoice" for $44.00 -- to get a copy of my OWN medical records! Not only that, but they evidently still want to do everything through analog media, so it'll take forever to get the information back. (Surely they COULD send me a bunch of PDFs?)

Fortunately, my PCP, to whom the report had been sent, gave me a copy of the neurologist's summary, but I'd really like to have the printouts themselves, along with the results of blood tests ordered by that neurologist. (I've learned that it's a good practice to keep your own copies of test results because the agency that did them doesn't always forward them to the next specialist you want to see.)

Is this a new trend? If so, it's outrageous.

Nope, not a new trend. Copying fees. My PCP gives me copies of reports and stuff too, it is good to have them. I just paid the 30 bucks for a huge stack of reports on my various visits to the local university hospital. Perhaps your PCP can request the records for you and give you copies? Often they don't charge when sending records to another doctor (though they do in some places).

This is nothing new. It's another money maker for them. Not sure what tactics they'll use to charge us when more of them start using online systems like Epic and our records are available online. They'll find a way to charge us for them...just wait and see...LOL

Yes, I had to pay for my own MRI reports etc. The actual CD cost, and so did the neruo's notes about the surgery. I do keep records as much as possible. I think they have to do it because of the cost to them. ginnie

Just an idea but, when I go to have blood work drawn, I sign for the lab to send a copy of the results to my home. They do not charge as of yet.

I have to pay for some records but not others. When I have MRI or other imaging services, they will provide a FREE copy for me AFTER my doctor has discussed the results with me. They will NOT provide a copy of the CD or report until after the patient has seen the ordering physician. I just drop an email or phone call on the diagnostic provider and I get it FREE. Most of my physicians will hand me a copy of lab results.

Doctors are different about THEIR progress notes. Usually they will be provided upon receipt of a signed form authorizing the release even to the patient themself. If the signed request is to send your records to another physician, it is usually FREE. If it is a copy for you, the patient, there is a fee per page usually for copies. Hospitals generally work the same as doctors with copies of records. A signed authorization needed and a fee if not going directly to another medical facility.

Many doctors offices have an outside source come in and make the copies and the outside company will bill you for their services. When you pay their invoice, they mail you the copies. There invoice will state the number of pages involved and the price per page and total due for their services. Some of these companies are a little more trusting and will send the invoice to you WITH the copies you requested. The problem is once someone has received their copies, they "forget" to pay. Most companies do not care that you are further delayed in receiving them by having to wait for their invoice, wait until they receive your payment, and then you have to wait for the copies to be mailed to you. Most companies will ONLY provide the copies by mail but some are now giving the patient a choice of receiving them via computer in the format you describe.

Basically, it is up to the person or entity that has your records as to how they are released and whether there is a fee. Some of my docs will just hand them to me, others require the authorization to release. Some charge me and some do not. It is the option of the provider. State laws regarding medical records differ from state to state. Yes, they ARE YOUR records but some states do not agree with that. Whose "property" is governed by state law. Some states say the records may be "about" you but are NOT your property and you are not entitled to them.

I would say that MOST providers of medical services do allow access to patient records but the fee issue is up to each of them individually. If not being handed directly to the patient, be prepared to sign a release authorization form.

What laboratory do you use? LabCorp does not allow this. They will only send the result to the requesting physician, not even to my PCP.

Thanks to all who've replied so far. It's clear that there's a wide range of policies, and I've just been lucky in not having encountered the paywall before. (The radiology place gives me a disc for free when I leave; one regional health complex took forever but eventually sent me all my records electronically; Quest, our bloodlab chain, lets me designate up to three doctors to be sent the results, but they ALSO have a web site where I can eventually get them myself.)

Regarding Ginnie's point that the third-party records companies are trying to recover their costs, the cost seems awfully disproportionate--over a dollar per page. And surely all this information is in digital form, so it would be fairly inexpensive just to e-mail me a copy. In short, this IS clearly just another way for somebody to make money from our medical problems. But i wish we could resist somehow.

Mine were a dollar a page too. When I left a trial study I had over 100 pages from the facility up north. That was just summaries, not all the actual detail, from each application.. Cost down here the same, and extra for the CD's. ginnie

the easiest way to get a copy of a test is from your doctor after they have discussed the results with you at a visit, ask them for a copy. i have never been charged doing this. i have been charged at hospital for records from hospitalization. one time i went to get a cat scan of my lungs and the doctor had told me to get a copy of the film. the pace doing the cat scan told me that would be $5. i told them you have a choice, make how ever many hundreds you are charging insurance to do the cat scan and give me the film for nothing or i walk out and go somewhere else. they gave me the film for nothing