ByHow to Get NCH Medical Records Hassle-Free
Accessing your medical records and doctor's notes has been a part of federal law since 1996. The Health Insurance Accountability and Portability Act has been around since President Clinton's administration and what it does is guarantee you access to your medical records at any time.
However, it isn't always easy to obtain those medical records. There are several factors you need to consider and hurdles you have overcome. Luckily DoNotPay offers a convenient and stress-free way of getting your without dealing with people.
HIPAA and Your Right to Access Health Information
The 45 CFR Section 164.525 states that any entity covered by HIPAA falsely required to grant individuals access to their protected health information upon the person's request. The clause lets you obtain your and allows you to direct NCH to transfer the copies to a designated individual or organization.
Most people tend to think that only they and their designees can access the medical records. On the contrary, any third-party entity under HIPAA's wing can also gain access to your medical records. Your healthcare professional also has access to your documents since you already signed them the right to access the copies when you signed your registration form.
How to Get Electronic Copies of Your Medical Records
Any entity that makes it easy for you to access your health information gives you control over decisions regarding your health and wellbeing. Great strides have been made in health information technology that has essentially placed opportunities in the patient's hands. These innovations have made accessing information regarding one's health online easy and quick.
If you'd like a copy of your , you can get it by accessing the facility's online portal. Alternatively, you can make your request for electronic documents in writing. If you opt for the latter, you need to include a few crucial details, including:
- Your name
- Social Security Number
- ID number or NCH member number If provided
- Date of birth
- Active contact information (phone number address, email)
- The records you want
- Method of delivery (print, mail, fax)
Why Might You Need a Copy of Your Medical Records?
| You want to know about your family's medical history | Learning about your family's medical past is very beneficial. Understanding how genetics affect your health can give your doctor a better understanding and help them diagnose you quickly and accurately. |
| Relocating | Did you get a new job in a different state, or you're trying out a new area? Whatever the reason behind your move, you need copies of your medical records to help your new physician stay updated on your medical history. |
| An appointment with a specialist | If your doctor recommended you to a new specialist, the physician may need your medical records to get a full and quick review of your medical past. |
| You have issues with your current doctor | Does it always feel like you're always waiting for hours before anyone at your facility helps you? Or are you and your doctor no longer seeing eye to eye? If you want to switch doctors, ensure you get your medical records to help the new ones update themselves on what they need to know. |
How Much Does It Cost to Obtain Medical Records?
HIPAA has made it unlawful for healthcare providers to charge labor fees or search fees for retrieving your medical documents. It's also illegal for the facility to withhold your medical records for the reason of unpaid fees. However, you can get charged a small fee for copies of your NCH medical records.
Different states have different laws regarding how long your healthcare professional can keep your records. These laws also detail how much the provider can charge you for making copies of your documents.
In many states, you will have to part with anything between $0.25 and $2 per page. The $0.25 charge usually applies to the first 25 pages. Anything beyond 25 pages gets charged extra depending on your state.
What Type of Medical Records are Restricted From Being Released?
Your NCH medical records request may be denied for several reasons, including:
- If the information can cause you harm
- Mental health notes that are considered impressions and not diagnoses
- Information gathered for a lawsuit
- HIV/AIDS diagnosis and treatment
- Sexual assault information
- STD and other venereal diseases treatment
How to Request Medical Records From NCH
To get your hands on your NCH medical records, you should:
- Visit or contact the facility's medical records department
- Fill out the request form online or in-person
- If no form is available, write a letter requesting the copies
- Submit the document and wait
NCH will get back to you within a few business days.
Get NCH Medical Records With the Help of DoNotPay
Getting NCH medical records isn't always easy. You have to deal with all the paperwork, phone calls, and make faxes if necessary. You also have to pay the fees, which might be a costly affair if your medical records are extensive. DoNotPay has a solution to this.
Here's how it works:
- Go to DoNotPay and look for 'Medical Records.'
- Key in your provider's name.
- Answer the questions that come up about your provider and designee.
And you're done.
DoNotPay Cuts Across the Board
With DoNotPay getting your NCH medical records is only a fraction of what we can do for you. Our services also extend to helping you resolve the issue with other entities like:
Likewise, we can also help you:
- Request medical forms from any facility
- Sign a medical records release form
- Establish the length of time a facility can keep your records
What Else Can DoNotPay Do?
DoNotPay also helps you:
Try DoNotPay today to request NCH medical records quickly and conveniently.