Have a Question About Switching Pediatricians

I've also just switched to a different ped. and they did not charge me a cent. All I had to do was sign a release form and they forwarded my son's chart to the new dr. They did all of the work for me.

I don't know if it is legal but certainly immoral. Sounds like you made the right choice switching doctors.

When I switched peds - I did not have to pay a cent. I don't know if its legal... but it certainly does not sound right.

They make a copy for you of each piece of paper in their file. They are required by law to obtain copies of patients files for so many years. They can't just hand you the file. That's why they charge a fee. Most places it's $15-$25 per person sometimes more.

When I moved out of the area I had to pay for both my daughter's records and mine.

When we moved from Ohio back here, I paid $10 each for my kids medical records. She was their ped for their whole lives so their file was thick (especially my daughter's because she was having some sleep apnea issues at the time) but it was still only 10 bucks.
Sounds like a scam to me. LOL

It is not right for them to charge the fee. But they are doing that to cut down on people leaving their office to find another one that they like. If they are going to be charging a fee then they need to have us sign another papper showing that there would be a fee for transfer. I am not sure if it is legal or not. Not sure where to look. But if some one knows where to look, please let me know.

K.,

I'm pretty sure you can sign a release for your new pediatrician to request the records from the old one. I have done this many times and was not charged. However, if you want YOUR OWN set of copies, you do have to pay for it. Good luck. Take care.

I jsut recently switched ped practices (same thing, the old doc made a MAJOR misdiagnosis and wouldn't listen to me, even though I'm a pharmacist). I wasn't charged for the old records, though. At the former peds office I simply had to fill out a form authorizing that they could send the records to the new office when requested. Then they gave me a copy of my kids' vaccinations. Same thing when we first moved here from Erie, no charges, just forms to fill out authorizing the transfer of information. I've read the responses that say this is legal and normal, but I would still ask at the new peds office or just call a random office and ask their policy. Maybe it is legal to charge a fee, but $60 just sounds wrong. Good luck with the new practice.

Yes its normal but sometimes some insurance companies may cover this cost. Check and see.

Yes, it is legal for the office to charge you money for the copying of charts. However, if you find a new doctor, that new doctor can request your children's records with your written authorization, the old office should send the records over for free, as a professional courtesy. I know this is how our office works, I hope it works for you.

I havent had to switch peds for awhile, thank goodness(have lots of paperwork) but when we moved here I didnt get a charge to have the records sent to the new pediatrician. Now requesting them for my own records I'm not sure if there is a charge or not. I guess it's all up to the practice

Hi K.,

Some practices charge a photocopy fee - but you do own the records. I would just ask for the originals because $60 is a rediculous fee to pay!

Good luck
J.

I don't have any real advice but I know that I recently did that and only paid 10 dollars a child. Just thought I'd share since that does seem kind of steep.

If you have only been there 3x's then don't bother with records from there. See if you can get the original ones from the other ped that you mentioned

If you are anywhere near Lionville/Chester Springs/Exton you should check out ALL STAR PEDIATRICS. I can't tell you enough how wondeful everyone in the practice is! They are beyond fantastic. As for the $60 fee, it doesn't sound legal to me, but you can contact the better business bureau and they should be able to tell yuo. Good Luck

You just wnat their shot record and check up records sent. There should not be a fee for that info. Some offices have a fee for if you want all of your childs records and you just want shots and the recent check up sent over. See if they will send just that info or give it to you for free. I just switched Peds too. I'm sorry I forget what they called just the shot and check up info, the office I was at had a name for it.

I have no idea about PA law but this is absolutely ridiculous! There's no way I'd pay for that and these are your records, your property and I'd demand them immediately or you'll call a lawyer, period. Then spread the word about this office and their poor experience you've had with them.

K. B
mom to 5 including triplets

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K.,
The office can charge a copying fee. The records are yours, so you are "allowed" to have them, but the office can charge a copying fee. I like the responder who suggested you obtain the records from your previous ped. Maybe ask this "new" one just for the records from the 3 visits you had.

Hi K....this happens all the time to us since we are military and switch doctors all the time. The charges are silly and should be illegal...after all... they are your records. Anyways, you fill out a release form at your doctors office and they will fax the records to your new office. Once you get to your new office I'm sure you can sweet talk them into giving you a copy or loaning them to you so you can make copies for yourself. It's always a good idea to carry your families med. records just in case. Hope this helps and good luck.

I agree with the other moms about getting the new pediatrician to request them with your consent. They have to give you your records...they are your personal medical records...they cannot keep them from you. As far as I know that is not legal..I would definitely check on that. You should be able to see your medical records at any time and therefore you should be able to have your medical records whenever you like also. I agree with them about the copies though..some docs do charge for copies but if they transfer them to the new doctor there should be no charge.

I know when I changed peds office last yr, the old office charged me a $15 fee for copying of records. $60 seems VERY steep!!!!!!! Maybe becuase you have 3 children then are charing you $20 per child?

When I switched peditrician they told me the same thing. I told them I couldn't afford that so they just copied updated shot records and anything current. They did that for free

The same thing happened to me when switching. I already paid for the records and had to pay again because of the practice throwing them out after sending them to the place where we were going. I was livid the new Dr's wouldn't pay, cause they said that if my kids aren't seen within 6 months of sending the records here they toss them, btw I now live in Fort Wayne IN, but can't stand the mamasource for that area, I said someone should've called me to tell me that you were doing this, and they won't pay for new ones. Scuse the language but its an f'n racket. I told the orginal Dr's which was Reading Peds that I could make copies for pennies on the dollar with my scanner copier and they told me that they have a service that does it, BS. Chris

I really do not think that is legal. They can charge you if you are requesting a rush on the records but if you are giving them time to get them together then they are you records and you have the right to get them whenever you want to.
I have swithced docs several times for me and never once paid to get my records. I even needed my records for a job at a hospital once and again no charge for my records.
I would call the new office and ask them if this is legal or even your health insurance would probably be able to answer that question.
Hope this helps.
K.

Ask them what the fee is for. A lot of times it is a copy charge. They are charging you the cost of the copying and for the time of the person copying them. Sometimes it is a shipping cost as well. If you are picking them up, then there shouldn't be a shipping cost. And honestly, most practices charge a fee anymore. It is a way to keep their costs down. However, if it is a shipping fee, then tell them you are picking them up. Once you pick them up, I would scan them into your computer or copy them for your records. This way, you don't have to have them copied later if you want to move them again.

Another thing you could tell them is that you want the records you brought to the practice as you have already paid for those. If they would like to copy them for their records that is fine but you provided those records for their use not for them to keep. They may still insist you pay for the copies. Here is what I found when I searched. The information in the medical records belongs to the patient but the physical file and formatting belongs to the people maintaining the record. This means that you could demand to look at the records and sit there and look at them (and possible meticulously hand copy or digitally photograph the records if you wanted) but they do not have to give them to you to keep or physically give you a copy without charging you for that copy.

One last note, check with the new pediatricians office to see if they can procure them without charge or if they expect you to. Sometimes one practitioner can request them from another without charges where they would charge the parent for those same records. It might be worth asking.

Good luck. Hope this helps although I'm pretty sure you are going to end up paying for those records.

The doctor's office charging $60 seems to raise a couple red flags to me. I know most doctors offices charge you for copies for your OWN records. But I believe if you just have your new pediatrician request the copies, there shouldn't be a charge. But it is definitely something worth checking into. And if all else fails, talk to the office manager or head doctor and raise a stink! Tell them you feel the charges are outrageous and unfair, and maybe they will just copy the records for free just to have you stop complaining. What do you have to loose if you are leaving the practice anyway. Good luck to you.

And if I may recommend Coventry Pediatrics in Pottstown. Great practice, very nice & attentive doctors and the staff there is just wonderful. =)

I have NEVER heard of a doctor charging you for records. I also switched pediatricians and had no trouble what so ever getting my childrens records and was not charged one cent. I would look further into this before sending them any money. I would start with explaining the situation to your new pediatrician, they may be able to give you more advice. Good luck.

I don't know where you go now or where you live...but we use Pediatric Associates in Kingston...and we LOVE them. We live in Old Forge so it is a bit of a hike. We started with them when we lived a little closer to Kingston, but now we don't want to switch because we really like our ped. We see Dr. Sehic and she is wonderful to my girls. It's a group practice so if she's not in, one of the other docs will see us. They also have hours on Saturdays from 9-noon. And a line for medical advice when the office is closed (though you get charged to use that unless you are told to go to the ER or bring the child when the office opens). I will say their phone system stinks, it takes FOREVER to get through, but I trust our doc so much and I've dealt with a few of the other doctors there and for the most part it's all been positive.

I have bever heard of having to pay for medial records. I am not sure where you live but my kids go to east suburban pediatrics in the monroeville office. We usually see Kate, the nurse practioner. She is great! Right now she is on maternity leave till November though. All of the doctors are great there, just one has alittle bit of a different bedside manner, but usually we can avoid seeing him because there are 3 other doctors. They also have phone hour in the mornings, where you can call and they give you advice rather than have to go into the office. If you want anymore information, send me a message.

I switched my daughter out of her peds office after only going a handful of times. It did say in the fine print that they would charge for copies. I did have them fax to the new office and I didn't get charged. 60.00 does seem like a lot. Good luck.

Hi K.,

Yes, they are allowed to charge for the obtaining of your records. Usually the cost is to cover the "paperwork" that has to be done (i.e. copying, faxing, time from an employee, etc). The record itself belongs to the doctor even though the information inside is yours. I am a little surprised though that the cost is $60. Good luck with the new pediatrician!

i would try dr brogens office on 113 we loved them switched from the drs near post office collegeville not happy there..
just go and start over just ask for shot records

This kind of charge is pretty commun these days. Almost every doctor/office charges a fee for the records. Some of them charge by the page, some by the record. So yes, it is legal. You may see this more often.
Good luck in finding a new pedriatician.

When we switched peds we were charged for copies of the records. I think it was $20 per child. I have heard of some docs not charging if your file is under a certain number of pages. If you've only been there three times, perhaps you can negotiate a lower fee.

K.,
I just went thru this earlier in the year. Your childs records leagally are YOURS, not the Dr's. However, you signed paperwork at the begining, most of us do, and probably didn't read the 'fine' print. The do have the right as a practice. Even though I had my sons shot reacords and he had a pretty mellow first year, I still wanted any record of him being ill or whatever to go to our family Doc. They said $5.00 for a summary page including shots and $20.00 for all pages. After arguing with the head Dr in the practice (the reason we were switching) I gave in and just sent the $$ because my son's medical health and record were worth the money. So, hope that answered your question. Good luck... Oh and the reason they charge you is for the 'faxing or copying' of the records.
Christina

K.,
I went through this in State College, PA and fought it. I only got a reduced price for a "copying fee". I'm with you it's the principle.

I did find if your new doctor requests the files they have to send them to the doctor. So I had the new one formally request them and then the new doctor gave me a full copy. As an FYI read the files when you get them, the peds practice I used was awful and they did not copy or send to the new Dr. the files of the incident that put my daughter in the hospital. Creepy huh?

I have only had a pediatrician for a few months, so can't say anything definitive about them, but I do know that when I switched OBs last year, I got the same line '10 dollars for copies'. I asked them if that meant the charge to actually copy because the records are mine and should belong to me. they said that was true. So I asked for them (which is your legal right to do) and took them and copied them myself for like 75 cents, and brought them back.

We have had to switch Dr's several times in the past years, due to a move, then the Ped office we were with for three visits stopped accepting our insurance since it was from MD, not PA. I have NEVER had to pay for copies of the kids records to be sent to a new Ped office though. My one child has autism and her records look like a yellow pages, and still no one charged me for sending the copies! Since the records ARE your property....I'd insist on having them, and then do what another mom said....go copy them for pennies and then I would return the copies to the pediatrician's office, and KEEP those originals.....and the copied files that you brought with you!? No WAY in heck I'd be paying to recieve those back! this sounds like a big scam to me. Milking people for that much money in todays economy! it makes me ill.

the old records should come back to you and just get updated shot page. I'd write a note why you leaving as well,

Hi K.. I would have a fit! They are charging you $20 for each child's medical records? That is outrageous! I know it has become the practice of many doctors to charge a nomial fee to fill out forms if you don't have them with you at the time of an office visit, but in a way I can understand that. The amount of paperwork that they keep is mind-boggling and to go and dig out a file to fill out a school form has to be a pain, so they charge so that you will plan ahead. But anything more than a nominal fee (like $3 to $5) is just greedy. When we moved here from out of state our doctors were more than willing to give us copies of our medical records with no fees...I don't see why you should have to pay and I would talk to the office manager and see what you can work out. I'm sure that they do have patients that can't afford to pay $60 and it isn't a fair practice! Good luck and best wishes!

Call your health care provider and ask if it's standard and/or acceptable. Personally, I would pay the 60 bucks and make sure to ask your new ped what the policy is with them in case you switch again.