No Charge for Social Security Disability Medical Records

 

 

 

Medical Records for Social Security Disability or Public Benefits

You cannot be charged for  copy of your medical record to support a claim for Social Security or other public benefits.

No provider may charge a copying fee when you request your medical record to support a claim for Social Security, Medicaid or other public benefit based on disability.

Paying for Medical Records not Associated with a Social Security Claim or Other Public Benefit

In many cases, your health care provider is allowed to charge for copying your medical record. The maximum copying fees are different for doctors and hospitals.

Texas Doctor Fees for Medical Records

Doctors in Texas may charge you no more than $25 for the first 20 pages copied and 50¢ per page for pages 21 and up. Your doctor may also charge you postage if you have the copies mailed to you.

If your doctor receives your request for a copy of your medical record without payment, they must tell you the copying fee in writing within 10 days of receiving your request.

Texas Hospital Fees for Medical Records

Hospitals in Texas are allowed to charge you a reasonable fee for copying your medical record. The Texas Legislature sets the fees our hospital charges for copies of medical records. This is found in S241.154(e) of the Health and Safety Code. These charges are reviewed and updated annually based on the price index as published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor. The following fees are effective at Texas Health hospitals as of Nov. 7, 2012:

Texas Hospital Medical Records Cost Cost per Page

1 to 10 pages – $44.35 11 to 60 pages – $1.49 per page 61 to 400 pages – $0.74 per page More than 400 pages – $0.39 per page	Health and Safety Code 241
Stored on Microfilm	1 to 10 pages – $67.57 Subsequent pages – $1.49 per page	Health and Safety Code 241
Stored Digital or Electronic AND Requested in Digital or Electronic Form	May not exceed $80.36	Health and Safety Code 241
Affidavit or Subpoena	$1	Civil Practice and Remedies Code 22.004
Written Responses	$10 for a set	Health and Safety Code 241
Provided to Patient (no charge for continuing care) (If requesting for Disability/Worker’s Comp, there is no charge, but patient must show proof of appointment/hearing)	1 to 10 pages – Complimentary 11 to 50 pages – $0.50 per page 51 or more pages – $0.20 per page	Texas Health Resources
Worker’s Compensation	Initial Fee – $5 1 to 20 pages – $0.50 per page 21 or more pages – $0.30 per page	TDI – DWC Rules (10/13/08) Chapter 134.5

 

There is no charge to just look at your medical records.

http://content.onlinejacc.org/article.aspx?articleid=1138066

Texas Medical Association Analysis of Release of Medical Records

The nuclear lab was awarded accreditation in myocardial perfusion imaging, which involves the injection of a tiny amount of a radioactive “tracer” into the bloodstream to assess the risk of heart attack; to evaluate the pumping function of the heart; and to visualize the size and location of a previous heart attack.

http://www.tmlt.org/newscenter/features/physician-impairment.html