The old office is keeping my records from me…

[lauren8486 48]

Hi All

If you’ve read some of my past posts then you know the history, if not here it is in short. I started my journey with Dr. Ahmad at Mather Hospital on Long Island (where I live). After a few appointments/seminars, I just do not feel comfortable moving forward with his practice and I’ve decided to have Dr. Brathwaite at Winthrop do my gastric sleeve. It’s been an uphill battle from the start and the road seems to be getting steeper.

I signed a HIPAA release form (and gave them a detailed list of everything I needed) for Dr. Ahmad to release all my records so I could provide Dr. Brathwaite with the weight history, blood work, pulmonary, psych/nutrition evaluation, endoscopy & pathology report and ultrasound results. Dr. Ahmad’s office told me it would take SIX WEEKS for them to print everything (SIX WEEKS!?!). Luckily I still have 2 months until I can submit for insurance so I figured this wasn’t the worst thing in the world. Then I get an email that the records administrator “had time” and printed everything, it was ready for pick up. Awesome! I headed down to the office that evening to get my files. They gave me my ultrasound, blood work, endoscopy & pathology and pulmonary reports – they did not give me my weight, nutrition or psych evaluation. I went back into the office (I had sat in my car reviewing everything before I went home) and asked for my weight record – the most important part of the whole packet. I was told they “don’t release clinical information”. I told them it was part of my file, I had signed a release and I needed the information. Reluctantly, they printed it – or so I thought. Again, I went to my car to review and found it was SOMEONE ELSES RECORD. It had no name on it, no date of birth, no identifying information other than dates that this person had been weighed…dates that I wasn’t even living in New York for. Again, I walked back into the (now crowded) office and asked for MY weight record. The clerk huffed and puffed and printed the correct record. It wasn’t until I submitted everything to the new office that I realized they had neglected to provide my nutrition and psych evaluation. Dr. Ahmad’s office (the old office) is now not returning my calls/emails.

The other issue I’m having is with the weight record in general. It does not contain any clinical notes, it doesn’t state that the doctor reviewed nutrition and exercise information with me – it looks like a spreadsheet with weight on it. I asked the current office what this could mean for approval and they said they’re going to submit for conditional approval ASAP. They’ll give my insurance company, United Healthcare Oxford, all the information they have so far (with an explanation as to why I started with one doctor and I’m moving forward with another) and they’ll see what they say. With any luck, my insurance will accept the information and will only require my remaining weights and an EKG report.

I’m so afraid that my insurance company will reject all of the information so far and I’ll be back at square one. Has anyone dealt with something similar?

[<3 Carolina Girl <3 84]

If your insurance company doesn't approve without the information from the other Dr, I would have a lawyer to draw up a letter demanding your records. That's BS - they are YOUR records!

[VSG_Hopeful 51]

If you are the one requesting your record they cannot deny your request for a copy. If it were the other office requesting it, maybe they could have used the excuse of not releasing records. Since you are physically picking up the records yourself that excuse goes out the window. They are essentially holding your records hostage. Get a lawyer.

[FancyCakes 46]

I work in the healthcare administration area, they are required by law to provide you medical records (usually within 3 business days). You will generally pay a fee for getting them but your health information belongs to you. Go back and tell her that you want a copy of your full record and she's required by law to give it to you.

[Miss Mac 6,262]

Due to my ex-husbands job, we moved fourteen times in the 23 years we were together. I have never waited more than a week to have records mailed to me in my new location. I agree that the are holding your records hostage out of meanness. Make an efffort to contact whatever Hippa or medical regulation there is in your state and sic the regulatory dogs on them. With an order from some entity that can fine them bigtime, your records will magically be available - like its a miracle!

[highonlifega1970 11]

I had the same problem. where do u live?I emailed my congressman explained the situation and I got my records the next day.He had his people call and threated them.Its your records,they hve no right.Its worth a shot.