TIFU by requesting medical records while broke

Submitted by jj_8080x t3_124nrso in tifu

I was overly worried about something and impatient, and I wanted to see what was in my records. I ended up requesting medical records from two hospitals (and requested medical records from two other places that haven't responded yet), the online process for requesting records from both hospitals was extremely quick and easy. The website page that contains info about the process of requesting medical records mentions that there may be a charge for it, but I foolishly assumed that if a fee or charge applied to the documents that I would be informed ahead of time, before I actually received them...mind you, I have NO money (I live in job corps ffs). When I got a copy of my record request emailed to me it mentioned nothing about fees. When I originally received my records via email they again mentioned nothing about any fees or charges, however it provided a invoice # and pin for me to use to sign into a portal where I access the records. Once I got in, part of the screen said in large lettering "Payment is due within 30 days of receipt of records." Yet I have no clue how much I owe 😭

TL;DR I was a dumb-dumb and requested medical records, now I might have charges due that I likely cannot pay

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Ozmorty t1_jdzykkf wrote

No treaty, no contract, no sale, no cost.

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jj_8080x OP t1_jdzyotl wrote

So you are saying that if they didn't mention any costs or payments beforehand and I didn't explicitly agree that I shouldn't worry about it?

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Ozmorty t1_jdzyvpp wrote

Oh you’ll have to DEAL with it, but you’re on solid ground if they can’t show you where they offered you a price and you accepted it.

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Zachary_Binks t1_je08uo5 wrote

I've worked in medical offices for many years at many places and actually used to send medical records to people. Every place I worked at always had a breakdown of how much the medical records were.

I believe there are regulations on how much can be charged and usually charged per page, which can sometimes cause not knowing the total amount due until they're provided due to everyone's record being different.

For example, at one job, it was $5.00 for the first page and $0.15 for each additional page after that but would cap the charge at a certain amount if it was a lot of pages.

Obviously, all places are different, but I would be very surprised if the pricing wasn't outlined when OP requested the records. For medical offices, this is a pretty common and streamlined process.

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Ozmorty t1_je09bpm wrote

Sure. I’m saying the burden is on them to prove they disclosed this and to demonstrate where OP specifically accepted the costs. Otherwise torts agogo and contract anono.

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TyroneFuckinFootball t1_je0t5xc wrote

This is not exactly true. Otherwise you wouldn’t have any suits based on quantum meruit. You can’t accept goods/services that generally cost money, then say “you never told me the price so I don’t have to pay.” Assuming the price is reasonable and in line with what other entities charge for something similar, that argument isn’t going to work for OP.

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Cindexxx t1_je2ngrt wrote

Records don't "generally cost money". My records are all online for free. I can get them faxed to another clinic for free. I could see printing them costing money though.

I could see OP getting out of this if he never accessed the records. But even if he doesn't pay it's just a few $ medical debt.

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Ozmorty t1_je1voag wrote

Not sure in this case, if things have played out as described by OP. The site said “may be a charge” - if there was no way directly on that portal to see what those charges might amount to, he could argue the costs away successfully.

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blackcatpandora t1_je1hasx wrote

Right, hospitals and doctors offices are well known for always telling you how much something is before you agree to the procedure/medicine/checkup 🥴

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thumpngroove t1_je21ijx wrote

I was leaving a practice after a misdiagnosis, so not in great terms. They immediately informed me my records would cost $5 per page, and I had 65 pages. How do you want to pay?

My next doctor just got the records for free anyway, but I found it frightening and disgusting that my own health records could be hijacked like that. Made me hate that practice even more.

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dryphtyr t1_je30duf wrote

The pricing is in the sub basement in a locked cabinet, I'm sure

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jj_8080x OP t1_je00771 wrote

ugh :/

well, that's still good to know. I've looked over everything thoroughly and it mentions nothing about payments due, it's all so confusing. I'm really hoping that I'm overthinking it and that I don't have to pay anything but I think that's too optimistic

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Ozmorty t1_je00zv8 wrote

I’d be standing firm and saying show me where the price was published and accepted by me before you provided the goods? Take a screenshot of the empty bill as it stands etc too.

They’re shit out of luck but you need an email trail to get them to acknowledge they screwed up so you cover yourself from them trying to get a debt collector onto you IF they issue an actual bill.

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BoJo2736 t1_je1p4ur wrote

Call their medical records department and talk to someone.

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HALLELEA t1_je01o3k wrote

Take a breathe and contact them about the amount it maybe that since an amount isn't stated this is an automated part of the process designed for many requests

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Trolleyes84 t1_je0y99w wrote

Just for a next time, check and see if the medical group has an online portal. You should be able to see most of your medical notes and labs through that.

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jj_8080x OP t1_je15xvr wrote

So I found this on the "Texas Administrative Code" website (Title 22, Part 9, Chapter 165):

"(2) Electronic Format. (A) The physician responding to a request for such information to be provided in electronic format shall be entitled to receive a reasonable, cost-based fee for providing the requested information in electronic format. (B) A reasonable fee for providing the requested records in electronic format shall be a charge of no more than: $25 for 500 pages or less; $50 for more than 500 pages."

Both requests ended up being around 250 pages (in electronic format) so hopefully if I am charged it won't be more than $50

https://texreg.sos.state.tx.us/public/readtac$ext.TacPage?sl=R&app=9&p_dir=&p_rloc=&p_tloc=&p_ploc=&pg=1&p_tac=&ti=22&pt=9&ch=165&rl=2

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apolonious t1_je14rp6 wrote

HIPAA is on your side! At least it should be: long story short, if you request your own records in electronic format from a healthcare provider that keeps them in electronic format, they can't charge you more than a reasonable expense.* Read more about the HITECH Act.

*I haven't looked at updates or anything in a few years but this was approximately true somewhat recently. I'm not giving legal advice here.

Edit: "reasonable expense" meaning something along the lines of $6 for a CD if they put the records on a CD. If they emailed them to you (or emailed you a link to download them) I'm not sure they can charge you at all; vague recollection is that they can only charge for the electronic medium.

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Birkin92 t1_je36dhi wrote

This. Tell them HIPPA and to pound dust. They're just inconvenienced and they charge you because they can't make money off releasing your records.

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apolonious t1_je3d51j wrote

lol so yeahhhhh and I am with you sentiment-wise but to OP I would suggest taking a non-confrontational tone (while also not caving to demands for more than a nominal charge for records). HIPAA is a facepalm kind of sorcery/science issue where healthcare people and legally literate people treat one another like witches. I have literally mailed medical offices highlighted copies of the HIPAA provisions showing that what they were demanding was illegal, and then received stubbornly ignorant (and flat wrong) ‘nuh-uh’ responses from lawyers hired by said medical offices. tl;dr You’ve got right (and the law) on your side (this is not legal advice) but if you talk too much about law you may bait them into flexing their legal ignorance in combination with their financial flexibility which is a mistake even lawyers sometimes make and regret.

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Oylex t1_je19xl4 wrote

I often requested documents from multiple hospitals, most of them were free, one cost me like 7$...

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snowbirdnerd t1_je1kp7v wrote

Your medical records should be your property. Hospitals should have to provide when you ask and they should be easily available for you to view.

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PlaidSkirtBroccoli t1_je1n1sk wrote

Usually costs for medical records are for printed material and/or postage. There may be no fee if you received them electronically.

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EvenYearMagic t1_je1sgj7 wrote

If you are in the US, they are not allowed to charge the patient for copies of records. It’s part of the Hi Tech Act. I’d call them and just say there’s no balance for the records and that you assume this is because records are free for the patient, but want to verify.

Source: medical malpractice attorney who deals with records issues all the damn time

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mandy_monroe_ t1_je27bdv wrote

Most states allow one free set of records and it typically goes to a $1 a page after that. One free set is ONE period whomever gets it whether it be you or a lawyer for example. I'd inquire about your free set. Now this does vary from state to state so I'd get up to date on your states laws.

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InLoveWithABastard t1_je35v46 wrote

Where I work, anything sent electronic is free. We have the option of charging per state guideline plus postage. Also, I never charge our patients for anything under ~ 100 pages or if they have medicaid.

If you haven’t physically obtained the records, you shouldn’t be on the hook for paying for them. Also, the HITECH act (part of HIPAA laws) may be on your side. If they keep the records electronically, you should be able to receive them electronically. For a minimal or no cost. This could be dependent on state statute or entity policy.

Where I work, we serve mostly medicaid/underserved clients, and I would never charge them, unless we literally were printed reams of paper for them.

Source: am a health information manager at a psych hospital - your states laws might be different than mine though!

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6byfour t1_je1i02v wrote

If you’re in Job corps aren’t you a minor?

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jj_8080x OP t1_je1j8r0 wrote

No, I'm 18. Job Corps is for 16 to 24 yr olds

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