Patient Access to Massachusetts Medical Records
In Massachusetts, by law, patients can obtain copies of their medical records and providers are limited to the amount they can charge for these copies. Generally, a patient will be charged $15.00 for each transaction. In addition, physicians may charge up to $.50 per page for the copying costs of the first 100 pages of medial records, and $.25 per pate in excess of 100 pages.
A physician must maintain patient medical records for seven years from the date of the last patient contact. After seven years, a physician can give his/her former patient their original medical records back or destroy them. It is wise to request a copy of your medical records when changing physicians.
The Board of Registration in Medicine requires that a physician maintain the original to ensure that a patient's medical history will be available to assist any future health care provider.
A physician must provide copies of a medical record in a timely manner. Two to three weeks is considered "reasonable".
If the patient is deceased, the executor or administrator of the Estate may obtain copies.
The provider may summarize mental Health records if the physician believes the information would be harmful.
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