For care coordination and medical peer review for insurance purposes, medical records are vital. Check out some key facts related to medical record release.

1. www.mosmedicalrecordreview.com 918-221-7791
Medical Records
Management: Factors to
Consider When Releasing
Medical Records
For care coordination and medical peer
review for insurance purposes, medical
records are vital. Check out some key facts
related to medical record release.
MOS Medical Record Reviews
8596 E. 101st Street, Suite H
Tulsa, OK 74133

2. www.mosmedicalrecordreview.com 918-221-7791
Medical records, an essential component of safe and effective healthcare, are
vital for processes such as medical peer review for insurance, or medical record
review in personal injury cases. Due to this, physician practices receive medical
record release requests very commonly from various sources – such as patients
themselves, insurance companies, Medicare, and attorneys. However, before
releasing the medical records to any source, physicians must clearly understand
the protocols or guidelines related to releasing sensitive healthcare records.
Some of the major factors to consider are:
• A written authorization from the patient to release the records.
• Wording in the request should allow the medical records to be released via
mail or fax.
• You must obtain a separate, signed authorization for each request.
• To release records to a patient, only the patient’s handwritten, signed
request is required.
• A valid authorization must be obtained to release the medical records to
anyone other than the patient.
• Ensure only the copies of the medical record, including videos, X-rays and
so on are released.
• The provider can prepare a summary of the medical record if the patient
agrees to it.
• You can release the records prepared by another provider, especially when
they are required to develop a treatment plan.
When it comes to medical records release, HIPAA and HITECH Privacy and
Security Rules are applied. The gathering and release of medical records must be

3. www.mosmedicalrecordreview.com 918-221-7791
in compliance with state and federal laws related to release of confidential
information. There should be an efficient system in place that allows the medical
office to release complete, organized, clear records to the requesting entity.
Whatever is the purpose of releasing the records, medical record custodians and
HIM professionals must ensure that the records are released properly following
actual legal requirements. A healthcare attorney can provide valuable advice in
this regard.
To Know More about This Topic, Check Out Our Blog: Important Facts to Consider
When Releasing Medical Records