How to transfer medical records when you move

Setting up healthcare in your new city is one of the most important things you'll do after moving.  You'll need to find a primary care doctor, dentist, and eye doctor, along with any specialists that may be necessary for your specific situation.  Naturally, healthcare providers prefer to know your medical history, so that they can give you the best care possible.

I still remember the first time I changed to all new doctors after moving for college.  I was pretty nervous about having to get all of my records, but thankfully my healthcare providers' offices were incredibly helpful in walking me through the process.

How do you request a medical record transfer?
For your protection, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) prevents access to your medical records, unless the person requesting access is you or a person whom you granted access to on a release form, when first establishing care.  For this reason, you will have to be the one to obtain your medical records from your previous healthcare provider, or request that they be sent to your new healthcare provider.

In most states, all that is required is that you call your previous provider, identify yourself and advise where your records should be sent.  Many healthcare providers' offices will accept a phone call, but others may have a process in place where you'll need to sign a form requesting release of your records.  This can usually be done fairly easily through fax, email, or mail.  Once requested, it can sometimes take 10 to 14 days for your new provider to receive your records. Considering this, make sure you don't wait until the last minute to request the transfer.

 How does your new healthcare provider get these records?
Once you've requested the transfer, your old healthcare provider's office will mail them to the new office.  Typically there is no fee for this service, but occasionally you will be charged if the forms are being mailed directly to you rather than the healthcare provider.  

Enjoy your new city and stay healthy!