Does anyone know if the law says that you can only get your medical records from your insurance company under worker's comp (California)? My husband's pain management specialist always is very good about giving him reports. Yesterday we asked the orthopedist (whom we saw once last year) for his report about my husband's knee. They first wanted to charge $15 (I thought it was supposed to be $.25 a page--how many pages for one office visit!!!). Then when they found out it was Worker's Comp, they said that we had to ask the insurance adjustor for it, they were not allowed to give it to us. I thought people had a right to their own records. Anyone else have this experience?
Sunny

We are from Indiana and my Mom got all her records from all the doctors without first clearing it with workmans comp. I do know that each state is different so you may want to check it out in your state.

hi sunnycal----same problem. went to the WC dr. twice and asked if i could have a copy of test results. they blew a fit and said i would have to talk to their legal dept. i told them i wanted a copy of my own file for myself and theyfinally copied only test results but none of his records. my pcp has asked me 3xs to get a copy for my file with him since i have other health problems and he wanted to keep up on my treatment from other dr.s i told him i asked twice for them and called once to request they be faxed to my pcp and he still never got them. He told me he would get them himself at this point. keep in mind i have senthis same spine specialist for 2 previous bakc and knee injuries both work related. with this comp claim he doesn't seem to want to help me. I am changing cr.s on the 26th to a physiatrist because in the end the spine specialist works for the IC not me. keep that in mind. i don't think it's the law i think it's each dr.s preference whether or not to submit records to the patient.

I know the laws in each state are different on worker's comp...actually different comp carriers within a state may vary as to how far they stretch the law....now my pcp had to request documents for his records from my comp carrier to aid in his treatment of my overall health...now this was many years ago...he had no trouble...the only way I got them was by my attorney requesting them for my case....the independent eval and functionality tests were the property of the WC...so if you are being treated only by drs you were sent to by WC your files may fall under the rights of the WC...ask your WC adjustor they may be very receptive to your request..

Thank you for your help. That is what the doctor's office said--that we could get them from the adjustor. I didn't think about the idea that the reports were the property of WC. My husband was just mad that he couldn't get records about his own condition. But it looks as if it may be common. We'll see....
Sunny