My Test Results are being Held Hostage

Good Morning. I am posting to this board because I need advice. I went to a reproductive immunologist-- i am not going to mention the name because you probably will be able to figure out who it as from my post -- that ordered a full immunological blood panel on both myself and my husband. He will not discuss the results with me unless I pay him a $3,000 medical management fee in addition to him charging my insurance. I can request my blood work via medical record release, but I won't be able to read it. I was told on the phone by his office, "we have your test results and there are findings, but Dr. ____ will not go over them with you unless you pay our medical management fee of $3,000." I feel this is unethical. I was told originally when I met with him that if it would cost 3k to get the "magic protocol formula" if i was going through IVF with another doctor other than him. I am beside myself. WWYD? Is this even legal?

**update** I had my insurance company get involved and they called the doctors office. My insurance rep said that the woman she talked to was "not so polite" and told her that they are not giving me my results because I am not going to continue treatment with them. So, they want to charge me out of pocket for his time. Isn't that why I have insurance? Wow!

Message edited 2/4/2015 12:44:25 PM.

Re: My Test Results are being Held Hostage

Are you able to request the records, and bring them to your RE or obgyn to review? Or is the doctor who ordered the full panel your RE? If that's the case, I would request them for your records, and find a new doctor

Re: My Test Results are being Held Hostage

I filled out a medical record release form to request my records. I just am hoping:

1- another RE can read the records, as it may be out of their scope of work

2-they include all of my records and pages don't go "missing"

Re: My Test Results are being Held Hostage

Have them released to another doctor (that you have a better relationship with ) and get copies from them.
I would also consult a lawyer, I feel this may not be legal. They are YOUR medical records.
ETA: I am sure once you get the results you can find a doctor that can interrupt them for you (an immune specialist, maybe even a rheumatologist or hematologist).

Message edited 2/4/2015 11:18:03 AM.

Re: My Test Results are being Held Hostage

So the $3K he is charging is for him to explain to your what your issues are?

Yeah, I would save the $3K and have the results sent to you via Medical Release Form.

There are other doctors mentioned on here; that take insurance; that would be able to read them for you because they offer similar testng.

Dr. Tortoriello and/or Dr. Wang at SIRM. I suggest making a consult w/ them; bring all your results; and have them interpreted to start you on your options.

Re: My Test Results are being Held Hostage

Thanks so much for the feedback ladies. I am hoping this doctor, who is a reproductive immunologist, did not "create" this test with the blood lab so no other doctor can read it. I am going to weight my options. This just sounds so unethical!!

Re: My Test Results are being Held Hostage

Re: My Test Results are being Held Hostage

Re: My Test Results are being Held Hostage

That sounds really shady...
Did you pay for the bloodwork & initial visit?
If so, I agree, they or the bloodwork company has to provide you with the results.
At this point, I wouldn't really trust the office & find yourself another RE. Why did you use these people in the first place?

Re: My Test Results are being Held Hostage

Taken from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website


A provider cannot deny you a copy of your records because you have not paid for the health services you have received. If you believe that your doctor or other health care provider violated your health information privacy right by not giving you access to your medical record, you may file a HIPAA Privacy Rule Complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights. The easiest way to file a complaint is to go through the HHS Office for Civil Rights. If you have questions about privacy, security, or HIPAA, visit the Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (OCR) privacy website . You can also search OCR’s HIPAA FAQ database.

link

Re: My Test Results are being Held Hostage

Maybe just try dealing with the lab?

Re: My Test Results are being Held Hostage

Re: My Test Results are being Held Hostage

Re: My Test Results are being Held Hostage

I used him because he is the only Reproductive Immunologist on Long Island....that I am aware of.

Re: My Test Results are being Held Hostage

I understand a consultation cost to sit and review records or translate them; however, I've actually never heard of it and would never agree to pay for it... especially $3,000!!! WTF!!! That's just completely ridiculous to me. They are your records and by law a doctor must release them to you. These days 99% is done electronically so with your approval there should be no issue with the office releasing them to you or another doctor of your choice. Good Luck!

Re: My Test Results are being Held Hostage

Re: My Test Results are being Held Hostage

Very sketchy & sounds money hungry to me now that lots of insurances are covering IF (negotiated fees are less than cash fees I had to pay during my first rodeo).

There are lots of IF theories: in picking my doc, I went with highest success rates. I have other autoimmune issues, but was able to get knocked up with a regular IVF steroid protocol (def lucky). My doc didn't want to do a work up yet.

OP: I'd look for someone you can trust. That's so important, esp if things don't work so well at a certain point. Communication kept me sane... Many times.

I don't know who this is... But would like a message about it so I can tell people to avoid the group.

Re: My Test Results are being Held Hostage

I used him because he is the only Reproductive Immunologist on Long Island....that I am aware of. My insurance company paid $15k+ for my bloodwork and also paid for my office visit with this doctor. He isn't denying me my medical records, but he is denying me the results of the bloodwork unless I pay him $3,000 to discuss the findings. Sooooo unethical! I am going to report him to the Medical Ethics board and whoever I can write to. If anyone wants to join me, let me know, because I am not the first person he has done this to.

Re: My Test Results are being Held Hostage