Blood Drug Testing

My doctor's office won't release my blood test results to me unless I see the doctor, can they do this?

I want to get the results of some blood tests I had last month (I have already seen the doctor about them) I just want the paper copies from the lab. The girl at the desk told me I would have to make an appointment with the doctor to get them. I told her I've already seen him, I just want a photocopy (all she would have to do is open my chart and grab the paper on the top). She told me I would still have to see a doctor it was policy. I don't want to waste my time or the doctors time. Can they do this?

Public Comments

1. Possibly, and probably likely given the situation. Drafting a release of information document should be sufficient to satisfy the Patient-Doctor confidentiality thing. Of course this means letter writing and waiting.
2. yes this is the correct way, not 100% sure why im afraid but ive had a few blood tests, at first i thought it was cos i had HIV or something, turns out its not the case, I think they have to give them to you face to face, regardless of results so that they can gauge your mental stability and soundness of mind in case there is bad news. Primarily though they cant verify who you are over the phone, its probably as simple as that.
3. they can do it, and they do it to make you pay co payment when you visit the doctor. they want to be able to charge you for reading the results to you. they have done this to me many times, but they also do it so that they can help you interpret the results correctly and to let you know the course of action is there is something wrong with you. so it works for their advantage and yours as well.
4. No, the privacy protection act requires that the drs office give you a copy of the blood test if you request it. Ask to speak to the dr directly as you are standing at the receptionist desk. You are not looking for an apt. so dont let her tell her that you need an apt to see the dr. If they do not give you the document then threaten to change doctors and if they still dont then stand at the receptionist desk and wait for the dr to walk by and speak directly to him. If there are other patients waiting for an apt. the dr will not want you disrupting his office over a little piece of paper. Explain to the dr and in the presence of his waiting patients that you have already gone over the results with him in a previous apt and you just want a copy of those results. If he wants you to make an apt to get then then explain that you feel as if you are being gouged to pay for an apt when it is not necessary. If you have insurance you can call your insurance company and speak to customer service and tell them that he is requireing you to have an office visit for paper work and you dont want to pay for a visit for that. They might be able to make a call to get you your paper work. Legally, I don't think he can keep you from a copy of the blood work by requiring you to make an apt. Get pushy real fast, it will do wonders for you.
5. Let the girl at the desk know that under the HIPAA law they are required to release the results to you regardless if you see the doctor or not. Under the HIPAA law you have a right to your health information without having to see the doctor. They cannot deny you your records just because you don't want to make an appointment. Let them know they are in violation of the HIPAA Law. Go to: http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa/consumer_summary.pdf This will give you information on your rights of access to you medical records.
6. believe it or not, just like xrays, even though they are of your own personal health, they are the sole property of the doctors office. You must see the doctor in getting them released. He might not allow them due to them being records. He might want to know why you need them. I know they do not have a problem giving you copies to prove that you are HIV negitive but other than that, they will want to see you.