Access to Your Medical Records
New York State law requires all health care practitioners and facilities to grant patients access to their own medical records. Section 18 of the Public Health Law contains procedures for making these records available and the conditions under which a provider can deny access. Patients may request information, in writing, as may parents or guardians who have authorized their child's care.
If you want to see your medical records, ask your doctor and/or the director of medical records at the hospital. New York State law guarantees you the opportunity to inspect your medical records within 10 days of your request.
If you want to have a copy of your medical records, you must submit a written request to the hospital. Address the request to the Director of Medical Records at the hospital. If you request a copy of your records, the hospital may charge you up to 75 cents per page.
If the hospital fails to acknowledge or act on your request, you may complain to the Department of Health by calling 1-800-804-5447.
If you have been denied access to all or part of your hospital records, you may appeal to the New York State Department of Health Medical Records Access Review Committee. The hospital/doctor is required to provide a form (DOH-1989) that gives the reason(s) for denial and information on this appeals process.