Lyndasline

I just found out I only have 4 years of my med. file. My Dr. from 2005 moved away and i have no idea how to get those records. My nurse said to try writing a note to insurance and explaning why there are only 4 years of history. Anyone else have to do this? Did it work? If not... I can't get surgry untill 2010

poet_kelly

You can certainly try writing a letter to the insurance company explaining the problem. I don't know if it will work or not. There's a good chance it won't, but I would certainly try it.

Did another doctor take over the old doctor's practice? If so, they may have the records. Did you try searching for the doctor online? Even if they moved, they probably still have the records. I think legally they have to keep them for 7 years or maybe 10 years. Was the doctor affiliated with a particular hospital? If so, the hospital may have the records, or may be able to tell you where they are.

Kelly

__________________
RNY 11/4/08

surgery/current/goal
270/147/130

pricklypear

good tips, kelly,
also if you went to the doctor at all in 2005 and they weighed you - urgent care for a cold or stitches in a finger, the ER, dentist, specialist - anything where they may have weighed you - make sure you try there too. those will count. some dentists weight, a lot don't but you can try there.

yzplnxg

I remembered going to the emergency room and got medical records from a hospital.. and a weight loss clinic and had them sent to my PCP. I was missing one year even with all that. I wrote a sample letter for my PCP to send to the ins. He had someone retype it on his letter head. It was written as if from the doctor... Jane Doe has been under my care since 2003. Her weight has fluctuated due to weight loss attempts which ulitmately failed. The letter listed all the weights I had and the things wrong with me and stated I have been morbidly obese for over five years. (I provided a dated picture for the doctor for the missing year but didn't send it to the insurance company. I listed the weight I was in the picture in the letter from the doctor along with the other weights I got from his records and other records.... I put all this in a notebook with the picture and copies of the medical records I got. I have UHC and they require "A diagnoisis of five year morbid obesity from a physician." They don't require the weights.. They also require you to be 40 BMI at the time of approval. In the sample letter from my PCP it stated " Jane Doe has been morbidly obese for over five years. And as I said above.. all my comorbidities were listed and I listed the ones I was taking meds for and what doctor was treating me for them.. My PCP was fine with the letter.. and the insurance approved me.