HARRISBURG, PA — Medicaid patients formerly treated at Crozer Health hospitals will soon be able to obtain their medical records at no cost, following an agreement approved this week in federal bankruptcy court, Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced.
The agreement, which is currently being finalized, will waive existing per-record fees that patients have faced while attempting to retrieve their medical information. Once in effect, the resolution is expected to benefit up to 43,000 former patients, many of whom are now seeking new providers after the closure of the Crozer Health system earlier this year.
Prospect Medical Holdings, the parent company of Crozer Health, shuttered all facilities and services following years of financial instability and mismanagement, which ultimately led to bankruptcy. As part of the ongoing bankruptcy proceedings, the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General intervened after receiving reports that patients—particularly those on Medicaid—were being charged significant fees for access to their medical records.
Attorney General Sunday emphasized that these fees created a substantial burden for patients already facing disruptions in care. “While our efforts to keep open Crozer facilities were unfortunately unsuccessful, we continue to advocate for impacted Pennsylvanians who are evaluating options for healthcare,” he said. “Among those expected to benefit from this recent resolution are Medicaid patients who cannot afford unexpected fees just so they can have access to records needed to continue care elsewhere.”
Federal and state regulations impose limits on the fees healthcare providers can charge for access to medical records. Citing these statutes, the Attorney General’s Office successfully argued for a waiver of such costs, particularly for low-income individuals. In some cases, patients seeking multiple documents were being asked to pay hundreds of dollars.
The Foundation for Delaware County has stepped forward to help cover administrative costs associated with providing the records, further easing the burden on affected patients.
During a recent court hearing, a Patient Care Ombudsman testified in support of expanding access, underscoring the necessity of ensuring continuity of care for those left without a healthcare provider.
Crozer patients are being advised to hold off on requesting records until the agreement is formally implemented. The Office of Attorney General has pledged to issue further guidance once the process is officially in place.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.