At Temecula Medical Group, we are committed to providing high-quality care and exceptional service to all our patients. To maintain our ability to serve you effectively, we have established a policy for fees associated with completing forms and providing copies of medical records. These services require significant time and resources from our providers and staff, and we appreciate your understanding as we implement these fees to cover the administrative work involved. All policies comply with California Health & Safety Code §§ 123110 and 123114, as well as HIPAA privacy regulations.
FORMS FEE POLICY
Why We Charge a Forms Fee
Filling out forms—whether on paper or online—is a task that goes beyond routine medical care. It requires our providers to carefully review your medical history, assess your condition, and provide accurate, detailed information. This process takes time away from seeing patients in the clinic, and the fee helps us cover the costs of this extra work. Charging a reasonable fee for form completion is a standard practice in primary care clinics.
Forms Fee Details
- Fee Amount: $25 per form (for non-exempt forms), payable at the time of request.
- Payment Policy: Full payment is required before we begin processing your form. This ensures efficient handling of your request.
- Processing Time: Completing a form may take up to one week. Our providers work diligently to ensure accuracy, and we appreciate your patience.
- Examples of Forms: Common forms we complete include disability certifications (private insurance), FMLA paperwork, school or sports physical clearances, employment medical clearances, insurance prior authorizations, travel health declarations, and durable medical equipment justifications.
- Applicability: This fee applies to all patients, regardless of insurance type (HMO, PPO, Concierge, or self-pay), to ensure fairness and consistency.
MEDICAL RECORDS FEE POLICY
Why We Charge a Medical Records Fee
Providing copies of your medical records involves significant staff time to compile, review, and prepare the documents in compliance with privacy laws like HIPAA. This administrative task is not part of routine medical care, and the fee helps cover our actual costs while remaining fully compliant with California law.
Medical Records Fee Details
- No Fee for Continuity of Care: There is no charge when we transfer records directly to another healthcare provider for your ongoing treatment.
- For Patient Requests (Your Own Records): In accordance with California Health & Safety Code § 123110, we charge a reasonable, cost-based fee that does not exceed $0.25 per page for paper copies (plus actual postage if mailing is requested).
- Small or electronic requests are often provided at no additional charge or a minimal fee reflecting our costs.
- Larger volume requests or printed/hard-copy records will incur the $0.25 per page fee + postage.
- Payment Policy: Full payment is required before we begin processing your medical records request.
- Processing Time: We aim to provide records within 15 days (or 30 days for free public-benefit requests) to comply with state law.
- Format: Records can be provided electronically (preferred) or in paper format, depending on your request.
- Third-Party Requests (e.g., attorneys or life insurance companies): Fees may differ and are based on the time required to prepare and release the records. Please contact our office for a specific quote.
- Applicability: Fees apply to all patients regardless of insurance type. We never withhold records due to unpaid medical bills.
Posting Information
This policy is posted on our website and displayed prominently in our clinic to ensure transparency.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about our forms or medical records fee policies, or to submit a request, please call us at 951-302-2526 or visit us at: Temecula Medical Group 27555 Ynez Rd Ste 102 Temecula, CA 92591
Thank you for choosing Temecula Medical Group as your healthcare partner!