Medical records FAQs | Novant Health (2024)

To request medical records for someone else who has given you permission, you will need to submit a HIPAA compliant patient authorization or complete the Authorization to Disclose Protected Health or Billing Information formto Novant Health Enterprise Release of Information by faxing it to 704-316-9556 or email your request toroienterprise@novanthealth.org.Since the request is not being made directly by the patient, but by a representative, thePatient Right of Accessrules do not apply.

You can state which format you prefer your medical records to arrive, but if no preference if noted, Novant Health Enterprise Release of Information will make every effort to provide the most affordable option to you. View fee schedules for the following:

Behavioral health medical records for patients treated in the hospital or by behavioral therapists as outpatients are considered sensitive in nature and require approval by the attending provider to release these records. The provider reserves the right to approve all, some, or none of the records. Providers may deny access to behavioral records if they feel it could endanger the patient.

If your request is denied, you will be notified in writing with an appeal form enclosed if applicable. By law, not all denials can be appealed, and if this happens you will be notified. If your request is partially denied, the records we are able to provide will be enclosed.

Reasons for reviewable denial of access to patient information:

• 1. Releasing the information can reasonably be expected to cause substantial and identifiable harm to the patient or others.
  2. Other provisions of law prevent the release.
  3. The person making the request is not qualified by law to have access.

Reasons for Unreviewable denial of access:

• 1. You're involved in the research that includes treatment and agreed to the denial of access when you decided to participate. Your right of access will be available when you complete the research.
  2. The behavioral records you requested include psychotherapy notes.
  3. The records you requested include information compiled for use in civil, criminal or administrative actions.
  4. Your records include information prohibited from release by the Clinical Laboratory Improvements Amendments (CLIA).
  5. Information in the records is subject to the Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C Section 522a, and the denial meets the requirements of the law.
  6. The facility is under the direction of a correctional institution.
  7. The facility does not maintain the medical records.

Associated fees are determined by both the nature of your request and the format you choose for your records to be delivered. For fee schedule information please see:

• Patient Fee Schedule
• Third Party Fee Schedule

Payments for medical records can be submitted to:

Novant Health Release of Information
Attn: Payments
PO Box 935996
ATLANTA, GA 31193-5996

Credit card payments can be accepted by calling Customer Service at 844-763-9163.

Yes, hospital medical records departments and physician clinics are able to provide information at the time of your walk-in visit:

• Up to two (2) abstract encounters which occurred at that particular facility can be printed and released to you at the time of your walk-in (fees may apply).
• Up to two (2) abstract encounters can be released directly to your chosen healthcare provider at the time of your walk-in (service provided at no charge).
• Requests which span beyond two visits or are not electronically available will be forwarded to the Enterprise Release of Information team to process.

Enterprise Release of Information recognizes valid Power of Attorney (POA) and Healthcare Power of Attorney (HPOA) documentation. However, the POA documentation must specifically allow for the POA to act on behalf of the patient in medical situations. The HPOA must submit a letter from the patient’s primary care provider confirming the patient lacks the capacity to act on their own behalf, in addition to the legal document.

Please note that a POA/HPOA is no longer valid after a patient is deceased.

Deceased patient records are still protected under HIPAA laws and require specific documentation to be submitted in addition to a signed authorization request. Please submit one of the following documents from the office of the Clerk of Court:

• Letters of testamentary
• Letters of administration
• Letters of administration
• Affidavit of next-of-kin or Affidavit of Next of Kin along with a copy of a document showing evidence the requester is next-of-kin such as a birth certificate, death certificate, or obituary
• Application and Assignment Year’s Allowance (must state “medical records” under “personal property assigned” section)
• Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property

Please complete the Request toExercise Privacy Rights - Amendment of Medical Record formand email form toMedicalRecordAmendment@novanthealth.orgor fax to 336-277-6858.

CDCoffers information that will direct you in obtaining vital records for any state in the country. Below are links for the states where Novant Health has locations.

• NC Health and Human Services, Vital Records department
• SC Department of Health and Environmental Control

Over the past few years, Novant Health has successfully implemented Dimensions workflows to comply with a rule that requires we give patients more immediate access to their healthcare data through MyChart. This helps patients make informed decisions about their care and reduces the risk of information blocking. The next phase of the rule, referred to as EHI export, states that health IT teams must store electronic health information (EHI). Health IT teams following this criterion must provide their customers with the capability to efficiently export single and multi-patient EHI* in a secure and timely manner. The next phase of the rule went into effect Dec. 31 allowing for patients to request an EHI Export in a machine readable format.

*EHI refers to “electronic protected health information” (ePHI) to the extent that it would be included in a designated record set as defined in 45 CFR 164.501. EHI does not include psychotherapy notes as defined in 45 CFR 164.501 or information compiled in reasonable anticipation of, or for use in, a civil, criminal, or administrative action or proceeding. The EHI definition represents the same ePHI that an individual would have the right to access under the HIPAA Privacy Rule.

If you need to request an EHI Export for your information in a machine readable format, please complete the Authorization form and enter EHI Export in the Other field.