Asking for my X-ray from dentist?!
Question: Asking for my X-ray from dentist!?
I want to change dentist (haven't chosen a new one yet)!. I want to ask the current dentist to give me my X-ray results/photos!. I read some past yahoo answers which said some dentists only gave poorly-made copies of the photos which are of no use to new dentist!. Please tell me, if I have found the claim dentist office sent to the insurance company contains (small) fraud, can I hint the dentist office that if they don't give me the original, useful X-ray result, then I'm going to tell the insurance company about the fraud!? (The fraud involves very little amount of money but is still a fraud, something I wasn't seriviced)Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
I asked for my x ray record just to keep (not to change dentist), and got it easily!. and it's computer printed!. i guess it depends on individual dentists!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
The reason dentists keep the x-rays is because they need to keep a complete set for your file, whether you change dentists or not!.
You are right, the copies are really not that good, but that is the best they can do, unless they are stored digitally on a computer!. This is something that some dentists now do!. It is the height of technology right now, and eventually all dentists are going to have to go digital if they want to remain marketable!. If your current dentist is all digital (including the computer, I mean, not just digital x-ray machine), you should be able to get excellent copies, because the x-rays are printed on printer paper, and the dentist can make as many copies as you need!. But if it is on typical film, the best you will get IS those lousy copies!.
What you propose to try with the fraud claim might help, I doubt it!. It is hard to file a fraud claim, as there is no way to prove that he did not do the work!. But you can try!. I hope this helps!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
You are right, the copies are really not that good, but that is the best they can do, unless they are stored digitally on a computer!. This is something that some dentists now do!. It is the height of technology right now, and eventually all dentists are going to have to go digital if they want to remain marketable!. If your current dentist is all digital (including the computer, I mean, not just digital x-ray machine), you should be able to get excellent copies, because the x-rays are printed on printer paper, and the dentist can make as many copies as you need!. But if it is on typical film, the best you will get IS those lousy copies!.
What you propose to try with the fraud claim might help, I doubt it!. It is hard to file a fraud claim, as there is no way to prove that he did not do the work!. But you can try!. I hope this helps!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Legally here in Texas, once you or your insurance company pays for the xrays, they are yours!. They belong to you!. If that dentist want to make a copy for himself that's fine!. But the originals belong to you and you have the every right to request them!. I would write a very detailed letter requesting for the originals!. If they still refuse, write a second this time carbon copying the insurance company and BBB, and indicate that you will advise Your State's Dental Board if not received!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
I don't know the laws in every state, however I am sure that they are pretty similar to my state, Texas!. In Texas, it is required that a dentist keep the original xray and chart in his office for 5 years!. The records belong to the dentist, not the patient!. Here is a quote from the Texas state board website where it says that: "Dental records are the sole property of the dentist who performs the dental service!. Such records shall be available for inspection by the patient after and upon appointment with a dentist!. This shall not prohibit the transfer of a copy of records to the patient, or to an agreed designated consultant for ascertainment of facts, nor transfer of original records to another Texas dental licensee who will provide treatment to the patient"
If a patient requests their x-rays, the dentist legally has 30 days to comply and the state determines a specific amount that a dentist can charge!. Here is what the Texas dental board says about that: "A dentist shall furnish copies of dental records to a patient who requests his or her dental records!. Requested copies including radiographs shall be furnished within 30 days of the date of the request, provided however, that copies need not be released until payment of copying costs has been made!. Records may not be withheld based on a past due account for dental care or treatment previously rendered to the patient!."
This is what our state says a dentist can charge for the duplicates: "A dentist providing copies of patient dental records is entitled to a reasonable fee for copying which shall be no more than $25 for the first 20 pages and $0!.15 per page for every copy thereafter!.
(2) Fees for radiographs, which if copied by an radiograph duplicating service, may be equal to actual cost verified by invoice!.
(3) Reasonable costs for radiographs duplicated by means other than by a radiograph duplicating service shall not exceed the following charges:
(A) a full mouth radiograph series: $15!.00;
(B) a panoramic radiograph: $15!.00;
(C) a lateral cephalometric radiograph: $15!.00;
(D) a single extra-oral radiograph: $5!.00;
(E) a single intra-oral radiograph: $5!.00!. "
So as you can see, at least in my state, a dentist can't give the patient the original!. And they have every right to charge for the cost of duplicating the xrays!. In my office, we only charge $10!.00 for duplicating xrays, so we are actually charging alot less than the state allows us to!. We also only require 48 hours notice, even though the state says we have up to 30 days!.
As far as you trying to blackmail him, unfortunatly I don't think you will get far with that!. All his office staff has to do, is to call your insurance company and explain that a mistake was made on your claim and that a procedure was mistakenly put on the claim that wasn't done!. They can resend a new claim, and if they have already recieved payment for this procedure, all they have to do is refund the money to the insurance company!. If you think that you are going to scare them with your threats of insurance fraud, your not!. At one point or another, every dental office has made a mistake like this, and as long as they resolve the issue, they are not going to get into trouble!. And they will still probably give you just a copy and may also charge you for the copy!.
Sorry, but this is just how it works!.
Anthoney G: Honey, you may be in Texas but you are totally wrong!. The records, including the xrays, are NOT the patients once they have been paid for!. I just gave proof from the Texas State Dental Board website that disputes the advice you just gave this person!. This is a link to the exact section of the Texas Dental Boards rules and regulations: http://www!.tsbde!.state!.tx!.us/index!.php!?o!.!.!.
Chapter 108 - Professional Conduct
Subchapter A - Professional Responsibility
108!.8 Records of the Dentist
It will verify everything I just said about the laws in Texas concerning patients records!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
If a patient requests their x-rays, the dentist legally has 30 days to comply and the state determines a specific amount that a dentist can charge!. Here is what the Texas dental board says about that: "A dentist shall furnish copies of dental records to a patient who requests his or her dental records!. Requested copies including radiographs shall be furnished within 30 days of the date of the request, provided however, that copies need not be released until payment of copying costs has been made!. Records may not be withheld based on a past due account for dental care or treatment previously rendered to the patient!."
This is what our state says a dentist can charge for the duplicates: "A dentist providing copies of patient dental records is entitled to a reasonable fee for copying which shall be no more than $25 for the first 20 pages and $0!.15 per page for every copy thereafter!.
(2) Fees for radiographs, which if copied by an radiograph duplicating service, may be equal to actual cost verified by invoice!.
(3) Reasonable costs for radiographs duplicated by means other than by a radiograph duplicating service shall not exceed the following charges:
(A) a full mouth radiograph series: $15!.00;
(B) a panoramic radiograph: $15!.00;
(C) a lateral cephalometric radiograph: $15!.00;
(D) a single extra-oral radiograph: $5!.00;
(E) a single intra-oral radiograph: $5!.00!. "
So as you can see, at least in my state, a dentist can't give the patient the original!. And they have every right to charge for the cost of duplicating the xrays!. In my office, we only charge $10!.00 for duplicating xrays, so we are actually charging alot less than the state allows us to!. We also only require 48 hours notice, even though the state says we have up to 30 days!.
As far as you trying to blackmail him, unfortunatly I don't think you will get far with that!. All his office staff has to do, is to call your insurance company and explain that a mistake was made on your claim and that a procedure was mistakenly put on the claim that wasn't done!. They can resend a new claim, and if they have already recieved payment for this procedure, all they have to do is refund the money to the insurance company!. If you think that you are going to scare them with your threats of insurance fraud, your not!. At one point or another, every dental office has made a mistake like this, and as long as they resolve the issue, they are not going to get into trouble!. And they will still probably give you just a copy and may also charge you for the copy!.
Sorry, but this is just how it works!.
Anthoney G: Honey, you may be in Texas but you are totally wrong!. The records, including the xrays, are NOT the patients once they have been paid for!. I just gave proof from the Texas State Dental Board website that disputes the advice you just gave this person!. This is a link to the exact section of the Texas Dental Boards rules and regulations: http://www!.tsbde!.state!.tx!.us/index!.php!?o!.!.!.
Chapter 108 - Professional Conduct
Subchapter A - Professional Responsibility
108!.8 Records of the Dentist
It will verify everything I just said about the laws in Texas concerning patients records!.Www@Answer-Health@Com