The list of fees to request copies of medical records was published last week in compliance with the medical error law, as stated in the Chief Executive (CE) order number 27/2017.
The order, which comes from the Office of Secretary Alexis Tam, sets out the fees to be paid to the Health Bureau (SSM). It also establishes a mechanism for people facing financial difficulties to be exempted from payment for the “welfare services” of the Conde de Sao Januario Hospital Center. Those with special authorization from the Medical Error Expert Committee may also be exempted.
The SSM said such a method ensures that the process is fair and that users retain a “right to the information”. The maximum fee stated by the CE’s order will still be applied to prevent abuses of the system, as “clinical records are considered sensitive data,” that must be handled by professional staff and “it becomes necessary to charge a certain amount to cover the costs associated [with] such work.” RM
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