Results 1 to 18 of 18

Thread: keeping Records

  1. #1
    Bad address email on file jherman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Leon Springs
    Occupation
    Other Eyecare-Related Field
    Posts
    496

    keeping Records

    Is it a Federal law that requires us to keep patients records, (Optical) for
    seven years?

  2. #2
    Master OptiBoarder
    Join Date
    Jun 2000
    Location
    California
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    2,816
    Quote Originally Posted by James Herman View Post
    Is it a Federal law that requires us to keep patients records, (Optical) for
    seven years?
    I believe it is 4 years.

  3. #3
    Bad address email on file jherman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Leon Springs
    Occupation
    Other Eyecare-Related Field
    Posts
    496

    Thumbs up thank you

    nm

  4. #4
    Master OptiBoarder
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Michigan
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    2,827
    I have always heard seven and it may have more to do with the IRS.

  5. #5
    Snook Fishin' Optician Specs's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2000
    Location
    PUNTA GORDA, FLORIDA-GROUND ZERO-CHARLEY
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    399
    Florida law states that the establishment that fiils the Rx should keep the record for 2 years.

  6. #6
    Master OptiBoarder
    Join Date
    Jun 2000
    Location
    California
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    2,816
    Quote Originally Posted by cocoisland58 View Post
    I have always heard seven and it may have more to do with the IRS.
    Patient records have nothing to do with financial records.

  7. #7
    Master OptiBoarder
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    new york
    Occupation
    Optometrist
    Posts
    3,749
    In New York, medical records, including optometrist records, must be kept for seven years, or in the case of a child, until that child reaches the age of 21, or 7 years, whichever is longer.

    I believe financial records, according to IRS regulations, have to be kept 7 years.

  8. #8
    Master OptiBoarder
    Join Date
    Jun 2000
    Location
    California
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    2,816
    In the state of California it is actually 3 years.
    Title 16 article 3 1399.231
    I keep mine for 10, if they haven't been in by then, they are destroyed. My filing cabinets can only hold so much.

  9. #9
    Master OptiBoarder
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Kansas
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    2,203
    According to the CPT, after 3 years with no visit, an established patient becomes a 'new' patient. Coorespondingly, most insurance plans pay more for a new patient exam. Why? A more detailed history must be taken and a new record created because the old one is gone.

    So the answer is 3 years.

    Your state may have a different time frame.

  10. #10
    OptiBoard Apprentice Warspite's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Colorado
    Occupation
    Optical Laboratory Technician
    Posts
    30
    In Colorado it is 7 years.

  11. #11
    Bad address email on file jherman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Leon Springs
    Occupation
    Other Eyecare-Related Field
    Posts
    496

    how did you find that?

    My google search produced nothing for Texas.

    How did you find that article?
    thanks James




    Quote Originally Posted by CME4SPECS View Post
    In the state of California it is actually 3 years.
    Title 16 article 3 1399.231
    I keep mine for 10, if they haven't been in by then, they are destroyed. My filing cabinets can only hold so much.

  12. #12
    Master OptiBoarder
    Join Date
    Jun 2000
    Location
    California
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    2,816
    Quote Originally Posted by James Herman View Post
    My google search produced nothing for Texas.

    How did you find that article?
    thanks James
    I got my info from a hard copy from the Dept. of Consumer Affairs.

  13. #13
    OptiBoard Professional
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    New Jersey
    Occupation
    Optometrist
    Posts
    110

    New Jersey

    In NJ we have to keep the medical records for 7 years. We're not sure though how long we need to keep contact lens invoices. We do keep the product order number and invoice in the record, but do we need to keep the itemized recepit from each shipment? I keep 3 months worth in the office at all times, and everything else goes to my basement waiting for the shredding company to come. It's a lot of of paper, there's no way I could keep copies for every order for 7 years!!!

  14. #14
    Master OptiBoarder
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    NA
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    1,255
    In NC it's only 7 years when they used Medicare for that pair after Cat. Surg.

  15. #15
    Master OptiBoarder LENNY's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2000
    Location
    BROOKLYNSK, NY USA
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    4,351
    I dont think keeping is a problem! Try to find the one that you are looking for after 6 years and 11 month!

    BTW Did anyone had to go and find such old records?

  16. #16
    Master OptiBoarder JennyP's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2000
    Location
    TN
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    492
    In the optical, we keep:
    *medicare paper copy for 7 years
    *assignment/managed care billing paper copy for 3 years
    *regular paper receipts for 3 months
    *electronic files until the computer shuts down or the software people try an upgrade on us....and then we may have them or not...
    "The Good Lord gave us mountains so we could learn how to climb". ~ Lonestar

  17. #17
    Ophthalmic Optician
    Join Date
    Sep 2001
    Location
    USSA
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    12,591

    Shred 'em all...

    We keep absolutely no paper in the office. We scan everything, and shred all the paper. (It works great in the nesting boxes for my son's chickens, as well as bedding for his sheep. We haven't purchased sawdust in over 2 years!)

    Of course, we back-up on-line, as well as onto seperate hard drives.

  18. #18
    Master OptiBoarder
    Join Date
    May 2000
    Location
    PA
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    975
    If you are finishing or manufacturing eyewear and I remember correctly, product liability is seven years.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Keeping screws in the eyewire.
    By haliopt in forum General Optics and Eyecare Discussion Forum
    Replies: 21
    Last Post: 03-23-2005, 09:02 PM
  2. Web Based Exam Records
    By jtart2 in forum General Optics and Eyecare Discussion Forum
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 02-23-2005, 12:12 PM
  3. Chip Anderson Keeping His Company in Business
    By Joann Raytar in forum General Optics and Eyecare Discussion Forum
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 12-26-2004, 01:02 PM
  4. Request for Release of Records
    By UFRich in forum General Optics and Eyecare Discussion Forum
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 02-20-2004, 09:17 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •