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CMS issues final rule expanding data sharing and price transparency in Medicare Part D

On May 19, 2014, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule revising the Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Benefit (Part D) Programs regulations for contract year 2015. The rule contains several provisions that aim to improve program efficiencies, clarify program requirements, and improve payment accuracy.

CMS Issues Final Rule Implementing Provisions to Curb Fraud and Abuse and Improve Quality of Care for Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D

On May 19, 2014, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule that implements provisions to curb fraud and abuse and improve the quality of care within the Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D prescription drug programs.


Click on a state to see more information on Medical Records Collection, Retention, and Access in that state


Retention Periods
  • 1-5 years
  • 6-10 years
  • > 10 years
  • No time period specified



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StateRetention PeriodsDetails
AlabamaNo time period specified

Medical records must be maintained by the treating physician for as long as may be necessary to treat the patient and for additional time as may be required for medical legal purposes.”  Ala. Admin. Code r. 545-X-4-.08

 

AlaskaNo time period specified
Arizona6-10 years

Physicians must maintain patient medical records for 6 years:  Arizona Revised Statutes § 12-2297

Arkansas1-5 years

Physicians, dentists, and other health care providers authorized to administer narcotic drugs must keep a record of each drug administered for 2 years from the date of administration: Arkansas Code § 20-64-209

Medicaid participating health care providers must maintain medical records for at least 5 years:  Arkansas Code § 20-77-907

CaliforniaNo time period specified
ColoradoNo time period specified
Connecticut6-10 years

Each licensed physician must retain medical records for 7 years from the last date of treatment, or for 3 years upon the death of the patient:  Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies § 19a-14-42

Delaware6-10 years

If a patient changes care from 1 physician to another and fails to notify the former physician, or leaves the care of the former physician for a period of 7 years from the last entry date on the patient's record and fails to notifyor request the trasnfer of records from the former physician, then the former physician is required to maintain the patient's records for a period of 7 years from the last entry date in the patient's medical record, after which time the records may be permanently disposed of in a manner that insures confidentiality of the records:  24 Del.C. § 1761

District of Columbia1-5 years

Physicians must retain patient medical records for 3 years:  District of Columbia Municipal Regulations tit. 17 § 4612

Florida1-5 years

A physician must maintain written medical records for a period of 5 years from the last patient contact:  Florida Administrative Code §§ 64B8-10.002

Georgia6-10 years

A health care provider, which includes a licensed physician, must retain information contained in a patient's medical record for no less than 10 years from the date such item was created:  Code of Georgia § 31-33-2. 

Hawaii6-10 years

Health care providers must retain medical records for at least 7 years unless it is for a minor in which case the records must be maintained for the time the individual is a minor plus 7 years after the minor turns the age of majority: HRS § 622-58

IdahoNo time period specified
IllinoisNo time period specified
Indiana6-10 years

Physicians must retain patient medical records for 7 years:  Indiana Code § 16-39-7-1

Iowa6-10 years

Physicians must maintain medical records for at least 7 years:  Iowa Admin. Code 653-13.7

Kansas6-10 years

Physicians must retain patient medical records for 10 years:  Kansas Administrative Regulations § 100-24-2

Kentucky6-10 years

Every provider who is required to file a health care provider tax, including physicians, must keep medical records for at least 6 years from the making of records unless the department in writing authorizes their destruction at an earlier date:  Kentucky Revised Statutes § 142.341

Louisiana6-10 years

Physicians must retain patient medical records for  years:  Louisiana Statutes § 40:1299.96

MaineNo time period specified
Maryland1-5 years

Health care providers must retain medical records for 5 years after the record is made:  MD. CODE ANN., HEALTH-GEN. § 4-403

Massachusetts6-10 years

The physician must keep the record for at least 7 years from the date of the last encounter with the patient or until the patient reaches the age of 9 (if more than 7 years):  243 MA ADC 2.07

Michigan6-10 years

A physician must keep and maintain records for each patient for at least 7 years after the patient’s last visit:  M.C.L.A. §333.16213

MinnesotaNo time period specified
Mississippi6-10 years

Physicians must retain the patient record for 7 years from the date the record was completed or from the time that the controlled substances or drugs were prescribed or administered:  30-17-2640 Miss. Code R. § 1.4

Missouri6-10 years

Physicians must maintain records for 7 years from the date of the last service:  V.A.M.S. 334.097

Montana1-5 years

Physicians must retain medical records for 3 years: MONT. CODE ANN. § 50-16-525

NebraskaNo time period specified
Nevada1-5 years

Physicians must retain medical records for 5 years:  Nev. Rev. Stat. § 629.051

New Hampshire6-10 years

The licensee shall retain a complete copy of all patient medical records for at least 7 years from the date of the patient’s last  contact with the licensee, unless, before that date, the patient has requested that the file be transferred to another health provider: N.H. Code R. Med 501.02

New Jersey6-10 years

Physicians must maintain medical records for 7 years: N.J.A.C. 13-35-6.5

New Mexico6-10 years

Physicians must retain patient medical records for at least 10 years after the date of last treatment, or as set forth by medical assistance programs:  N.M. Admin. Code 16.10.17.10

New York6-10 years

Physicians must maintain patient records for at least 6 years: N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 8 § 29.2

North CarolinaNo time period specified
North DakotaNo time period specified
Ohio1-5 years

The provider of a health care service, which includes a physician, must maintain a medical record for each patient for 5 years from the date of discharge:  Ohio Admin. Code 3701-84-11

OklahomaNo time period specified
OregonNo time period specified
Pennsylvania6-10 years

Physicians must retain patients’ medical records for at least 7 years after the date of the last medical service; medical records of minor patients must be retained for 1 year after majority:  49 PA. CODE § 16.95

Rhode Island1-5 years

Physicians (or their authorized agents) must store medical records for at least 5 years unless otherwise required by law or regulation:  31-5-41 R.I. Code R. § 11

South Carolina6-10 years

Physicians must retain medical records for 10 years:  S.C. CODE ANN. § 44-115-120

South Dakota6-10 years

A health care provider participating in the Medicaid program must retain patient records 6 years after the last claim is paid or denied:  S.D. ADMIN. R. 67:16:34:05

Tennessee6-10 years

Physicians must retain medical records for at least 10 years from the last contact with the patient:  Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0880-02-.15 

Texas6-10 years

 

Physicians must retain medical records for 7 years: 22 Tex. Admin. Code § 165.1

UtahNo time period specified
VermontNo time period specified
Virginia1-5 years

Health care providers must retain patient medical records for 5 years: 18 Va. Admin. Code § 85-20-26

Washington1-5 years

 

Health care providers must maintain existing patient health care records for at least one year following an authorization to disclose that health care information, and during a pending request for examination and copying or request for correction or amendment:  Wash. Rev. Code § 70.02.160

West VirginiaNo time period specified
Wisconsin1-5 years

Physicians must retain medical records for 5 years:  Wisconsin Administrative Code MED §21.03 

Wyoming6-10 years

 

Medicaid participating providers and facilities must retain medical records for 6 years after the end of the state fiscal year in which payment for services was rendered:  3 WYO. CODE R. HLTH MDCD § 7

HHS Data Show Quality Improvements and Cost Savings Through Reductions in Hospital-Induced Harm

The Department of Health and Human Services announced that new data show a 9% decrease nationally in hospital-acquired infections in 2011 and 2012. Reductions in adverse drug events and other types of hospital-induced harm have prevented almost 15,000 deaths in hospitals, avoided 560,000 patient injuries, and have saved approximately $4 billion in health spending.

ONC and AMA Release Brief on Health Information Exchange Among Non-federal Acute Care Hospitals

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology and the American Hospital Association has put out a data brief outlining health information exchange among non-federal acute care hospitals in the U.S. from 2008-2013.

New Products on Health Information Exchanges (HIEs)

Fast Facts: What are the benefits of a Health Information Exchange (HIE)?



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Myth Buster: There is a broad, federal regulatory structure that governs the creation and activities of a Health Information Exchange (HIE).



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New Products on the Qualified Entity Program

Myth Buster: Qualified Entities can use Medicare claims data for commercial purposes.



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