Press Releases
08/06/2019
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG AND DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSIONER COLEMAN-MITCHELL ANNOUNCE AGREEMENT WITH HARTFORD HEALTHCARE TO TAKE AND ADMINISTER INHEALTH MEDICAL RECORDS
Attorney General William Tong and Connecticut Department of Public Health Commissioner Renée Coleman-Mitchell today announced an agreement between Hartford Healthcare and InHealth Med CT, PC to take over the possession of and administer the distribution of medical records requested by former InHealth patients.
The Office of the Attorney General and the Connecticut Department of Public Health received nearly 200 complaints from former patients of InHealth Connecticut who had trouble obtaining their medical records.
InHealth recently closed its doctors' offices in Mystic, Norwich and Willimantic.
"Our office has heard from many former InHealth patients who needed assistance obtaining their medical records. Our office has worked extensively with the Connecticut Department of Public Health to find a solution that best helps InHealth's former patients. We appreciate Hartford Healthcare's willingness to reach this agreement with InHealth, which will help ensure that former patients are able to obtain their medical records without further delay or obstacles," said Attorney General Tong.
"This close collaboration between the Department of Public Health and the Office of the Attorney General ensures that the rights of patients previously served by InHealth will be honored," said Department of Public Health Commissioner Coleman-Mitchell. "This outcome will enable the healthcare beneficiaries to keep their own records and transfer their care to other providers with adequate information to make sure there is continuity of care."
Under the agreement:
- Hartford Healthcare will take possession of and administer the distribution of medical records that are requested by former InHealth patients.
- Hartford Healthcare will offer patients the option of continuing healthcare with Hartford Healthcare, or picking up their original medical records.
- Medical records from the three practices will be transferred to a single Hartford Healthcare facility in Waterford, Connecticut, which will be staffed eight hours a day, five days a week, to accommodate any former InHealth patients who wish to obtain their records.
- Notice of the agreement will be published in daily local newspapers having circulation within the primary geographic areas of each of the three practice locations.
- Written notice of the agreement and patient options regarding continuing care and access to records will also be mailed to patients who had previously requested their medical records from InHealth and any patient who was seen in any of the three offices within three years of closing of the practices.
- More recent records that were kept exclusively in digital format will be provided upon request and without charge in either a PDF file or paper copies at the discretion of Hartford Healthcare.
- Original paper records will also be available for pickup without charge.
Former InHealth patients will be able to schedule the retrieval of their medical records at Hartford Healthcare's Waterford facility located at 196 Parkway South, Suite 201B, Waterford, CT by calling Hartford Healthcare's special hotline number 860-425-5970 on or after Aug. 12, 2019.
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Media Contact:
Elizabeth Benton
elizabeth.benton@ct.gov
860-808-5324 (office)
Consumer Inquiries:
860-808-5318
attorney.general@ct.gov