Patients at Crozer Health will no longer have to pay to access their medical records due to a new agreement.

Former patients of Crozer Health are poised to receive free access to their medical records, following an agreement that is currently part of Prospect Medical Holdings’ bankruptcy proceedings. This anticipated change comes after a series of controversies regarding fees imposed on patients attempting to obtain their personal health information.

The agreement, although not yet finalized, aims to eliminate the charges that former patients have faced since early July. Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday’s office has indicated that those who have previously sought to access their records should refrain from submitting new requests until the agreement takes effect, in order to avoid incurring fees. The timeframe for the implementation of this change has not been disclosed.

In the wake of the earlier closures of Crozer Health facilities, medical records could be requested at no cost for a brief period. However, as of July 9, fees were instituted— for digital records and for records stored on a USB drive, with no options for paper copies. The Delaware County Council described these charges as a significant barrier for residents, particularly affecting senior citizens on fixed incomes. Public health officials echoed these concerns, stating that financial burdens imposed by the fee structure prevented many individuals from securing crucial medical records necessary for continuity of care.

The Attorney General’s office communicated these issues to the bankruptcy court, leading to the discussions around this new agreement. While Delaware County officials were not parties to the agreement, their advocacy played a role in addressing the financial difficulties faced by patients.

Approximately 43,000 former patients stand to benefit from this development, which could alleviate substantial financial burdens on families who may have faced costs running into the hundreds of dollars. Delaware County Council chair Monica Taylor criticized the fees as exorbitant and detrimental, particularly in light of the healthcare disruptions caused by the closure of Crozer facilities.

In addition to the developments surrounding patient records, Prospect Medical Holdings has also sought to divest itself of certain properties, including Taylor Hospital and Delaware County Memorial Hospital, citing them as burdensome. While potential buyers have emerged for these facilities, the transactions remain unfinalized.

As these matters progress, further announcements regarding the patient record access agreement are anticipated from the Attorney General’s office. The situation reflects ongoing challenges in the aftermath of the healthcare facility closures, raising significant concerns about healthcare access in the region.

The implications of these developments are profound for many individuals facing healthcare decisions, as they navigate a system that continuously evolves amidst economic and operational instabilities in the healthcare landscape.

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