QuestionThe other car insurance adjuster wanted me to send her my medical bills and reports for a settlement. What is the medical report? Should I reject such a request because the doctor office has already noted on the bills - "bills are related with the accident." Who is responsible for the fee if there is a charge for writing the report? Can you answer the questions above? Thank you.
AnswerHi Ray,
Yes, it is reasonable and necessary for the insurance adjuster to have the notes or office reports from your medical record. The mere annotation on the bill is insufficient. Bills are paid for medical treatments that are reasonable and necessary as a result of the trauma suffered. Hence, the clinical notes of the doctor are necessary.
Any copying charges from the doctor's office will be the responsibility of the insurance company. As for a "report", you need to clarify what they are asking about. If it is just the doctor's notes or narrative typed report after each visit, no problem. If, on the other hand, they want a narrative report, then you should OK that request on condition that they pay for it and that you receive a copy. Here is some information on narrative reports, which we think are usually a good idea for the claimant.
NARRATIVE REPORT
Cryptic notes may be medically significant, but why make the insurance adjuster struggle to figure out the significance of the injuries? A narrative report or letter spells things out so the adjuster can see, read, and understand the doctor's diagnosis and prognosis and her record of the problems and pain and suffering you have endured.
Plus, narrative letters can tie together the trauma and its after-effects in a way that is authoritative.
We recommend that claimants almost always include some type of typewritten medical information to accompany to computer coded medical records and/or handwritten records. That is the first clue as to when to use the narrative report: if you are asking the adjuster to evaluate your claim on the basis of handwritten records and/or computer coded records that indicate diagnosis and treatment codes, then you need to supplement the record with a narrative report.
We have a lot of free legal tips on insurance claims settlements using doctor narrative reports http://www.settlementcentral.com/page8003.htm You can get information there as to how to ask for a narrative letter and what it might cost. Talk to the doctor's office manager about it TO BE SURE THAT THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER HAS AGREED TO PAY.
If it has been some time since you saw the doctor, and if you still have some symptoms, then it is best to make sure to see the doctor again before she writes a narrative report. Make darn sure your doctor does have updated full information in her records, or the adjuster may not give you credit for what you have been through. Personal Injury Medical Records http://www.settlementcentral.com/page0114.htm
I trust that my time here has produced some information that has been of value to you, and thus I would respectfully request that you take the time to locate the FEEDBACK FORM on this site and leave some feedback for me.
Best Wishes,
Dr. Settlement, J.D. (Juris Doctor)
http://www.SettlementCentral.Com
