Medical Records
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) ensures that all medical records are deemed private and that an individual may obtain copies of their own medical records upon completion of a written consent form also known as the Authorization to Release Information Form.
Authorization to Release Information Form
You may obtain and complete an ‘Authorization to Release’ form at any Advantage site, or you may download and print Advantage’s HIPAA-compliant ‘Authorization to Release form here: Authorization to Release Form
*Any HIPAA-compliant form is acceptable if fully completed with all required entries.
To have a copy of your medical records sent to Advantage Behavioral Health from another facility, please contact that provider directly.
Submission of Request
Medical records requests must include a fully completed, HIPAA-compliant Authorization to Release Information form. Medical record requests not meeting those requirements will be returned as unable to process. Upon receipt of a fully completed and authorized Medical Records request, the search and retrieval process will begin.
Submissions can be sent by email, fax or US mail to the contacts listed below. Please be aware, standard USPS mail delivery times are outside of the agency control and cannot be guaranteed.:
Medical Records
Advantage Behavioral Health Systems
250 Bray Street
Athens, GA 30601
f:706.389.6775
medicalrecords@advantagebhs.org.
Fees
PROCESSING & FEES
It is the practice of Advantage to process medical record within the Statues of Georgia Code Title 31 and the established rates by the Georgia Department of Community Health. HIPAA covered entities are not subject to fees. Please visit the DCH website for the most updated fees.
https://dch.georgia.gov/medical-records-retrieval-rates.
Search & Retrieval processing times will vary based on the information requested and the preferred delivery method of the records. In all cases, requests will be processed and made available to the authorized person within 30 days.
If you (an Advantage client) wish to obtain extensive records for legal and/or disability purposes, please have your legal representative and/or the Social Security Administration request your medical records. This will relieve you (the client) and your attorney of duplicate processing fees.
Accepted forms of payment are checks or credit cards. Cash payments are not accepted.
When applicable, invoices for production & delivery methods are required to be paid in advance, prior to release of the records.
Delivery of Records
Advantage strives to process records as quickly as possible. Preferred delivery methods can extend the amount of time required. Records can be delivered electronically, Fax or standard mail delivery in paper or USB. Electronic delivery requests are the fastest and most efficient way to receive records.
If you have concerns related to your Medical Records requests or status, please email medicalrecords@advantagebhs.org or you may call, 706.389.6789 ext. 1347.