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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Florida law firm claims company charged excessive fees for client's medical records

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) — A Florida law firm is alleging in a class action lawsuit that a health information management company charged excessive fees for copies of a client's medical records in violation of state law.

The Law Office of William J. Scott, PA, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, filed a complaint Sept. 9 in Duval County Circuit Court against ScansSTAT Technologies alleging violation of Florida's Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, negligence and other claims. The defendant recently removed the case to federal court.

The plaintiff alleges in the class action that ScansSTAT is charging and collecting fees for the production of medical records that exceed Florida's statutorily limits. According to the complaint, around January, the plaintiffs requested medical records for a client from UF Health Jacksonville Rehabilitation - Emerson's physical therapy facility relating to a car accident case. 

It claims ScanSTAT illegally charged $1 for all 383 pages instead of the $1 for the first 25 pages and $0.25 for each additional page limits set by Florida statute. The plaintiff further claims it was charged an additional $1 fee called a "release basic fee" that is not authorized by Florida law as well as being charged a $3.50 delivery fee not allowed by law. 

It alleges it was forced to pay $417.14 in fees since ScansSTAT policy will not send medical records until the invoice is paid in order to prevent delay in receiving their client's medical records. The plaintiffs further allege ScansSTAT violated the Patient Records Act by charging more than $0.25 for copies of their client's medical records. 

The plaintiff seeks monetary relief of more than $30,000, trial by jury and all other just relief. It is represented by Matthew Peterson, Janet Varnell and Brian Warwick of Varnell & Warwick PA in Tampa. 

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