How long is an optometrist required to keep patient records?
New Jersey licensed optometrists must maintain treatment records for a period of not less than seven years from the date of the most recent entry. Top • Am I entitled to a copy of my patient record? Yes. The patient record, or a copy thereof, shall be released upon written request, to the patient, the patients authorized representative, or to another optometrist or physician acting on behalf of the patient. Top • Can an optometrist charge a fee for the reproduction of patient records? Yes. An optometrist may charge a fee for the reproduction of records, which shall be no greater than $.50 per page or $100.00 for the entire record, whichever is less. If the record requested is 10 pages, the optometrist may charge up to $10.00 to cover postage and the miscellaneous costs associated with retrieval of the record. Top • Can an optometrist release my contact lens prescription if I had an eye examination for contact lenses but havent completed the fitting process? No. A contact lens prescript
