Type of Record
|
Retention
|
All hospital records
|
6 years after discharge
|
Hospital records of patient with multiple admissions
|
6 years after most recent discharge
|
Hospital records of minor patient at time of discharge
|
Until patient reaches 24 years of age
|
General medical office records
|
10 years after last visit or discharge
|
Medical office records of minors
|
10 years after last visit or discharge
|
X-rays
|
10 years after last visit or discharge and/or as long as the medical record
|
Superbills
|
If information documented on the superbill is not included in the medical record, then the superbills would need to be retained as long as the medical record
|
Office records for deceased patients
|
Minimum of 10 years
|
Immunization
|
Indefinitely
|
Medicare/Medicaid
|
10 years after last visit or discharge
|