Physician Notes: Magic Number for Medical Record Retention is 6 Years, CMS Says

Why This Topic Matters

Record retention policies affect compliance, risk management, and the ability to respond to audits, claims review, and documentation requests. Understanding the broad federal baseline and other retention categories helps practices align internal policies with CMS guidance and applicable state law.

Article Sections

1. Record retention guidance from CMS

   Overview of CMS guidance addressing how long certain documentation should be kept and how federal and state requirements relate. The section also references the CMS MLN Matters material discussed in the article.

2. Additional retention periods for specific Medicare documentation

   Discussion of other retention timeframes mentioned for particular Medicare-related records, including cost report materials and managed care program documentation.