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

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Note:  The following article synopsis was NOT provided by AAPC. It was created by Find-A-Code/innoviHealth.

Article Overview

This CMS-related article summarizes record retention guidance for medical practices, including the federal minimum retention period, the way state laws may extend that period, and separate retention considerations for cost reports and Medicare managed care records. It is aimed at physicians, billing staff, compliance teams, and other healthcare professionals who need a high-level understanding of documentation retention requirements.

Why This Topic Matters

Retention requirements affect compliance, audit readiness, and document management policies. Understanding the general framework helps practices avoid premature destruction of records and align internal retention schedules with applicable federal and state rules.

What You Will Learn

  • How CMS frames medical record retention expectations for covered entities
  • How federal retention guidance relates to state law requirements
  • That different documentation types may have different retention timeframes
  • Why retention policies matter for compliance and record management

Who Should Read This

  • Physicians
  • Medical practice administrators
  • Billing staff
  • Compliance officers
  • Health information management professionals

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