X-Ray policies that are not so transparent

A point of contention has cropped up at the Clinic radiologie d’Aylmer. Some patients are questioning its policy of charging for follow-up copies of x-rays, which they feel should be free.

One patient, Louise Belisle, had x-rays prescribed and had them done at the clinic. Belisle wanted a copy of the x-rays sent to her family doctor. The clinic said they would provide additional copies, but only if she purchased them on a $10 CD and sent them to her physician herself.  “They said they only send results to the doctor who prescribed the x-rays and not (also) my family doctor,” Belisle said. “Why do they need to charge me again?”

Belisle said the Clinic radiologie d’Aylmer’s head office in Gatineau told her that other patients have made similar complaints.

The Régie de l’Assurance Maladie de Québec (RAMQ) says that under certain circumstances, a patient can be charged for extra copies of their x-rays. “If copies of radiographies are part of a medical assessment, they should be free,” said Caroline Dupont, a Communications Officer with RAMQ. “But, if copies are ordered that are not in direct relation to a medical assessment, then there could be a charge.”

The Clinic radiologie de Gatineau insists that it is in full compliance with RAMQ regulations. “We have rules to follow and RAMQ has reviewed the services we offer and found we follow the guidelines; they gave us full certification,” said a clinic representative who declined to be named.