Use them to make sure your EOB doesn't contain any errors. You makes some great points, but I beg to differ on medical record archiving. Repeat this process each year for outstanding bills and EOBs. I am not sure why the patient would request to see the 1500 as it is essentially be all the same information as on their account statement unless your patient statements do not disclose the service and diagnosis codes. How long does a dental office have to keep patient records? Need an Explanation of Your Explanation of Benefits? - Connect - BCBSTX EOBs - I keep them all for 7 years because they are the proof of our business transactions if we get audited by the IRS. State laws generally govern how long medical records are to be retained. I assume this can be in either paper or electronic form, though I havent seen anything that clarifies this. Is it ok to file documents in different files? Retention of Patient Records - California Dental Regulation Keep in mind that Medicare/Medicaid requires 5 years of retention for billing purposes. Your email address will not be published. I read a good discussion on this topic that referenced the CMS regarding retention of financial records that requires all financial records and supporting documentation be retained for at least 3 years. According to a CMS podcast, "HIPAA rules require a Medicare Fee-For-Service provider to retain required documentation for six years from the date of its creation or the date when it last was in effect, whichever is later. document.write('