1. If You Have Medi-Cal or RMA

• Your records are stored by the clinics, hospitals, or providers you’ve visited — not by Medi-Cal itself.
   

• To get them:
   

  1. Contact your primary care clinic or hospital medical records department.
      

  2. Ask for a “Request for Medical Records” or “Authorization for Release of Health Information” form.
      

  3. Provide your name, date of birth, address, and a photo ID.
      

  4. Indicate whether you want:
      

     • Printed copies
        

     • CD/DVD or USB drive
        

     • Secure email access
        

  5. Some providers have online patient portals (see below).
      

 

2. If Your Provider Uses a Patient Portal

Many large hospital and clinic systems in California have electronic patient portals that refugees can use, such as:

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• MyChart (used by Kaiser Permanente, Sutter Health, UC Health, etc.)
   

• FollowMyHealth
   

• HealtheLife
   

• NextGen Patient Portal
   

With these, you can:

• View test results, vaccination history, and visit summaries.
   

• Download and print records.
   

• Send messages to your doctor.
   

 

3. If You Got Care at a County or Public Health Clinic

• Contact the County Health Department where you received care.
   

• Many counties have Health Information Management (HIM) offices for medical record requests.
   

• Some counties also allow in-person requests with an interpreter if needed.
   

 

4. If You Need Vaccination Records Only

 

Check the California Immunization Registry (CAIR):
https://myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov/request
 

 

5. Legal Rights

Under HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), you have the right to:

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• Access your own records
   

• Get them within 15 days of request in California
   

• Have them in your preferred format (paper or electronic)
   

• Receive them in your own language or with interpreter help if needed