My Old Doctor’s Office Is Refusing The Government My Medical Records To My New Doctor’s Office

So I found out on Facebook of all places that my doctor’s office is closing for business on 2/13. It was a post on my town’s Facebook page saying “FYI if this is your doctor they are closing”. The closing date was 3/15. At this point I’ve received NO communication from my actual doctor’s office that they are closing.

On 2/14 I get an email from my old doctor office saying my appointment in June has been cancelled with no reason. On 2/15 I get an email from the office saying they are closing 3/15 and to request medical records through the new providers office.

On 2/20 after multiple days of the office being closed at random times or days that they normally were open I go into my doctor’s office and get the form to request my medical records. I do this because people on Facebook are saying they are having problems getting their medical records. The receptionist gives me two forms. One blank and one prefilled for a doctor’s office nearby that is accepting new patients. I decide I need a new doctor anyways and fill out the form with the new doctor’s office. I also contact the new doctor’s office and request I am a new patient. They sign me up and I get an appointment for 3/21.

In their new patient forms I also fill out their request for medical records from my old doctor’s office. I fill out these papers on 3/3.

Today on 3/10 I get a voicemail from my new doctor’s office saying they got a letter from my old office saying they no longer handle medical records as they are closing and won’t communicate with my new office at all. To get my records I’ll have to contact a 3rd party and pay a fee.

I’m sure this is illegal… with holding medical records. Given my old office is open for another 5 days… what do I tell them to make them give me my records?

No one should be going through this but I also have so much going on … my dad is on hospice … I’ve got chronic migraines. I just need them to give me my medical record.

PS I found out as I’m writing this that apparently there is a sign on the office doors saying permanently closed. I haven’t seen this for myself. If it is true… what can I do?