List of Forms and Contact Details Required to Request Medical Records From Cedars-Sinai in 2026
Requesting medical records from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center means getting the right form, the right contact, and the right submission method on the first try. For personal injury attorneys with clients treated at this Los Angeles facility, one authorization mistake sends a request back for correction and pushes your case timeline out. Incomplete or defective authorizations are a common preventable cause of rejected requests. Codes Health offers AI-powered medical record retrieval that catches those errors before submission, so PI firms spend less time fixing requests and more time building cases. Here is every form, contact, and process you need.
Key Takeaways
Cedars-Sinai accepts record requests three ways: the My CS-Link patient portal, mail, and fax
Form 2034, the main authorization, comes in seven languages: English, Spanish, Farsi, Russian, Arabic, Korean, and Chinese
My CS-Link requests are generally ready within 5 to 7 days; mail and fax requests take 5 to 7 business days
California Health & Safety Code § 123110 generally gives providers 15 days to send copies for qualifying patient or personal representative requests
Portal and email delivery are free; paper copies for patient requests are capped at $0.25 per page under § 123110
Unsigned forms can't be processed, and substance use disorder records need a separate Part 2 consent form
Imaging requests go to the Imaging Center, not the Health Information Department
Codes Health validates authorizations before submission, follows up across channels, and verifies completeness before delivery
Understanding the Cedars-Sinai Medical Records Request Process
Health Information Department Overview
Cedars-Sinai's Health Information Department handles record requests from patients, legal representatives, insurers, and other providers. How you work with it has a direct effect on how quickly you get complete records.
The hospital offers three request methods:
Online via the My CS-Link portal (fastest and free for patients)
Mail to the Release of Information department
Fax to the Health Information Department
The right one depends on who's requesting and what authorization you have. For law firms, mail or fax with a completed authorization is usually the way to go, since the formal-copy workflow online is built mainly for patient access.
Processing Timelines and Legal Requirements
California Health & Safety Code § 123110 generally requires providers to transmit requested copies to a patient or the patient's personal representative within 15 days after receiving a qualifying request. That's 15 days, not 15 business days. Because the statute is built around patient and personal representative rights, attorneys should be clear about the legal basis for the request: the client's signed authorization, a personal representative relationship, or a subpoena.
Cedars-Sinai usually moves faster. It says My CS-Link requests are generally available within 5 to 7 days, while mail and fax requests are processed within 5 to 7 business days once a complete authorization is received.
The bigger delays show up across a whole case, when a client has treated at several facilities and every provider needs tracking. Codes Health manages outreach across calls, faxes, emails, and portals until records arrive, so requests that used to drag on for months come back complete in a couple of weeks.
Navigating the Medical Records Release Form for Cedars-Sinai
The Primary Authorization Form (Form 2034)
The Authorization for Health Information, commonly called Form 2034, is Cedars-Sinai's primary release form and is required for all mail and fax submissions.
Required information on Form 2034 includes:
Patient name, medical record number (if known), date of birth, and address
Release recipient information (person or organization, address, phone, fax)
Purpose of disclosure (continuing care, insurance, legal, personal use, or other)
Specific treatment dates requested
Types of records needed (history and physical, discharge summary, emergency, operative report, billing, laboratory, EKG/ECHO, pathology, radiology, consultation, X-ray films/images CD, outpatient/clinic)
Delivery method preference (mail, pickup, My CS-Link, email, or other)
Patient or legal representative signature with date
Authorization expiration (the form expires once the need for disclosure is met, and in any event 180 days from its date unless otherwise specified)
Always download the latest version from Cedars-Sinai's medical records page, since older copies still circulate online. Some list Room 2901 in the mailing address, while the current records page uses Room 2800.
Common Form Completion Errors
Incomplete authorizations are a leading preventable cause of denied requests. Missing signatures, unclear expiration dates, or unchecked boxes for sensitive records get a request rejected, and you'll have to correct and resubmit. Cedars-Sinai states that unsigned forms can't be processed at all, so check every signature before anything goes out.
Codes Health's AI review catches these errors before submission, flagging misspellings, missing dates of service, and signature issues that otherwise cause provider rejections.
Multilingual Form Availability
Cedars-Sinai provides Form 2034 in seven languages:
Translated forms help clients complete the authorization accurately, but the form still has to satisfy all applicable authorization requirements whatever language it's in.
HIPAA Release Form Requirements for Cedars-Sinai Medical Records
Elements of a Valid HIPAA Authorization
A valid HIPAA authorization has to identify the patient, describe the information to be disclosed, name the recipient, state the purpose where required, include an expiration date or event, and carry the patient's (or representative's) signature and date. Form 2034 covers all of that when it's filled out completely, but certain types of protected health information need extra authorization.
Special Authorization for Sensitive Records
State and federal laws require specific authorization to release the following types of information:
Mental health records require explicit checkbox selection on Form 2034
HIV test results require explicit checkbox selection on Form 2034
Substance use disorder records require a separate Patient Consent Form
42 CFR Part 2 imposes specialized confidentiality requirements on qualifying substance use disorder records. Following the 2024 Final Rule, compliance with the revised requirements became mandatory on February 16, 2026. Cedars-Sinai uses a separate Part 2 consent form, and consent for disclosures in legal proceedings has to be standalone rather than combined with other purposes. That detail matters for litigation requests.
For PI cases involving DUI accidents or substance-related injuries, knowing which forms apply saves a rejected request. Codes Health is a HIPAA-compliant platform for handling protected health information, including records with special authorization requirements.
Contacting Cedars-Sinai for Medical Records: Phone Numbers and Departments
Health Information Department Contact Details
The primary contact for medical records questions and status inquiries:
Health Information Department (Medical Records)
Phone: 310-423-2259
Email: grouphidinternetinquiries@cshs.org
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. PT (closed weekends and major holidays)
Mailing Address and Fax Number
For submitting authorization forms:
Mailing Address: Release of Information, Health Information Department, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd., Room 2800, Los Angeles, CA 90048
Fax Number: 310-423-0113
S. Mark Taper Foundation Imaging Center
For X-ray films, CT scans, MRIs, and other diagnostic images:
Phone: 310-423-8000 (select Option 2)
Purpose: Request copies of X-ray films, imaging CDs, and radiology images not included in standard medical records
Use this contact when you need the underlying diagnostic images as well as the radiology reports. The Imaging Center handles these separately from the Health Information Department.
One heads-up: Cedars-Sinai also lists 310-423-0137 as a fax for imaging orders. That's not the medical records fax, so send authorizations to 310-423-0113 instead.
Accessing Your Medical Records Online: Cedars-Sinai Patient Portal
My CS-Link Portal Registration and Access
Cedars-Sinai's My CS-Link portal is the fastest way for patients to get their own records. My CS-Link has a mobile app, but Cedars-Sinai says formal record requests have to be made by logging in online, not through the app.
Steps to request records via My CS-Link:
Log in to mycslink.org (online, not in the app)
Click "Menu" at the top of the page
Scroll to "Sharing" and select "Sharing Hub"
Select "Yourself"
Select "Request a formal copy"
Select the location for your request
Complete the form and click "Submit"
Portal Benefits and Limitations
Benefits:
Free electronic delivery, no per-page charges
Records generally available within 5 to 7 days
Email notification when records are ready
PDF download format
Limitations:
Requires a patient account and login
Built mainly for patient access, though proxy access may be available in qualifying circumstances
Formal requests must be made online, not in the mobile app
May not include all historical records
Law firms should follow Cedars-Sinai's designated release procedures rather than assuming direct portal access, which usually means submitting Form 2034 by mail or fax with the client's signed authorization. Codes Health works through provider portals and traditional channels alike, whatever a facility requires.
Requesting Records for Family Members: HIPAA Authorization for Designees
Personal Representative Requirements
Requesting records for a family member takes documentation of legal authority. Cedars-Sinai accepts requests from:
Personal representatives with power of attorney for healthcare decisions
Guardians with court-appointed authority
Parents for minor children (with some exceptions for adolescent care)
Legally authorized representatives of deceased patients, generally an executor, administrator, or another person authorized under applicable law to act for the decedent or estate
A family member or next of kin qualifies for a deceased patient's records only if applicable law gives that person the necessary authority, per HHS guidance. The personal representative signs the authorization and documents their authority.
Additional HIPAA Rights Forms
Patients and authorized representatives can also submit these forms:
Request for an Accounting of Disclosures:
Tracks who received medical information and when, generally over the past six years
One accounting per year is free, and a cost-based fee may apply for another within 12 months, per Cedars-Sinai's privacy notice
Request for Special Restriction on Use or Disclosure:
Limits how Cedars-Sinai uses or discloses specific information
The hospital can agree or deny in most situations
Request to Amend Protected Health Information:
Corrects errors or adds information to medical records
Under HIPAA, the hospital generally must respond within 60 days, with one possible 30-day extension if the rule's requirements are met
These forms matter when a client disputes information in the record or has concerns about how protected information was disclosed.
Ensuring Completeness of Cedars-Sinai Medical Records: What to Expect
Standard Record Categories
A complete request from Cedars-Sinai may include:
Inpatient records: Admission notes, progress notes, discharge summaries
Outpatient records: Clinic visits, specialty consultations
Emergency records: ED triage and treatment records
Operative reports: Surgical procedures, anesthesia records
Laboratory results: Blood work, pathology reports
Radiology reports: Imaging interpretations (images need a separate Imaging Center request)
Billing statements: Itemized charges for treatment
Record Retention Periods
Cedars-Sinai's records FAQ lists these retention periods:
Adult medical records: 15 years
Labor and delivery records: 25 years
Patients 18 or younger at the time of treatment: 25 years
For older cases, records may no longer exist. Check retention status with the Health Information Department before sending a formal request.
Identifying Missing Records
Compare what arrives against your original request. Common gaps include:
Date ranges not covered in the response
Missing billing records when only medical records were provided
Imaging reports without the actual images
Records from affiliated facilities left out of the main response
Codes Health checks delivered records against the original request before closing out a retrieval. When records look incomplete, the team works with the facility to resolve the gaps before returning the set to your firm. That verified completeness step goes beyond simply obtaining documents.
Cedars-Sinai Record Fees and No-Cost Exceptions
Fee Structure for Paper Records
Records sent through the patient portal or by email are free, while paper records carry a per-page fee. For patient or personal representative requests under California Health & Safety Code § 123110, providers can charge a reasonable, cost-based fee covering:
Labor for copying
Supplies for portable media, when requested
Postage, when records are mailed
An explanation or summary, if the requester agrees to one
Paper copies are capped at $0.25 per page and microfilm at $0.50 per page. Records produced under a subpoena follow separate procedures in California Evidence Code Sections 1560 to 1567, so costs work differently there.
No-Cost Exceptions for Public-Benefit Claims
Section 123110 also provides a limited no-charge right to relevant records for specified public-benefit claims or appeals, such as Medi-Cal, Social Security disability, and veterans' service-connected benefits, subject to statutory conditions. One limitation matters for law firms: according to the Medical Board of California, the free-copy provision doesn't apply in certain cases where a private attorney is paying the costs of the claim or appeal pending its outcome.
Why PI Firms Use Codes Health for Cedars-Sinai Retrieval
Cedars-Sinai splits requests between its Health Information Department and a separate Imaging Center, adds consent rules for sensitive records, and most PI clients have treated at other LA providers too. Codes Health brings all of that into one managed workflow and works toward complete records in a couple of weeks.
AI validation before submission that flags missing signatures, dates of service, misspellings, and provider-specific requirements
Multi-channel follow-up by call, fax, email, and portal until records arrive
Completeness verification against the original request, covering medical, billing, and imaging records
Flat fee pricing with no surprises as a case grows
Native Filevine integration, announced in July 2026, so teams submit requests, track status, message the retrieval team, and receive records and billing inside the Filevine project
Custom integrations with CRM platforms and other medical software for high-volume firms
Records come in through claims clearinghouses, custodian integrations, proprietary provider networks, patient portals, fax, email, and phone.
Speed claims deserve a closer look. Codes Health's position is that services advertising same-day retrieval often return only the records immediately available electronically, not the complete set. Filling the gaps then requires added client involvement, which Codes Health says frustrates clients and leads to churn. Its own approach is complete records in weeks, not months.
On general AI tools: General AI platforms like ChatGPT aren't designed for litigation-grade medical record review and can't analyze medical records at the level PI cases demand. Codes Health's AI platform is purpose-built for this work, analyzing records with high precision and flagging potential breaches of care, pre-existing conditions, and documented future expenses for attorney review, with human verification behind every insight.
Codes Health's MIT-educated engineering team continuously builds out additional workflows and products, so the platform keeps evolving, improving, and becoming more comprehensive to meet the changing demands of modern legal practices.
The Bottom Line
At UCLA a request clears three gates before anyone reads it: the right form for who's asking, a signature UCLA will accept, and the right department. Miss one and it comes back unprocessed rather than late. The signature is the quiet one, since a form that looks finished on screen isn't. Resnick, the film libraries, dental, and Arthur Ashe each own a slice, and Ashe splits again at July 8, 2025. Then check the delivery against the authorization. Codes Health does that checking for a flat fee, at UCLA and wherever else a client was treated.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the typical turnaround time for medical record requests from Cedars-Sinai?
Cedars-Sinai says My CS-Link requests are generally available within 5 to 7 days, while mail and fax requests are processed within 5 to 7 business days once a complete authorization is received. California Health & Safety Code § 123110 provides a 15-day deadline for qualifying patient or personal representative requests. Defective authorizations get rejected and need resubmission, which is why validating forms first matters.
Can I request medical records via email from Cedars-Sinai?
Email (grouphidinternetinquiries@cshs.org) works for questions and status inquiries. For submitting requests, Cedars-Sinai's published instructions direct you to My CS-Link, mail, or fax, and its records page doesn't list ordinary email as a submission method for authorization forms. That's a Cedars-Sinai procedure rather than a blanket HIPAA ban, since HHS guidance allows providers to use email with reasonable safeguards.
Is there a fee for requesting medical records from Cedars-Sinai?
Records delivered through the My CS-Link portal or by email are free of charge. For patient or personal representative requests under California Health & Safety Code § 123110, paper copies can't exceed $0.25 per page, and other charges are limited to cost-based categories like copying labor, portable media, and postage. A limited no-charge right applies to certain public-benefit claims, though not when a private attorney is paying the claim's costs.
How do I amend or correct information in my Cedars-Sinai medical records?
Submit a Request to Amend form to the Health Information Department in writing, with the reason for the amendment. Under HIPAA, Cedars-Sinai generally has 60 days to respond, with one possible 30-day extension if written notice is provided. If approved, the amendment becomes part of the official medical record.
What information is typically included in a complete medical record from Cedars-Sinai?
A complete record may include history and physical examinations, discharge summaries, emergency records, operative reports, billing records, laboratory and EKG/ECHO results, pathology and radiology reports, and consultation notes. Diagnostic images themselves (X-rays, CT scans, MRIs) require a separate request to the Imaging Center at 310-423-8000 (Option 2). What you get back depends on what you check on the authorization form.
Can Codes Health retrieve specific imaging records from Cedars-Sinai?
Yes. Codes Health gathers medical, billing, and imaging records through multiple channels and manages outreach to specialized departments like the Imaging Center, including the separate process for diagnostic images. That covers X-ray films, imaging CDs, and radiology records not automatically included with standard requests, and the team flags any imaging requested but not received.
