Sending medical forms to a doctor's office by fax

Many clinics still ask for forms by fax: records requests, referrals, prior authorizations, school and work forms. You don't need a fax machine. Here is how to send one from your iPhone so it arrives readable and reaches the right person.

Before you scan

• Get the right fax number. Ask the front desk which number to use. Large practices often have separate lines for records, referrals and billing. To look one up first, see fax number lookup for doctors.
• Ask who it should be addressed to. A name or department on the cover sheet gets it routed faster than "To the clinic".
• Fill in and sign the form first. Unsigned release forms are the most common reason a records request gets returned.

Scanning so it stays readable

Fax is black and white at a fixed resolution, so small, faint or crooked text gets worse on the other end.

1. Put the page on a dark, flat surface with good light. Avoid shadows from your phone.
2. Use the app's scanner rather than a regular photo. It finds the edges and straightens the page. More tips in how to scan documents for a fax.
3. Scan every page, including the back of a double-sided form.
4. Check the preview. If you can't read it easily on your phone, the clinic won't be able to either.

What to put on the cover sheet

• Who it's for (person or department) and the clinic's fax number
• Your name, phone number and date of birth or account number if the clinic uses one
• What the pages are, for example "Records release form, 2 pages"
• The total page count, including the cover

You can make a cover sheet here, or add one inside HonestFax, which fills in your details for you. See also what to put on a fax cover sheet.

Confirming it arrived

A fax is delivered when the receiving machine answers and accepts every page. HonestFax marks it Delivered and keeps a copy of exactly what was sent, so you can show the clinic the pages if they say they never got it. See how to confirm a fax was received.

If the line is busy, the app retries automatically. If it can't get through after all retries, your credits come back on their own. See why a fax fails.

If they need to fax something back

Some offices reply by fax, for example with a completed form or test results. Write a fax number where you can receive on your cover sheet, or ask them to use the patient portal instead. Many clinics prefer the portal when you ask. If you need a number for a few days, see how to receive a fax on iPhone. Every guide for clinics, records and insurance forms is collected in faxing medical forms.

Frequently asked questions

Is it safe to send medical forms by fax? Fax goes over the phone network directly to the clinic's machine or fax service. Send only to a number the clinic gave you, and double-check the digits before you send.

How much does it cost? With HonestFax, a fax of up to 3 pages is $2.99, and your first page is on us. The price is shown before you scan.

How long does it take? Usually one to three minutes for a few pages, longer if the clinic's line is busy.