General Assembly Raised Bill No. 368
February Session, 2012 LCO No. 1872
*01872_______PH_*
Referred to Committee on Public Health
Introduced by:
(PH)
General Assembly
Raised Bill No. 368
February Session, 2012
LCO No. 1872
*01872_______PH_*
Referred to Committee on Public Health
Introduced by:
(PH)
AN ACT CONCERNING THE HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY EXCHANGE OF CONNECTICUT.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2012) (a) A patient, who is eighteen years of age or older, may elect to make his or her health information available through the electronic health information system, as defined in subsection (a) of section 19a-25d of the general statutes. In the case of a patient under eighteen years of age, the patient's parent or legal guardian may elect to make the patient's health information available through the electronic health information system. A patient or the parent or legal guardian of a patient under eighteen years of age shall complete and sign an authorization form in the manner prescribed by the Health Information Technology Exchange of Connecticut authorizing the disclosure of the patient's health information. Such authorization form shall include, but not be limited to, statements in clear and conspicuous language (1) describing the health information that may be disclosed, (2) describing the potential uses of the patient's health information, including identification of any person or entity to which the patient's health information may be disclosed, and (3) providing notice that the patient, or in the case of a patient under eighteen years of age, the patient's parent or legal guardian, may withdraw authorization for disclosure of the patient's health information at any time. A patient's health information in the electronic health information system shall not be disclosed or made available except as provided in a completed and signed authorization form and as provided in subsection (b) of this section. The authorization for disclosure of such health information shall remain in effect until the patient withdraws such authorization in the manner prescribed by the Health Information Technology Exchange of Connecticut or, in the case of a patient under the age of eighteen years of age whose parent or legal guardian has authorized disclosure of the patient's health information, until the patient is eighteen years of age. Health information for a patient who does not complete and sign such authorization or, in the case of a patient under eighteen years of age, whose parent or legal guardian does not complete and sign such authorization for disclosure of the patient's health information, shall not be disclosed or made available through the electronic health information system, except as provided in subsection (b) of this section.
(b) A patient's health information in the health information system, as defined in subsection (a) of section 19a-25d of the general statutes, may be disclosed or made available without a patient's authorization: (1) To a health care provider when the health care provider reasonably believes that the information is necessary for the diagnosis or treatment of the patient's health condition in an emergency; (2) to the Department of Public Health or other public health authority, as defined in section 19a-131 of the general statutes, to carry out its responsibilities in accordance with chapter 368a of the general statutes; or (3) pursuant to a court order.
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1 October 1, 2012 New section
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1
October 1, 2012
New section
Statement of Purpose:
To specify the circumstances under which a patient's health information may be disclosed through the state's electronic health information system.
[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]