Montana House Bill HB694

Montana 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/20/23
• Refer: 2/21/23

Caption

Mandate disclosure of certain information in public health emergency

Impact

This bill significantly impacts transparency practices related to public health. By mandating regular updates on crucial health data, it seeks to enhance public awareness and trust during health crises. The specific information to be disclosed includes demographic breakdowns of hospitalized individuals and those who passed away, with attention to age, gender, and any underlying health conditions that may have contributed to hospitalization or death. It represents a proactive approach to health data management in emergencies.

Summary

House Bill 694 requires the Department of Public Health and Human Services to disclose specific health information during a declared public health emergency. This mandate includes the daily public reporting of data regarding individuals hospitalized and those who have died due to health impacts associated with the emergency declared by the governor. This requirement aims to ensure that citizens are informed about the health implications and statistics relevant to the public health emergency situation in the state.

Contention

Points of contention may arise concerning data privacy and the ethical implications of disclosing personal health information during a public health crisis. There are concerns about how this data will be collected, the privacy rights of individuals, and whether this level of transparency may lead to panic or misinformation. Furthermore, the degree to which these disclosures should be mandated versus left to the discretion of health authorities may also be debated among legislators and public health officials.