Whereas, current law prevents the disclosure to the public of any health care information about a patient without the patient's written authorization; and

Whereas, the public has a right to know whether an individual has been admitted to or discharged from a health care facility; and

Whereas, it is important that this limited right to know no longer be abrogated; and

Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §1711-C, sub-§6, śC-1 is enacted to read:

C-1.__To any person, provided that a disclosure made pursuant to this paragraph may include only whether an individual has been admitted to or discharged from a health care facility and the date of admission or discharge.__For the purposes of this paragraph, "health care facility":

(1)__Means a facility or institution licensed pursuant to this title that is providing or has provided in- patient health care to the individual about whom a request for disclosure has been made under this paragraph; and

(2)__Does not include a home health care provider, hospice program, pharmacy licensed pursuant to Title 32, state mental health institute, the Elizabeth Levinson Center, the Aroostook Residential Center or Freeport Towne Square.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this Act takes effect when approved.

SUMMARY

Current law permits limited disclosure of health care information about an individual by a health care facility without