| | Emergency preamble. Whereas, Acts of the Legislature do not become | effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as | emergencies; and |
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| | Whereas, current law prevents the disclosure to the public of | any health care information about a patient without the patient's | written authorization; and |
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| | Whereas, the public has a right to know whether an individual | has been admitted to or discharged from a health care facility; | and |
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| | Whereas, it is important that this limited right to know no | longer be abrogated; and |
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| | 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, |
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| Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: |
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| | Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §1711-C, sub-§6, śC-1 is enacted to read: |
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| 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": |
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| (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 |
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| (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. |
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| | Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, | this Act takes effect when approved. |
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| | Current law permits limited disclosure of health care | information about an individual by a health care facility without |
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