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Health Care Professional's Corner

Clinic Services Contacts

Florida Department of Health in Seminole CountyFlorida Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program

Florida's county health departments (CHDs) in Florida are required to investigate cases of communicable disease. The Florida Department of Health's Bureau of Epidemiology relies on CHDs, health care professionals, laboratories and other public health personnel to report occurrence of notifiable diseases.

Without this timely surveillance data, trends cannot be accurately detected or monitored, and unusual disease occurrences and outbreaks may be missed, delaying appropriate public health control efforts.  

Healthcare Professionals in a group photo

Florida Law

Section 381.0031, Florida Statutes

"Any practitioner licensed in this state to practice medicine, osteopathic medicine, chiropractic medicine, naturopathy, or veterinary medicine ...which diagnoses or suspects the existence of a disease of public health significance shall immediately report the fact to the Department of Health."

"The department may obtain and inspect copies of medical records, records of laboratory tests, and other medical-related information for reported cases of diseases of public health significance..."

HIPAA

Health care providers are often reluctant to divulge patient information because of Health Information Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) regulations.

It is important to note that Public Health Reporting is EXEMPT from HIPAA. According to HIPAA S160.203, disease reporting, public health disease surveillance, and disease intervention activities are among those EXEMPT from federal preemption of state laws.

Thus, medical professionals who allow the health department to obtain patient information cannot be held liable for the records disclosure.

HIPAA S160.203

"[HIPAA] applies, except ...for the reporting of disease or injury... for the conduct of public health surveillance, investigation, or intervention."

Please share this information with your staff to ensure timely data collection for the protection of the public’s health.

Additional HIPAA Resources