SB 256

Under existing law, the State Board of Health maintains an immunization registry that is the central registry for immunization vaccines administered to persons by health care providers

This bill would require health care providers to report vaccines administered to the immunization registry and would require health care providers to review the registry before a vaccine is administered unless the health care provider has a bi-directional interface with the registry

Review of the registry prior to the administration of a flu vaccine would not be required for adults

Relating to the State Board of Health and the immunization registry; to amend Section 22-11B-2, Code of Alabama 1975, to require health care providers to report immunization data to the registry and to review the registry before a vaccine is administered with certain exceptions.

Section 1

Section 22-11B-2, Code of Alabama 1975, is amended to read as follows:

§22-11B-2. Pursuant to and in furtherance of the purposes of this chapter, the State Board of Health is authorized to may create and maintain an immunization registry. The immunization registry is the central collection of data and reports concerning a vaccine dose or doses administered to a person by a provider records on vaccines administered to all ages, including historical records of vaccinations. The nature of the immunization information contained in this registry shall be determined by rule of the State Board of Health and shall be obtained from clinic records, billing data and information, and vital or any other records owned and controlled by the State Board of Health and the Alabama Medicaid Agency. Medical insurers and public and private providers are authorized and encouraged to provide information to the registry. In the absence of a bi-directional interface with the registry to send current or retrieve historical records of vaccination administrations, all providers shall review the registry before a vaccine is administered and provide all vaccine data through electronic interface or manual entry in the registry. If the provider is using a bi-directional electronic interface, the provider shall review the information in and enter the information in the bi-directional interface or the information shall otherwise be entered in the registry. Annual influenza vaccinations shall be reported to the registry, but a review of the registry is not required prior to the administration of a vaccine to an adult 19 years or older."

Section 2

This act shall become effective immediately following its passage and approval by the Governor, or its otherwise becoming law.