HB186 Alabama 2021 Session

Under existing law, the Alabama Department of Public Health, which licenses and regulates certain health care facilities, accumulates and disseminates statistical health information on births, deaths, and cancer cases in Alabama

Existing law does not require the department to collect comprehensive statewide hospital discharge data

This bill would require the department to periodically collect, compile, and analyze certain patient discharge data from certain hospitals

This bill would require the department to adopt rules for the protection, collection, and dissemination of hospital discharge data, require the department to release certain discharge data to the Alabama Hospital Association, and make certain data available to the public in compliance with federal and state health privacy laws

This bill would authorize the department to levy civil penalties for failure of a hospital to timely report discharge data to the department

This bill would establish the Hospital Discharge Data Advisory Council to advise the department on rulemaking and would provide for its membership

This bill would also provide for confidentiality and privilege protection for patient information provided under this act

Relating to the Alabama Department of Public Health; to require the department to collect from hospitals certain patient discharge data and to compile, analyze, and make available the data to the Alabama Hospital Association and make certain data available to the public; to establish the Hospital Discharge Data Advisory Council to advise the department on rulemaking and provide for its membership; to require the department to adopt rules; to provide for civil penalties for violations; and to provide for confidentiality and privilege protections.