A. A health care provider, coroner, or medical examiner shall report all cases of persons who harbor any illness or health condition that may be potential cause of a catastrophic health emergency. Reportable illnesses and health conditions include, but are not limited to, the diseases caused by the biological agents listed in 42 C.F.R., Section 72, app. A (2000) and any illnesses or health conditions identified by the public health authority.

B. In addition to the foregoing requirements for health care providers, a pharmacist shall report any unusual or increased prescription rates, unusual types of prescriptions, or unusual trends in pharmacy visits that may be potential causes of a catastrophic health emergency. Prescription-related events that require a report include, but are not limited to:

1. An unusual increase in the number of prescriptions or over-the-counter pharmaceuticals to treat conditions that the public health authority identifies through regulations;

2. An unusual increase in the number of prescriptions for antibiotics; and

3. Any prescription that treats a disease that is relatively uncommon or may be associated with bioterrorism.

C. The report shall be made electronically or in writing within twenty-four (24) hours to the public health authority. The report shall include as much of the following information as is available: the specific illness or health condition that is the subject of the report; the name of the patient, date of birth, sex, race, occupation, and current home and work addresses, including city and county; the name and address of the health care provider, coroner, or medical examiner and of the reporting individual, if different; and any other information needed to locate the patient for follow-up. For cases related to animal or insect bites, the suspected locating information of the biting animal or insect, and the name and address of any known owner, shall be reported.

D. Any animal case of a zoonotic disease that is suspected to be a bioterrorism event or associated with an outbreak shall be reported to the State Veterinarian. Appropriate clinical specimens will be required to be rapidly submitted for laboratory confirmation. The State Veterinarian or State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory Director or a designee will immediately report by telephone confirmed veterinary cases of public health importance to the State Department of Health.

E. For the purposes of this section, “health care provider” shall include out-of-state medical laboratories, provided that the out-of-state laboratories have agreed to the reporting requirements of this state. Results must be reported by the laboratory that performs the test, but an in-state laboratory that sends specimens to an out-of-state laboratory is also responsible for reporting results.

F. The public health authority may enforce the provisions of this section in accordance with existing enforcement rules.

Added by Laws 2003, c. 473, § 6.