10-144 C.M.R. ch. 253, § 4 - RESPONSIBILITIES OF RESPONDING PARTIES

A. Information may be requested by the Department of Human Services from hospitals, physicians, institutions, and/or state departments, agencies, commissions or boards for the purposes of chronic disease or data quality investigations.

B. Upon notification by the Department of Human Services, physicians or hospitals shall provide to the Department any further information requested for the purpose of conducting investigations or evaluating the completeness or quality of data submitted to the Department's disease surveillance programs.

C. The Department shall follow the data confidentiality requirements of the departments, agencies, commission or boards of the State providing this information, to the extent those requirements are consistent with 22 MRSA Section1692-B, in order to carry out the investigation.

D. Responses to data requests by the Department shall be submitted to the Department within 30 days from the date of receipt of such requests. In the event more time is needed to obtain or verify the accuracy of requested information, responders may submit a written request for an additional 60 day extension for the processing of such information.

E. In accordance with 22 MRSA Section1692-B, any physician, hospital, or employee of a physician or hospital is not liable for any civil damages as a result of the Department's use of information gathered under this statute.

F. Data requests may be in the form of medical record reviews, audits and abstractions, discharge summaries, or variable lists for database corroboration.

G. Information requested by the Department of Human Services may be sent to the Department on printed forms, diskette or on magnetic tape (9 track 1600 bpi), whichever is more convenient for the respondent.

Notes

10-144 C.M.R. ch. 253, § 4