What's happening
This bill requires the health commissioner to share prescription data for controlled substances with law enforcement for criminal investigations, while ensuring HIPAA compliance.
Why it matters
Expands law enforcement access to sensitive health data. By mandating the release of prescription records for controlled substances, this bill could significantly increase the amount of personal medical information available to police and other agencies during investigations.
Potential privacy implications for patients. Although HIPAA compliance is required, sharing prescription data with law enforcement could raise concerns about patient confidentiality, possible stigmatization, and unintended use or exposure of private health information.
May impact prescribing behaviors and patient trust. Knowing that prescription data can be accessed by law enforcement might make healthcare providers more cautious when prescribing controlled substances, potentially affecting pain management or treatment for those with legitimate medical needs.
Could enhance efforts to combat prescription drug abuse and diversion. By giving law enforcement greater tools to detect fraudulent or illegal prescribing and dispensing, the bill could aid in addressing the opioid crisis and related criminal activity.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Share Prescription Data With Police
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to health
- Referred to health
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
845
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 9, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. GUNTHER -- read once and referred to the Committee on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to sharing information for criminal investigations
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 206 of the public health law is amended by adding a new subdivision 31 to read as follows:
31. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, for the purpose of criminal investigations, the commissioner shall make available to any federal, state, or local law enforcement agency, any data or information it has acquired relating to prescriptions for controlled substances issued in this state. Law enforcement agencies shall ensure that the use of such data or information obtained from the commissioner does not violate the health insurance portability and accountability act.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03765-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.