Legislative findings; intent

Legislative findings; intent. The General Assembly finds that: (1) The use of genetic testing can be valuable to an individual. (2) Despite existing laws, regulations, and professional standards which require or promote voluntary and confidential use of genetic testing information, many members of the public are deterred from seeking genetic testing because of fear that test results will be disclosed without consent in a manner not permitted by law or will be used in a discriminatory manner. (3) The public health will be served by facilitating voluntary and confidential nondiscriminatory use of genetic testing information. (4) The use of electronic health record systems and the exchange of patient records, both paper and electronic, through secure means, including through secure health information exchanges, should be encouraged to improve patient health care and care coordination, facilitate public health reporting, and control health care costs, among other purposes. (5) Limiting the use or disclosure of, and requests for, protected health information to the minimum necessary to accomplish an intended purpose, when being transmitted by or on behalf of a covered entity under HIPAA, is a key component of health information privacy. The disclosure of genetic information, when allowed by this Act, shall be performed in accordance with the minimum necessary standard when required under HIPAA. (Source: P.A. 98-1046, eff. 1-1-15.)