SUBPART C. LOUISIANA HEALTHCARE CONSUMERS' RIGHT TO KNOW

§1173.1. Findings; legislative intent

            A. The legislature hereby finds all of the following:

            (1) As a result of rising healthcare costs, the shortage of health professionals and healthcare services in many areas of the state, and the concerns expressed by consumers, healthcare providers, third-party payers, and others involved with making informed decisions regarding healthcare services, treatment, and coverage, there is a need to have access to provider specific healthcare cost, quality, and outcome data on healthcare facilities, healthcare providers, and health plans as well as continued access to global patterns and trends in the availability, use, and charges for healthcare services and the associated health circumstances.

            (2) Due to the rapidly expanding availability of and access to patient sensitive healthcare data, it is necessary to establish safeguards which ensure the level of protection of patient encounter data that Louisiana citizens deserve, and which protect the privacy of health information comprising data sets that are reported and disseminated to improve the population health of this state.

            B. It is the intent of the legislature to improve transparency in prices and care quality measures by providing for the creation and maintenance of a useful and comprehensive health service information database that can be publicly accessed in a manner that ensures protection of individuals' confidential health information and respects providers of care.

            Acts 1997, No. 622, §1, eff. July 3, 1997; Acts 2007, No. 410, §1; Acts 2008, No. 537, §1, eff. June 30, 2008; Acts 2014, No. 790, §1; Redesignated from R.S. 40:1300.111 by HCR 84 of 2015 R.S.; Acts 2015, No. 338, §1.