Section 410 IAC 1-2.5-77 - Disease intervention measures; responsibility to investigate and implementAuthority: IC 16-19-3-4; IC 16-41-2-1
Affected: IC 16-41-2
Sec. 77.
(a) Case reports submitted to the local health department or the department may be used for:(1) epidemiological investigation; or(2) other disease intervention activities; as warranted. Prior approval from a patient is not required before releasing medical or epidemiological information to the local health department or the department or state designated districts. (b) Unless otherwise indicated, the local health department in the jurisdiction where the patient is a resident is responsible for:(1) performing any epidemiological investigation required; and(2) instituting control measures.(c) Upon receiving a reportable communicable disease report, local health officers must investigate the report within a reasonable time frame, immediately for diseases that shall be reported immediately, but usually not more than seventy-two (72) hours after the report is received for other diseases. A local health officer in receipt of a report of a disease that is:(1) potentially dangerous to the public health; or(2) of national or international significance; not otherwise listed as a reportable disease in this rule, shall notify the department immediately by telephone or other confidential means. (d) Investigation shall include obtaining laboratory and clinical data necessary for case ascertainment. Investigation efforts should identify all potential means for disease acquisition, risk factors, and any potential public health threats posed by the case. Findings of the investigation shall be used to institute control measures to minimize or abrogate the risk of disease spread.(e) The results of each individual case investigation shall be documented, in writing, with a copy maintained at the local health department, and a copy forwarded to the department communicable disease section within a reasonable time frame of receiving the initial communicable disease report. Local health departments that do not have the necessary security to maintain complete confidentiality of HIV/AIDS patients may defer the storage of all copies to the department.(f) The department may request and obtain epidemiological information on cases of communicable disease or diseases of public health importance, including the following: (2) Diseases caused by drug-resistant organisms.(3) Emerging infectious diseases.(g) Pursuant to 45 CFR 164.512 (2013), local health departments and the Indiana department of health are considered public health authorities as defined by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). Local health departments and the Indiana department of health are authorized to receive protected health information, wherever maintained, without patient authorization for the purposes of public health surveillance, investigation, and interventions and as otherwise permitted by law. Indiana State Department of Health; 410 IAC 1-2.5-77; filed 11/25/2015, 2:54 p.m.: 20151223-IR-410150039FRAErrata filed 7/28/2021, 8:23 a.m.: 20210811-IR-410210305ACAReadopted filed 11/12/2021, 8:41 a.m.: 20211208-IR-410210385RFA