(A) The information submitted to the department to register a patient with the Sickle Cell Disease Voluntary Patient Registry is confidential and not subject to public disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act or any other provision of law, except as provided in subsection (C).
(B) The department shall maintain procedures to ensure that the privacy and confidentiality of patients and patient information collected, recorded, transmitted, and maintained is not disclosed, except as provided for in subsection (C).
(C) The department may provide a copy of the registration to:
(1) a physician or other health care practitioner licensed and in good standing in South Carolina or another state who is treating a patient and who requests the information after certifying that the patient, or the patient's parent or caregiver if the patient is a minor or is incapacitated, has indicated that the patient has submitted a registration and would like the physician or other health care practitioner to verify the registration;
(2) a patient, or the patient's parent or caregiver if the patient is a minor or is incapacitated, who requests the patient's own sickle cell patient registry registration information in accordance with procedures established by the department;
(3) personnel of the department for purposes of administration and implementation of this article; and
(4) qualified health care researchers and other personnel for the purpose of bona fide research or education to promote the purposes of this article; however, data elements that would reasonably identify a specific patient, physician, or other health care practitioner, must be deleted or redacted from such information before disclosure. Further, release of the information only may be made pursuant to a written agreement between qualified personnel and the department in order to ensure compliance with this item.
HISTORY: 2022 Act No. 206 (H.3166), Section 2, eff May 23, 2022.
Structure South Carolina Code of Laws
Chapter 33 - Sickle Cell Anemia
Section 44-33-10. Sickle cell education and prevention program.
Section 44-33-310. Development and maintenance of Sickle Cell Disease Voluntary Patient Registry.
Section 44-33-330. Confidentiality of information submitted to registry; permitted disclosures.
Section 44-33-340. Prohibited use of registry information.
Section 44-33-350. Revocation of registration.
Section 44-33-360. Physicians prohibited from accessing registry without patients' request.
Section 44-33-370. Obligation to update contact information.