SB 6210-S.E - DIGEST

(DIGEST AS ENACTED)

Provides that a coordinated quality improvement program maintained in accordance with RCW 43.70.510 or 70.41.200 may share information and documents, including complaints and incident reports, created specifically for, and collected and maintained by a coordinated quality improvement committee or committees or boards under this act, with one or more other coordinated quality improvement programs for the improvement of the quality of health care services rendered to patients and the identification and prevention of medical malpractice.

Declares that the privacy protections of chapter 70.02 RCW and the federal health insurance portability and accountability act of 1996 and its implementing regulations apply to the sharing of individually identifiable patient information held by a coordinated quality improvement program.

Provides that any rules necessary to implement this section shall meet the requirements of applicable federal and state privacy laws.

Provides that information and documents disclosed by one coordinated quality improvement program to another coordinated quality improvement program and any information and documents created or maintained as a result of the sharing of information and documents shall not be subject to the discovery process and confidentiality shall be respected as required by this act and by RCW 43.70.510(4) and 70.41.200(3).