(1) Local health officers or local health departments shall establish and maintain confidentiality procedures related to employee handling of all reports of cases and suspected cases, prohibiting disclosure of report information identifying an individual case or suspected cases except:

(a) To employees of the local health department, another local health department, or other official agencies needing to know for the purpose of administering public health laws and these regulations;

(b) To health care providers, specific designees of health care facilities, laboratory directors, and others for the purpose of collecting additional information about a case or suspected case as required for disease prevention and control;

(2) Local health officers shall require and maintain signed confidentiality agreements with all local health department employees with access to identifying information related to a case or suspected case of a person diagnosed with a notifiable condition. The agreements will be renewed at least annually and will include reference to criminal and civil penalties for violation of chapters 70.02 and 70.24 RCW and other administrative actions that may be taken by the local health department.

(3) Local health departments may release statistical summaries and epidemiological studies based on individual case reports if no individual is identified or identifiable.

(1) Local health officers and local health jurisdiction employees shall maintain the confidentiality of health care information consistent with chapter 70.02 RCW, RCW 42.56.360(2), and any other applicable confidentiality laws.

(2) Local health officers or local health jurisdictions shall establish and implement confidentiality policies and procedures related to employee handling of health care information.

(3) Local health officers shall:

(a) Require all local health jurisdiction employees with access to health care information to sign confidentiality agreements;

(b) Retain current signed confidentiality agreements;

(c) Reference in confidentiality agreements the penalties for violation of chapter 70.24 RCW and administrative actions that may be taken by the local health jurisdiction if the confidentiality agreement is violated; and

(d) Renew confidentiality agreements at least annually.