ANALYSIS OF HOUSE BILL 2861

      Modifying the definition of health care informtion.

Health Care Committee                          February 1, 2000

Washington State House of Representatives

SPONSORS:  Representatives O'Brien and Cody.

BACKGROUND:  The health information of a patient is confidential under state law and cannot be disclosed without the consent of the patient, except under specified conditions.  Health care information includes any information, oral or recorded, in any form or medium, that identifies or can be associated with a patient and directly relates to a person=s health care.

A person=s identified DNA is not specifically referenced in the definition of health care information.

SUMMARY:  The definition of Ahealth care information@ is clarified to include a person=s identified DNA, which is treated as confidential information that cannot be disclosed without the consent of a patient, except under the express conditions specified in state law.