CHAPTER 177
HEALTH DATA
641—177.1(76GA,ch1212) Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to collect and provide access to health information to health care providers, health care subscribers, third-party payors and the general public. Such information may be collected from state agencies, health care providers, the state medical assistance program, third-party payors, associations, and other appropriate sources.
641—177.2(76GA,ch1212) Definitions. For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:
“Confidential record” in these rules means a record which is not available as a matter of right for examination and copying by members of the public under applicable provisions of law. Confidential records include records or information contained in records that the agencies are prohibited by law from making available for examination by members of the public, and records or information contained in records that are specified as confidential by Iowa Code section 22.7, or other provision of law, but that may be disclosed upon order of a court, the lawful custodian of the record, or by another person duly authorized to release the record. Mere inclusion in a record of information declared confidential by an applicable provision of law does not necessarily make that entire record a confidential record. Included in the definition are those data collected by the department, pursuant to 1996 Iowa Acts, chapter 1212, for preparation and dissemination as compilations.
“Contractor” means a nonprofit corporation acting, pursuant to written agreement with the department to, among other things, compile, correlate and develop data for release by the department in accordance with the provisions of 1996 Iowa Acts, chapter 1212.
“Department” is defined as Iowa department of public health.
“Payor” is as defined by Iowa Code chapter 144C.
“Record” in these rules means the whole or a part of a “public record” as defined in Iowa Code section 22.1, that is owned by or in the physical possession of this agency.
641—177.3(76GA,ch1212) Description of data to be submitted.
	177.3(1) The department shall collect information from other state agencies for the purpose of public dissemination of health data.
	177.3(2) Hospitals shall submit data to the Iowa Hospital Association which shall serve as an intermediary for the Iowa department of public health. The information shall include inpatient, outpatient and ambulatory information.
641—177.4(76GA,ch1212) Department studies. The department shall conduct special studies consistent with the intent of 1996 Iowa Acts, chapter 1212, using data collected in accordance with subrule 177.3(1). In conducting such studies, the department may utilize the services of a contractor.
641—177.5(76GA,ch1212) Fees. Fees charged for data provided by the department shall not exceed administrative costs. Such charges may include copying, postage, supervisory, computer programming, time and medium fees.
641—177.6(76GA,ch1212) Patient confidentiality. The department shall protect patient confidentiality. Confidential records or parts of such records collected as a part of this process shall be kept confidential. Individual patient names shall not be collected to protect patient confidentiality.
641—177.7(76GA,ch1212) Department contracting. Contracting procedures shall follow 641—
Chapter 176.
641—177.8(76GA,ch1212) Address and specification for data submissions. Data required to be submitted pursuant to this chapter shall be sent by agencies and health care providers, or their representatives, to the Iowa Department of Public Health, Center for Health Statistics, Lucas State Office Building, East 12th and Grand Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50319.
Data required to be submitted pursuant to this rule shall be sent in the form designated by the department within 30 days following the six-month calendar periods ending in June and December.
These rules are intended to implement 1996 Iowa Acts, chapter 1212.
[Filed 5/16/97, Notice 2/26/97—published 6/4/97, effective 7/9/97]
[Filed 3/14/02, Notice 2/6/02—published 4/3/02, effective 5/8/02]