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The Florida Department of Health works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and community efforts.
Health Care Professional's Corner
Contact Us
- 850-595-6683
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Fax
850-595-6268 -
Mailing Address
Fairfield Service Center, 1295 West Fairfield Drive, Pensacola, Florida 32501
County Health Departments (CHDs) in Florida are required to investigate cases of communicable disease. The Florida Bureau of Epidemiology relies on CHDs, healthcare professionals, laboratories and other public health personnel to report occurrence of notifiable diseases. Without this timely surveillance data, trends cannot be accurately detected or monitored, and unusual disease occurrences and outbreaks may be missed, delaying appropriate public health control efforts.
Florida Statute Section 381.0031 states that, “any practitioner, licensed in Florida to practice medicine, osteopathic medicine, chiropractic, naturopathy, or veterinary medicine, who diagnoses or suspects the existence of a disease of public health significance shall immediately report the fact to Department of Health.” The statute also states that, “the department may obtain and inspect copies of medical records, records of laboratory tests, and other medical-related information for reported cases of diseases of public health significance.”
HIPAA
Health care providers are often reluctant to divulge patient information because of Health Information Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) regulations. It is important to note that Public Health Reporting is EXEMPT from HIPAA. According to HIPAA S160.203, “disease reporting, public health disease surveillance, and disease intervention activities are among those EXEMPT from federal preemption of state laws.” Thus, medical professionals who allow the health department to obtain patient information cannot be held liable for the records disclosure.
Please share this information with your staff to ensure timely data collection for the protection of the public’s health.
Below are some helpful websites in reference to HIPAA.
Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
Reportable Disease List
In 2016, the list of reportable diseases was updated in Florida Administrative Code 64D-3. The current changes further clarify reporting and testing requirements for healthcare professionals, laboratories, hospitals and other entities required to report communicable diseases or conditions that affect public health. Letters from the Florida Department of Health to all state healthcare professionals are frequently sent to alert about changes made to Florida Administrative Code.
The Epidemiology Program at the Florida Department of Health in Escambia County (DOH-Escambia) is making the Reportable Diseases and Conditions List available to all county healthcare professionals.
Healthcare professionals can report diseases and conditions listed to the Epidemiology Program by fax (850-595-6288) or phone call (850-595-6683, Extension: 106).
Additional Resources
Administrative Code 64D-3 (246kb; pdf)
Florida Statute 381.0031 (161kb; pdf)
Reportable Diseases and Conditions List (76kb; pdf)
Single Disease Report Form (363.6kb; pdf)
The Obesity Crisis (1.42mb; pdf)
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