BILL NUMBER: S9353
SPONSOR: RIVERA
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to repeal section 3372 of the public health law
 
PURPOSE:
Repealing section 3372 of the Public Health Law.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 repeals section 3372 of Public Health Law, as it relates to
practitioner patient reporting, which currently requires a practitioner
to promptly report to the Commissioner of Health a person's name, and
other data as required, if a person under treatment is found to be an
addict or a habitual user of any narcotic drug.
Section 2 sets an immediate effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Current law requires any attending or consulting practitioner to prompt-
ly report to the Commissioner of Health (COH), the name and, if possi-
ble, the address, as well as any other data required by the COH, if any
person under treatment is found to be an addict or a habitual user of
any narcotic drug.
The current requirement disrupts the practitioner-patient relationship
and hinders open discussion about personal matters, such as substance
use. Patients should feel comfortable confiding in their practitioners
without fear of anything discussed being reported unecessarily. The law
as is may lead to inconsistent reporting throughout the state and could
potentially skew data provided to the Department of Health. This bill
would repeal that requirement altogether.
 
FISCAL IMPACT ON THE STATE:
None.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New Bill.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

Statutes affected:
S9353: 3372 public health law