BILL NUMBER: S3362
SPONSOR: RIVERA
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to repeal section 3372 of the public health law, relating to
practitioner patient reporting
 
PURPOSE:
An act to repeal section 3372 of public health law
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1 repeals Section 3372 of public health law, as it relates to
practitioner patient reporting, that currently requires a practitioner
to promptly report to the Commissioner of Health (COH) 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 provides an effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Current law requires any attending or consulting practitioner to prompt-
ly report to the COH, the name and, if possible, 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 unnecessarily. 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 entirely.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2024: S9353/ A10319 Paulin
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Effective immediately.

Statutes affected:
S3362: 3372 public health law