Informational Requirements for Reporting to the Local Health Authority – Cal. Code Regs. tit. 17 § 2500

Each health care provider who attends a case or is aware of a case or suspected cases of designated diseases has a duty to report this to the local health officer at the location of the patient’s residence.  If no health care provider is present, any individual with knowledge of the disease or condition required to be reported, may report this to the local health officer.  A health facility with more than one reportable case must establish administrative procedures to ensure that all cases are reported.  All information that is reported is confidential and cannot be disclosed by the local health officer except as required by state or federal law or with the individual’s consent.  The local health officer must disclose the information to the State Department of Public Health, if requested.  However, the local health officer cannot provide information to the State Department of Public Health on a case that would identify an individual who has applied for or received drug or alcohol abuse services from a federally assisted program, without that individual’s consent. 

Each reported case must have the following information (if known):  

-         Name of disease being reported;

-         Date on onset;

-         Date of diagnosis;

-         Patient’s name, address, phone number, occupation, race/ethnicity, Social security number, age, sex, date of birth, or if applicable, date of death;

-         Name, address and phone number of individual making the report

If the reported disease is hepatitis, a sexually transmitted disease, or tuberculosis, the report should include the following information:

-         Type of hepatitis, lab findings, sources of exposure;

-         STD disease information and specific lab findings;

-         TB diagnostic information, skin test, information regarding transmission to others, and list of medications given. 

The urgency of the disease or condition is to be identified by specific symbols.