(a) Notwithstanding any other law, a health facility as defined in subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 1250 may release patient-identifiable medical information under the following circumstances:
(1) To an EMS provider, information regarding a patient who was treated, or transported to the hospital by, that EMS provider, to the extent that specific data elements are requested for quality assessment and improvement purposes.
(2) To the authority or the local EMS agency, to the extent that specific data elements are requested for quality assessment and improvement purposes.
(b) An EMS provider, local EMS agency, and the authority shall request only those data elements that are minimally necessary in compliance with Section 164.502 (b) and Section 164.514 (d) of Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
(c) The authority may develop minimum standards for the implementation of data collection for system operation, patient outcome, and performance quality improvement.
(d) For purposes of this section, “EMS provider” means an organization employing an Emergency Medical Technician-I, Advanced Emergency Medical Technician, Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic, registered nurse, or physician for the delivery of emergency medical care to the sick and injured at the scene of an emergency, during transport, or during an interfacility transfer.
(Added by Stats. 2015, Ch. 362, Sec. 2. (AB 503) Effective January 1, 2016.)