About Mandatory Disease Reporting in California
Why report?
Because it's essential for disease control and public safety. Delay or failure to report has contributed to preventable secondary transmission and disease outbreaks in the past.
The primary objectives of disease surveillance are to:
- raise alerts to the presence of dangerous diseases or conditions;
- determine the extent of morbidity within the community;
- evaluate risk of transmission;
- intervene rapidly when appropriate;
- protect the health of patients and the public.
Why else report?
Because it's the law. Penalties for not reporting can be severe.
For example, the Medical Board of California (MBC) has made failure for physicians to report in a timely manner a citable offense under California Business and Professions Code. MBC may discipline a licensee's failure to report as unprofessional conduct, with possible misdemeanor criminal charges incurring fine (up to $1,200) or imprisonment (60 to 180 days) or both fine and imprisonment (Business and Professions Code, Medical Practice Act -- BPC Sections 2234, 2314, 2315).
Who must report?
State law Title 17, California Code of Regulations (17CCR) details who must report a human or animal with a case or suspected case of a dangerous disease or condition.
Persons mandated to report under 17CCR include laboratories (Section 2505), health care providers (Sections 2500), officials of most types of schools (Section 2508), and anyone with knowledge related to possible rabies (Section 2606). State law defines a “health care provider" as a physician and surgeon, veterinarian, podiatrist, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, registered nurse, nurse midwife, school nurse, infection control practitioner, medical examiner, coroner, or dentist.
Who is responsible to report in multi-provider settings?
Per 17CCR§2500(c): "The administrator of each health facility, clinic or other setting where more than one health care provider may know of a case, a suspected case or an outbreak of disease within the facility shall establish and be responsible for administrative procedures to assure that reports are made to the local health officer."
When to report
17CCR stipulates the required timing of mandatory reports. Certain diseases and situations are considered emergencies and must be reported immediately. See the LA County Reportable Diseases and Conditions Lists for Healthcare Providers and for Laboratories for the mandated timing for reporting different diseases and conditions.
Where and how to report
Reports must be submitted to the local health department (LHD) of the patient's jurisdiction of residence. All southern California counties plus cities of Pasadena and Long Beach operate their own LHDs. LA County (LAC) DPH accepts case reports only on LA County residents but not Long Beach or Pasadena residents.
- To file a report for an LA County resident (but not Pasadena or Long Beach), visit the LAC DPH Health Professional Mandatory Reporting page.
- To file a report for residents of Pasadena or Long Beach or other non-LAC jurisdictions, see the all-LHDs contact information list maintained by the California Department of Public Health.
What to Report
In addition to what is required by in 17CCR, local health jurisdictions can require that additional diseases or conditions be reported locally. See the LA County Reportable Diseases and Conditions Lists for Healthcare Providers and for Laboratories.
Visit the LAC DPH Health Professional Mandatory Reporting page to learn more about required reporting in LA County.
Patient Confidentiality Concerns
See California DPH (June 15, 2012): Letter To All California Health Care Providers: HIPAA and Public Health Disclosures