36-468. Laboratory testing without health care provider's order; results; report; duty of care; liability; definition

A. A person may obtain any laboratory test from a licensed clinical laboratory on a direct access basis without a health care provider's request or written authorization if the laboratory offers that laboratory test to the public on a direct access basis without a health care provider's request or written authorization.

B. If a laboratory test of a person is conducted by or under the supervision of a person other than a health care provider and not at the request or with the written authorization of a health care provider, any report of the test results shall be provided by the person conducting the test to the person who was the subject of the test. The report shall state in bold type that it is the responsibility of the person who was tested to arrange with the person's health care provider for consultation and interpretation of the test results.

C. A health care provider's duty of care to a patient does not include any responsibility to review or act on the laboratory test results of a patient if the health care provider did not request or authorize the laboratory test. A health care provider is not subject to liability or disciplinary actions for the failure to review or act on the results of a laboratory test of any patient if the health care provider did not request or authorize the laboratory test.

D. A clinical laboratory may not submit a claim for reimbursement from a third-party payor for any laboratory test conducted without a health care provider's request or written authorization.

E. This section does not require that a laboratory test be covered by a health insurance plan or product pursuant to title 20 or by any program administered by the Arizona health care cost containment system administration pursuant to chapter 29 of this title.

F. For the purposes of this section, " health care provider" means a person who is licensed pursuant to title 32 and who is authorized to order laboratory testing.