(1) In order to improve the quality and efficiency of medical care, the State Department of Health shall design and establish a registry program of the condition and treatment of persons seeking medical care that will provide the following:

(a) Information in a central data bank system of accurate, precise and current information regarding the diagnostic services and therapeutic services for medical diagnosis, treatment and care of injured, disabled or sick persons, or rehabilitation services for the rehabilitation of injured, disabled or sick persons provided by licensed health-care providers designated by the State Board of Health;

(b) Collection of that data;

(c) Dissemination of that data; and

(d) Analysis of that data for the purposes of the evaluation and improvement of the quality and efficiency of medical care provided in a health-care facility.

(2) The State Board of Health shall adopt rules, regulations and procedures to govern the operation of the registry program and to carry out the intent of this section.

(3) At a minimum, the board shall require that each hospital, free-standing ambulatory surgical facility and outpatient diagnostic imaging center shall submit patient data as defined by the board to the Mississippi Hospital Association or the department within sixty (60) days after the close of each calendar quarter for all patients that were discharged or died during that quarter.

(4)

(a) There is created a State Health Data Advisory Committee to advise and make recommendations to the board regarding rules and regulations promulgated under this section. The committee shall consist of the following members:

(i) A representative of the Mississippi Hospital Association appointed by the association;

(ii) A representative of the Mississippi State Medical Association appointed by the association;

(iii) A representative of the Mississippi Nurses Association appointed by the association;

(iv) A representative of the Mississippi Health Care Association appointed by the association;

(v) A health researcher appointed by the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning;

(vi) A representative of the State Department of Health appointed by the State Health Officer;

(vii) A consumer representative who is not professionally involved in the purchase, provision, administration, or utilization review of health care or insurance appointed by the Governor;

(viii) A representative of a third-party payer appointed by the Governor;

(ix) A member who is not professionally involved in the purchase, provision, administration, or utilization review of health care or insurance and who has expertise in health planning, health economics, health policy, or health information systems appointed by the Governor; and

(x) A member of the business community appointed by the Governor.

(b) Committee members shall serve until a successor is appointed.

(c) Committee members shall elect a chairman and vice chairman and adopt bylaws.

(d) The department shall provide staff assistance as needed to the committee.

(5)

(a) The department shall specify the types of information to be provided to the registry. The State Health Data Advisory Committee shall advise the department on the content, format, frequency and transmission of the data to be provided.

(b) Data elements required to be submitted must comply with current national standards recommended by the National Uniform Billing Committee, the National Committee on Vital Health Statistics, or similar national standards setting body.

(6) The department shall accept data submitted by the Mississippi Hospital Association on behalf of hospitals by entering into a binding agreement negotiated with the association to obtain data required under this section. A health-care provider shall submit the required information to the department:

(a) If the provider does not submit the required data through the Mississippi Hospital Association;

(b) If no binding agreement has been reached within ninety (90) days from July 1, 2008, between the department and the Mississippi Hospital Association; or

(c) If a binding agreement has expired for more than ninety (90) days.

(7) The information, data and records shall not divulge the identity of any patient.

(8) Submission of information to and use of information by the department in accordance with this section shall be considered a permitted disclosure for uses and disclosures required by law and for public health activities under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and the Privacy Rules promulgated thereunder at 45 CFR Sections 164.512(a) and (b).

(9) Notwithstanding any conflicting statute, court rule or other law, the data maintained in the registry shall be confidential and shall not be subject to discovery or introduction into evidence in any civil action. However, information and data otherwise discoverable or admissible from original sources are not to be construed as immune from discovery or use in any civil action merely because they were provided to the registry.

(10) The department shall assure that public use data are made available and accessible to interested persons in accordance with the rules and regulations promulgated by the board.

(11) Notwithstanding other actions or remedies afforded to persons about whom data is released, a person who knowingly or negligently releases data in violation of this section is liable for a civil penalty of not more than Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00).

(12) A person or organization who fails to supply data required under this section is liable for a civil penalty of Five Cents (5¢) for each record for each day the submission is delinquent. A submission is delinquent if the department does not receive it within thirty (30) days after the date the submission was due. If the department receives the submission in incomplete form, the department shall notify the provider and allow fifteen (15) additional days to correct the error. The notice shall provide the provider an additional fifteen (15) days to submit the data before the imposition of any civil penalty. The maximum civil penalty for a delinquent submission is Ten Dollars ($10.00) for each record. The department shall issue an assessment of the civil penalty to the provider. The provider has a right to an informal conference with the department, if the provider requests the conference within thirty (30) days of receipt of the assessment. After the informal conference or, if no conference is requested, after the time for requesting the informal conference has expired, the department may proceed to collect the penalty. In its request for an informal conference, the provider may request the department to waive the penalty. The department may waive the penalty in cases of an act of God or other acts beyond the control of the provider. Waiver of the penalty is in the sole discretion of the department.

(13) The board shall have the authority to set fees and charges with regard to the collection and compilation of data requested for special reports and for the dissemination of data. The revenue derived from the fees imposed in this section shall be deposited by the Department of Health in a special fund that is created in the State Treasury, which is earmarked for use by the department in conducting its activities under this section.