Opt-Out Option

Section 689.80  Opt-Out Option a) Before entering immunization data into the Registry, authorized immunization providers who provide immunization data into the Registry shall provide the patient or the patient's parent or guardian, if the patient is less than 18 years of age, with a printed Opt-Out Form at least once .  (Section 17 of the Act) b)         Opt-out forms must include all of the following information: 1) A description of the Registry and its purpose; 2) That the health care provider may report immunization data to the Department to be entered into the Registry; 3) That the patient or the patient's parent or guardian, if the patient is less than 18 years of age, has a right to exempt disclosure of immunization data to the Registry and may prevent disclosure by signing an immunization data exemption form; 4) That the patient or the patient's parent or guardian, if the patient is less than 18 years of age, may have the individual's information removed from the Registry; and 5) Instructions on how to have the information removed. (Section 15(c) of the Act) c)         Completed Opt-Out Forms shall be maintained at the provider site, and a copy shall be provided to the patient or the patient's parent or guardian.  If any provider subsequently tries to add the same client to the Registry, the provider will be warned that the client's record has been locked, and the provider will be unable to save the record. Only the Department and the provider site that originally submitted the patient record have the ability to view or unlock a locked record. d)         The Opt-Out Form shall also be used to opt the patient back into the Registry if the patient decides to do so. A patient may opt back in the Registry by the completion of an Opt-Out Form at any provider site participating in the Registry.