LAC 48:V.15101. Purpose

A. Louisiana R.S. 40:1300.111 et seq. established a “state health care data clearinghouse” in the Office of Public Health with responsibility for the collection and dissemination of health care data. The legislative action was based upon a finding that as a consequence of rising health care costs, a shortage of health care professionals and health services in many areas of the state, and the concerns expressed by health care providers, consumers, third party payors, and others involved with planning for the provision of health care, there is a need to understand patterns and trends in the availability, use, and charges for these services and the underlying patterns of disease which result in these services. The statute requires that state agencies and licensed health care providers shall provide the information necessary to carry out the purpose of this law. In accordance with the statute, the collection of hospital discharge data is to be accomplished in collaboration with representatives from hospitals, health care providers, payors, data users and other state agencies. It is the purpose of these regulations to provide directions for the required collection, submittal, management and dissemination of health data and to provide for the confidentiality of the data.