(1) No patient data received or recorded by an emergency medical service or an emergency care provider shall be divulged, made public, or released by an emergency medical service or an emergency care provider, except that patient data may be released (a) for purposes of treatment, payment, and other health care operations as defined and permitted under the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as such act existed on January 1, 2024, (b) as required by section 38-1238, or (c) as otherwise permitted by law. Such data shall be provided to the department for public health purposes pursuant to rules and regulations of the department. For purposes of this section, patient data means any data received or recorded as part of the records maintenance requirements of the Emergency Medical Services Practice Act.

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Terms Used In Nebraska Statutes 38-1225

  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Emergency care provider: includes all licensure classifications of emergency care providers established pursuant to the Emergency Medical Services Practice Act. See Nebraska Statutes 38-1206.04
  • Patient: means an individual who either identifies himself or herself as being in need of medical attention or upon assessment by an emergency care provider has an injury or illness requiring treatment. See Nebraska Statutes 38-1209
  • Person: shall include bodies politic and corporate, societies, communities, the public generally, individuals, partnerships, limited liability companies, joint-stock companies, and associations. See Nebraska Statutes 49-801

(2) Patient data received by the department shall be confidential with release only (a) in aggregate data reports created by the department on a periodic basis or at the request of an individual, (b) as case-specific data to approved researchers for specific research projects, (c) as protected health information to a public health authority, as such terms are defined under the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as such act existed on January 1, 2024, and (d) as protected health information, as defined under the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as such act existed on January 1, 2024, to an emergency medical service, to an emergency care provider, or to a licensed health care facility for purposes of treatment. A record may be shared with the emergency medical service or emergency care provider that reported that specific record. Approved researchers shall maintain the confidentiality of the data, and researchers shall be approved in the same manner as described in section 81-666. Aggregate reports shall be public documents.

(3) No civil or criminal liability of any kind or character for damages or other relief or penalty shall arise or be enforced against any person or organization by reason of having provided patient data pursuant to this section.