I 111th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5733 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 14, 2010 Mr. Braley of Iowa introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To permit health care providers to disclose certain protected health information to law enforcement officials.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Ed Thomas Act of 2010.

2.

Disclosure of certain patient information to law enforcement officials

(a)

In general

If— (1)an individual is accompanied by a law enforcement official at the time such individual seeks care from a covered entity; (2)such official provides to such entity a request, in writing, that the entity disclose to the official protected health information relating to such individual; and (3)such written request is made during the period that begins when such individual seeks such care and ends 24 hours after such individual is discharged from such care or otherwise stops receiving such care, section 164.512(f)(1) of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations, shall apply to the disclosure of such information (including the date of discharge) to the law enforcement agency that employs such official by a covered entity in the same manner that such section applies to the disclosure of information by a covered entity in response to administrative requests.(b)

Regulations

Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall promulgate regulations to carry out this section.