KRS 214.556: Kentucky Cancer Registry -- Cancer patient data management system.

(1) There is hereby established within the Kentucky cancer program the Kentucky

Cancer Registry and the cancer patient data management system for the purpose of

providing accu rate and up -to-date information about cancer in Kentucky and

facilitating the evaluation and improvement of cancer prevention, screening,

diagnosis, therapy, rehabilitation, and community care activities for citizens of the

Commonwealth. The cancer patient data management system shall be administered

by the Lucille Parker Markey Cancer Center.

(2) Each licensed health facility which provides diagnostic services, or diagnostic

services and treatment, or treatment to cancer patients shall report to the Kentuc ky

Cancer Registry, through the cancer patient data management system and in a

format prescribed by the Kentucky Cancer Registry, each case of cancer seen at that

health facility. Failure to comply may be cause for assessment of an administrative

fine for the health facility, the same as for violation of KRS 216B.250.

(3) Each health facility shall grant to the cancer registry access to all records which

would identify cases of cancer or would establish characteristics of the cancer,

treatment of the cancer, or status of any identified cancer patient. Hospitals actively

participating and enrolled in the cancer patient data management system of the

Kentucky Cancer Program as of July 13, 1990, shall be considered to be in

compliance with this section. The Luci lle Parker Markey Cancer Center shall

provide staff assistance in compiling and reporting required information to hospitals

which treat a low volume of patients.

(4) No liability of any kind or character for damages or other relief shall arise or be

enforced against any licensed health facility by reason of having provided the

information or material to the Kentucky Cancer Registry pursuant to the

requirements of this section.

(5) The identity of any person whose condition or treatment has been reported to the

Kentucky Cancer Registry shall be confidential, except that:

(a) The Kentucky Cancer Registry may exchange patient -specific data with any

other cancer control agency or clinical facility for the purpose of obtaining

information necessary to complete a case record, but the agency or clinical

facility shall not further disclose such personal data; and

(b) The Kentucky Cancer Registry may contact individual patients if necessary to

obtain follow-up information which is not available from the health facility.

(6) All information, interviews, reports, statements, memoranda, or other data furnished

by reason of this section, expressly including all portions, subsets, extracts, or

compilations of the data as well as any findings or conclusions resulting from th ose

studies, shall be privileged and shall not be considered public records under KRS

61.870 to 61.884. The Kentucky Cancer Registry may determine that certain

extracts, subsets, or compilations of data do not reveal privileged information and

may be publi shed or otherwise shared to further the public health goals set forth

herein.

(7) The Kentucky Cancer Registry shall make periodic reports of its data and any

related findings and recommendations to the Legislative Research Commission, the

Interim Joint Committees on Appropriations and Revenue and Health Services, the

Governor, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, the reporting health facility,

and other appropriate governmental and nongovernmental cancer control agencies

whose intent it is to reduce the incidence, morbidity, and mortality of cancer. The

Kentucky Cancer Registry may conduct analyses and studies as are indicated to

advance cancer control in the Commonwealth, either directly or by confidentially

sharing data with third parties.