N.Y. Public Health Law § 2135: Confidentiality

§ 2135. Confidentiality. All reports or information secured by the

department, municipal health commissioner or district health officer

under the provisions of this title shall be confidential except: (a) in

so far as is necessary to carry out the provisions of this title; (b)

when used in the aggregate, without patient specific identifying

information, in programs approved by the commissioner for the

improvement of the quality of medical care provided to persons with

HIV/AIDS; (c) when used within the state or local health department by

public health disease programs to assess co-morbidity or completeness of

reporting and to direct program needs, in which case patient specific

identifying information shall not be disclosed outside the state or

local health department; or (d) when used for purposes of patient

linkage and retention in care, patient specific identified information

may be shared between local and state health departments and health care

providers currently treating the patient as approved by the

commissioner.