10- 144 C.M.R. ch. 255, § 6

Current through 2024-51, December 18, 2024

Section 144-255-6 - CONFIDENTIALITY OF CANCER REGISTRY DATA

A. Bureau of Health

Measures for assuring confidentiality and integrity of the Cancer Registry Data Base as well as restricting access to case specific data by employees of the Bureau of Health and others include:

1. establishing a series of passwords and internal security codes for access to the Cancer Registry Data Base,

2. storing all completed client data forms in a locked file cabinet, and

3. disposing of all Cancer Registry preliminary data listings, test retrievals, and other sensitive information in a confidential manner.

4. All MCR staff, both permanent and temporary, as well as individuals visiting the MCR in a professional capacity shall be required to sign a confidentiality agreement.

Bureau of Health personnel having access to client-specific information is limited to personnel essential for the conduct of this program.

Data retrievals to examine the consistency and quality of patient information will be conducted as necessary. Annual reports and other routine data retrievals will be conducted on a scheduled basis. Data on cancer patients whose legal address is outside of the State of Maine may be shared with other cancer registries if a reciprocal data sharing agreement is implemented with that registry. The Maine Cancer Registry will insure that agreements with other cancer registries include data confidentiality provisions.

B. Cancer Registry Subcommittee

Cancer Registry Program Subcommittee. A Cancer Registry Program Subcommittee of the Cancer Prevention and Control Advisory Committee will be created to advise the Commissioner of the Department of Human Services on the operation of the Maine Cancer Registry and to review and approve requests for information from the Cancer Registry data base from outside the Department of Human Services.

In general, all requests must be in writing and must include an explanation of why the information is needed and how it will be used. The Cancer Registry Program Subcommittee will meet on a quarterly basis to consider information requests. All requests for identifying information from outside of the Department of Human Services will require approval by the Cancer Registry Program Subcommittee, and written assurances of confidentiality will be of primary importance in considering these requests. Also, whenever feasible, the Cancer Prevention and Control Advisory Committee will review all general reports and special studies and give their interpretation of the information prior to its public release. The Department of Human Services shall follow the guidelines established by the Cancer Registry Program Subcommittee for releasing information from the Cancer Registry data base.

10- 144 C.M.R. ch. 255, § 6