Louisiana Revised Statutes Tit. 40, § 1173.1. Findings; legislative intent

(1) As a result of rising healthcare costs, the shortage of health professionals and healthcare services in many areas of the state, and the concerns expressed by consumers, healthcare providers, third-party payers, and others involved with making informed decisions regarding healthcare services, treatment, and coverage, there is a need to have access to provider specific healthcare cost, quality, and outcome data on healthcare facilities, healthcare providers, and health plans as well as continued access to global patterns and trends in the availability, use, and charges for healthcare services and the associated health circumstances.

(2) Due to the rapidly expanding availability of and access to patient sensitive healthcare data, it is necessary to establish safeguards which ensure the level of protection of patient encounter data that Louisiana citizens deserve, and which protect the privacy of health information comprising data sets that are reported and disseminated to improve the population health of this state.