New York Consolidated Laws, Public Health Law - PBH § 2805-g. Maintenance of records

1. Every hospital shall maintain, as public information available for public inspection under such conditions as the commissioner shall prescribe, records containing copies of all inspection reports pertaining to the facility that have been filed with or issued by any governmental agency.  Copies of such inspection reports shall be retained in said records for ten years from the date said reports are filed or issued.

2. The office of the commissioner and each regional office of the department shall make available for public inspection and at a nominal cost provide copies of all financial and inspection reports of hospitals filed with or issued by the department.

3. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed or deemed to require the public disclosure of confidential medical, social, personal or financial records of any patient.  The commissioner shall adopt such regulations as may be necessary to give effect to the provisions of this section and to preserve the confidentiality of medical, social, personal or financial records of patients.