Mandatory reporting of diseases and conditions by health care professionals and laboratories

Context Surveillance is a key component of the core public health function of health assessment. Systematic reporting by health care professionals and laboratories, which may vary by state law, statute, or regulation, continu es to provide essential data for assessing public health. Objective To describe the state and territorial reporting requirements for diseases and conditions recommended for national public health surveillance . Design, Setting, and Participants Between May and August 1997, the state an d territorial epidemiologists from all 50 states, in addition to New York C ity, Puerto Rico, and Guam, completed questionnaires indicating which disea ses and conditions were reportable by health care professionals and laborat ories in their jurisdictions, The surveys were subsequently updated to refl ect reporting requirements current as of January 1, 1999. The overall respo nse rate for the survey was 100% for US states and 90% overall, including t he territories. Main Outcome Measure State and territorial reporting requirements for disea ses and conditions of public health concern. Results Of the 58 diseases and conditions recommended for national reportin g, 35 (60%) were reportable in greater than 90% of the states and territori es, 15 (26%) were reportable in 75% to 90%, and 8 (14%)were reportable in l ess than 75%. Nineteen of the infectious diseases were reportable in all of the states and territories that responded. Conclusions Required reporting varies substantially by state or territory. Health care professionals are integral to public health efforts at the loca l, state, and national levels.