{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/32.1-48.015.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/32.1-48.015.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/32.1-48.015.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/32.1-48.015.html"}],"law_id":79587,"edition_id":1,"section_id":79587,"structure_id":14328,"section_number":"32.1-48.015","catch_line":"Authorization to disclose health records","history":"2004, cc. 773, 1021; 2007, cc. 699, 783; 2017, c. 778; 2020, c. 502.","full_text":"A\n\nThe provisions of this article are hereby declared to be necessary to prevent serious harm and serious threats to the health and safety of individuals and the public in Virginia for purposes of authorizing the State Health Commissioner or his designee to examine and review any health records of any person or persons subject to any order of quarantine or order of isolation pursuant to this article and the regulations of the Department of Health and Human Services promulgated in compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as amended. The State Health Commissioner shall authorize any designee in writing to so examine and review any health records of any person or persons subject to any order of quarantine or order of isolation pursuant to this article.B\n\nPursuant to the regulations concerning patient privacy promulgated by the federal Department of Health and Human Services, covered entities may disclose protected health information to the State Health Commissioner or his designee without obtaining consent or authorization for such disclosure from the person who is the subject of the records. Such protected health information shall be used to facilitate the health care of any person or persons who are subject to an order of quarantine or an order of isolation. The State Health Commissioner or his designee shall only redisclose such protected health information in compliance with the aforementioned federal regulations. Further, the protected health information disclosed to the State Health Commissioner or his designee shall be held confidential and shall not be disclosed pursuant to the provisions of subdivision 12 of § 2.2-3705.5.C\n\nPursuant to subsection G of § 32.1-116.3, any person requesting or requiring any employee of a public safety agency as defined in subsection M of § 32.1-45.2 to arrest, transfer, or otherwise exercise custodial supervision over an individual known to the requesting person (i) to be infected with any communicable disease or (ii) to be subject to an order of quarantine or an order of isolation pursuant to Article 3.02 (§ 32.1-48.05 et seq.) of Chapter 2 shall inform such employee of a public safety agency of the potential risk of exposure to a communicable disease.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":285162,"text":"The provisions of this article are hereby declared to be necessary to prevent serious harm and serious threats to the health and safety of individuals and the public in Virginia for purposes of authorizing the State Health Commissioner or his designee to examine and review any health records of any person or persons subject to any order of quarantine or order of isolation pursuant to this article and the regulations of the Department of Health and Human Services promulgated in compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as amended. The State Health Commissioner shall authorize any designee in writing to so examine and review any health records of any person or persons subject to any order of quarantine or order of isolation pursuant to this article.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":285163,"text":"Pursuant to the regulations concerning patient privacy promulgated by the federal Department of Health and Human Services, covered entities may disclose protected health information to the State Health Commissioner or his designee without obtaining consent or authorization for such disclosure from the person who is the subject of the records. Such protected health information shall be used to facilitate the health care of any person or persons who are subject to an order of quarantine or an order of isolation. The State Health Commissioner or his designee shall only redisclose such protected health information in compliance with the aforementioned federal regulations. Further, the protected health information disclosed to the State Health Commissioner or his designee shall be held confidential and shall not be disclosed pursuant to the provisions of subdivision 12 of § 2.2-3705.5.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":285164,"text":"Pursuant to subsection G of § 32.1-116.3, any person requesting or requiring any employee of a public safety agency as defined in subsection M of § 32.1-45.2 to arrest, transfer, or otherwise exercise custodial supervision over an individual known to the requesting person (i) to be infected with any communicable disease or (ii) to be subject to an order of quarantine or an order of isolation pursuant to Article 3.02 (§ 32.1-48.05 et seq.) of Chapter 2 shall inform such employee of a public safety agency of the potential risk of exposure to a communicable disease.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14328,"edition_id":1,"name":"Quarantine and Isolation of Persons With Communicable Diseases of Public Health Threat","identifier":"3.02","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13607,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:47:46","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:47:46","permalink":{"id":202047,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14328,"identifier":"3.02","token":"32.1\/2\/3.02","url":"\/32.1\/2\/3.02\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13607,"edition_id":1,"name":"Disease Prevention and Control","identifier":"2","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12727,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:22","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:22","permalink":{"id":201743,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13607,"identifier":"2","token":"32.1\/2","url":"\/32.1\/2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12727,"edition_id":1,"name":"Health","identifier":"32.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","permalink":{"id":201099,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12727,"identifier":"32.1","token":"32.1","url":"\/32.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":62413,"structure_id":14328,"section_number":"32.1-48.010","catch_line":"Appeal of any order of quarantine","url":"\/32.1-48.010\/","token":"32.1\/2\/3.02\/32.1-48.010","metadata":false},{"id":56897,"structure_id":14328,"section_number":"32.1-48.011","catch_line":"Isolation may be ordered under certain exceptional circumstances; Commissioner authorized to require hospitalization or other health care","url":"\/32.1-48.011\/","token":"32.1\/2\/3.02\/32.1-48.011","metadata":false},{"id":68450,"structure_id":14328,"section_number":"32.1-48.012","catch_line":"Isolation order","url":"\/32.1-48.012\/","token":"32.1\/2\/3.02\/32.1-48.012","metadata":false},{"id":80635,"structure_id":14328,"section_number":"32.1-48.013","catch_line":"Appeal of any order of isolation","url":"\/32.1-48.013\/","token":"32.1\/2\/3.02\/32.1-48.013","metadata":false},{"id":80302,"structure_id":14328,"section_number":"32.1-48.013:1","catch_line":"Electronic filings as protection from communicable disease","url":"\/32.1-48.013_1\/","token":"32.1\/2\/3.02\/32.1-48.013_1","metadata":false},{"id":63430,"structure_id":14328,"section_number":"32.1-48.014","catch_line":"Enforcement of orders of quarantine or isolation; penalties","url":"\/32.1-48.014\/","token":"32.1\/2\/3.02\/32.1-48.014","metadata":false},{"id":79587,"structure_id":14328,"section_number":"32.1-48.015","catch_line":"Authorization to disclose health records","url":"\/32.1-48.015\/","token":"32.1\/2\/3.02\/32.1-48.015","metadata":false},{"id":55627,"structure_id":14328,"section_number":"32.1-48.016","catch_line":"Immunity from liability","url":"\/32.1-48.016\/","token":"32.1\/2\/3.02\/32.1-48.016","metadata":false},{"id":66225,"structure_id":14328,"section_number":"32.1-48.017","catch_line":"Use of public or private property or facilities","url":"\/32.1-48.017\/","token":"32.1\/2\/3.02\/32.1-48.017","metadata":false},{"id":72908,"structure_id":14328,"section_number":"32.1-48.05","catch_line":"Application of article; determination of exceptional circumstances; regulations; duties of the State Health Commissioner not be delegated","url":"\/32.1-48.05\/","token":"32.1\/2\/3.02\/32.1-48.05","metadata":false},{"id":70676,"structure_id":14328,"section_number":"32.1-48.06","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/32.1-48.06\/","token":"32.1\/2\/3.02\/32.1-48.06","metadata":false},{"id":79292,"structure_id":14328,"section_number":"32.1-48.07","catch_line":"Conditions for invoking the provisions of this article","url":"\/32.1-48.07\/","token":"32.1\/2\/3.02\/32.1-48.07","metadata":false},{"id":76345,"structure_id":14328,"section_number":"32.1-48.08","catch_line":"Declaration of quarantine","url":"\/32.1-48.08\/","token":"32.1\/2\/3.02\/32.1-48.08","metadata":false},{"id":73650,"structure_id":14328,"section_number":"32.1-48.09","catch_line":"Order of quarantine","url":"\/32.1-48.09\/","token":"32.1\/2\/3.02\/32.1-48.09","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":63430,"structure_id":14328,"section_number":"32.1-48.014","catch_line":"Enforcement of orders of quarantine or isolation; penalties","url":"\/32.1-48.014\/","token":"32.1\/2\/3.02\/32.1-48.014","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":55627,"structure_id":14328,"section_number":"32.1-48.016","catch_line":"Immunity from liability","url":"\/32.1-48.016\/","token":"32.1\/2\/3.02\/32.1-48.016","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/32.1-48.015\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2004. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapters 773<\/a> and 1021<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. It has been modified 3 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 2007, chapters 699<\/a> and 783<\/a>; in 2017, chapter 778<\/a>; in 2020, chapter 502<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":58930,"section_number":"32.1-127.1:03","catch_line":"Health records privacy","order_by":null,"url":"\/32.1-127.1_03\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":81701,"section_number":"32.1-116.3","catch_line":"Reporting of communicable diseases; definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/32.1-116.3\/"},{"id":68561,"section_number":"32.1-45.2","catch_line":"Public safety employees; testing for blood-borne pathogens; procedure available for certain citizens; definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/32.1-45.2\/"},{"id":72908,"section_number":"32.1-48.05","catch_line":"Application of article; determination of exceptional circumstances; regulations; duties of the State Health Commissioner not be delegated","order_by":null,"url":"\/32.1-48.05\/"}],"permalink":{"id":202073,"object_type":"law","relational_id":79587,"identifier":"32.1-48.015","token":"32.1\/2\/3.02\/32.1-48.015","url":"\/32.1-48.015\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/32.1-48.015\/","token":"32.1\/2\/3.02\/32.1-48.015","dublin_core":{"Title":"Authorization to disclose health records","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 32.1-48.015","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The provisions of this article are hereby declared to be necessary to prevent serious harm and serious threats to the health and safety of individuals<\/span> and the public in Virginia for purposes of authorizing the State Health Commissioner<\/span> or his designee to examine and review any health records of any person or persons<\/span> subject to any order<\/span> of quarantine<\/span> or order<\/span> of isolation<\/span> pursuant to this article and the regulations of the Department<\/span> of Health and Human Services promulgated in compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as amended. The State Health Commissioner<\/span> shall authorize any designee in writing to so examine and review any health records of any person or persons<\/span> subject to any order<\/span> of quarantine<\/span> or order<\/span> of isolation<\/span> pursuant to this article. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Pursuant to the regulations concerning patient privacy promulgated by the federal Department<\/span> of Health and Human Services, covered entities may disclose protected health information to the State Health Commissioner<\/span> or his designee without obtaining consent or authorization for such disclosure from the person who is the subject of the records. Such protected health information shall be used to facilitate the health care of any person or persons<\/span> who are subject to an order<\/span> of quarantine<\/span> or an order<\/span> of isolation<\/span>. The State Health Commissioner<\/span> or his designee shall only redisclose such protected health information in compliance with the aforementioned federal regulations. Further, the protected health information disclosed to the State Health Commissioner<\/span> or his designee shall be held confidential and shall not be disclosed pursuant to the provisions of subdivision 12 of § 2.2-3705.5<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Pursuant to subsection G of § 32.1-116.3<\/a>, any person requesting or requiring any employee of a public safety agency as defined in subsection M of § 32.1-45.2<\/a> to arrest<\/span>, transfer, or otherwise exercise custodial supervision over an individual<\/span> known to the requesting person (i) to be infected with any communicable disease or (ii) to be subject to an order<\/span> of quarantine<\/span> or an order<\/span> of isolation<\/span> pursuant to Article 3.02 (§ 32.1-48.05<\/a> et seq.) of Chapter 2 shall inform such employee of a public safety agency of the potential risk of exposure to a communicable disease. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nAUTHORIZATION TO DISCLOSE HEALTH RECORDS (\u00a7 32.1-48.015)\n\nA. The provisions of this article are hereby declared to be necessary to prevent\nserious harm and serious threats to the health and safety of individuals and the\npublic in Virginia for purposes of authorizing the State Health Commissioner or\nhis designee to examine and review any health records of any person or persons\nsubject to any order of quarantine or order of isolation pursuant to this\narticle and the regulations of the Department of Health and Human Services\npromulgated in compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and\nAccountability Act of 1996, as amended. The State Health Commissioner shall\nauthorize any designee in writing to so examine and review any health records of\nany person or persons subject to any order of quarantine or order of isolation\npursuant to this article.\n\nB. Pursuant to the regulations concerning patient privacy promulgated by the\nfederal Department of Health and Human Services, covered entities may disclose\nprotected health information to the State Health Commissioner or his designee\nwithout obtaining consent or authorization for such disclosure from the person\nwho is the subject of the records. Such protected health information shall be\nused to facilitate the health care of any person or persons who are subject to\nan order of quarantine or an order of isolation. The State Health Commissioner\nor his designee shall only redisclose such protected health information in\ncompliance with the aforementioned federal regulations. Further, the protected\nhealth information disclosed to the State Health Commissioner or his designee\nshall be held confidential and shall not be disclosed pursuant to the provisions\nof subdivision 12 of § 2.2-3705.5.\n\nC. Pursuant to subsection G of § 32.1-116.3, any person requesting or\nrequiring any employee of a public safety agency as defined in subsection M of\n§ 32.1-45.2 to arrest, transfer, or otherwise exercise custodial\nsupervision over an individual known to the requesting person (i) to be infected\nwith any communicable disease or (ii) to be subject to an order of quarantine or\nan order of isolation pursuant to Article 3.02 (§ 32.1-48.05 et seq.) of\nChapter 2 shall inform such employee of a public safety agency of the potential\nrisk of exposure to a communicable disease.\n\nHISTORY: 2004, cc. 773, 1021; 2007, cc. 699, 783; 2017, c. 778; 2020, c. 502.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}