(a) A pharmaceutical company may not require a patient, as a condition of receiving pharmaceuticals, medications, or prescription drugs, to sign an authorization, release, consent, or waiver that would permit the disclosure of medical information that otherwise may not be disclosed under Section 56.10 or any other provision of law, unless the disclosure is for one of the following purposes:
(1) Enrollment of the patient in a patient assistance program or prescription drug discount program.
(2) Enrollment of the patient in a clinical research project.
(3) Prioritization of distribution to the patient of a prescription medicine in limited supply in the United States.
(4) Response to an inquiry from the patient communicated in writing, by telephone, or by electronic mail.
(b) Except as provided in subdivision (a) or Section 56.10, a pharmaceutical company may not disclose medical information provided to it without first obtaining a valid authorization from the patient.
(Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 853, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2003.)
Last modified: October 25, 2018