6 Colo. Code Regs. § 1009-1, reg. Regulation 1
For the purpose of these regulations, the diseases, conditions, and related events named in the Reportable Diseases, Conditions, and Related Events Table (Appendix A) are declared to be potentially dangerous to public health and shall be reportable in accordance with these regulations. In addition, any language specifying "(the) Department" refers to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. The diseases, conditions, and related events named in Appendix A and throughout this rule pertain to those diagnosed or detected in humans, with the exception of those outlined in Regulation 8 - Reporting of Diseases Among Animals and Waiver Process for Rabies Inoculation.
The Board of Health also requires the reporting of any unusual illness, or outbreak, or epidemic of illnesses, which may be of public concern whether or not known to be, or suspected of being, communicable. Such illnesses, outbreaks, or epidemics include, but are not limited to:
The occurrence of a single case of any unusual disease or manifestation of illness which the healthcare provider determines or suspects may be caused by or related to a bioterrorist agent or incident must be reported immediately by telephone to the Department or county, district, or municipal public health agency by the healthcare provider and the hospital, emergency department, clinic, healthcare center, and laboratory in which the person is examined, tested, and/or treated. The same immediate reporting is required for any unusual cluster of illnesses that may be caused by or related to a bioterrorist agent or incident. Bioterrorist agents that cause illness include, but are not limited to, anthrax, plague, smallpox, tularemia, botulism, viral hemorrhagic fever and brucellosis.
Manner of Reporting
All cases are to be reported with patient's name, date of birth, sex assigned at birth, race, ethnicity, phone number, physical address (including city and county), email address, preferred language and name and address and phone number of responsible physician or other healthcare provider; and such other information as is needed to locate the patient for follow up. All laboratory information reported shall include specimen accession number. The patient's pregnancy status shall be reported for cases of syphilis, HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. The patient's relevant treatment and gender identity shall be reported for sexually transmitted infections. Gender identity is defined as an individual's personal sense of being male, female, or transgender. For reports from a publicly funded anonymous testing site, as provided in § 25-4-411, C.R.S., the patient's name and address are not required.
When hospitalization is a criteria for reporting (e.g., a hospitalized patient with a positive test result for COVID-19, influenza, or RSV), the report shall provide hospital admission date(s) and the name of the facility where the patient is hospitalized. When requested by the department, the report shall also include discharge date(s), ventilator and intensive care unit (ICU) use, and other fields as needed. Reports on hospitalized patients may be made part of a report by the hospital as a whole instead of reports from individual providers.
For animal bites by owned dogs, and cats, the name and locating information of the owner of the biting animal shall be reported, if known, by the healthcare provider. For bites by bats, skunks, foxes, raccoons, coyotes, and other wild carnivores, as well as non-bite bat exposures, the location information of the wild animal shall be reported, if known, by the healthcare provider.
Reporting requirements for healthcare-associated infections are provided by § 25-3-601 et seq., C.R.S. and are reported to the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bloodstream infections are listed below in Appendix A because they are not covered by § 25-3-601, C.R.S., and reporting requirements are satisfied by reporting to NHSN. Facilities reporting outbreaks of healthcare-associated infections, and those choosing to voluntarily participate in applied public health projects related to healthcare-associated infections as indicated in Appendix A and Healthcare-Associated Infections (Appendix B), shall make medical records available for review by the Department upon request within a reasonable time frame.
See Appendix A to determine time frames for reporting (from diagnosis or test result), who shall report, the reporting area, whether laboratory information is required for a report, and whether an isolate or clinical material must be sent to the Department, State Public Health Laboratory.
The Department shall develop systems and forms for reporting for physicians, other healthcare providers and hospitals. When hospitals and laboratories transmit disease reports electronically using systems and protocols developed by the Department or Federal agencies that ensure protection of confidentiality, such reporting is acceptable and is considered good faith reporting.
6 CCR 1009-1, reg. Regulation 1