N.J. Stat. § 52:9YY-3
As used in this act:
"Department" means the Department of Health and Senior Services.
"Disclosure" means the disclosure of health data to a person or entity outside the department.
"Health data" means any information, except vital statistics as defined in R.S. 26:8-1, relating to the health status of people, the availability of health care resources and services, or the use and cost of these resources and services. Health data shall not include information that is created or received by members of the clergy or others who use spiritual means alone for healing.
"Identifiable health data" means any item, collection or grouping of health data which makes the person supplying it or described in it identifiable.
"Research and statistical purposes" means the performance of certain activities relating to health data, including, but not limited to: describing the group characteristics of persons or entities; analyzing the interrelationships among various characteristics of persons or entities; the conduct of statistical procedures or studies to improve the quality of health data; the design of sample surveys and the selection of samples of persons or entities; the preparation and publication of reports describing these activities; and other related functions; but excluding the use of health data for a person or entity to make a determination directly affecting the rights, benefits or entitlements of that person or entity.
N.J.S. § 52:9YY-3