WHY MUST HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS REPORT?
Failure to report a reportable disease is a citable offense for health care providers. However, this is not and should not be the primary motivating factor for reporting. Health care providers are the first and only line of defense in recognizing emerging public health issues. The window of opportunity afforded by early reporting directly impacts the effectiveness of any public health response. Reporting of other diseases (e.g., sexually transmitted diseases, hepatitis C) also directly determines federal and state funds that communities may receive for prevention, treatment and case management.
