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House approves bill to include emergency department data in state health system
Summary
House Bill 231 passed on 01/15/2026 to clarify that emergency department data be included alongside hospital discharge data in Delaware’s uniform health data system; sponsor said the change aids public health surveillance for overdoses and other acute issues.
The Delaware House on Jan. 15 passed House Bill 231, which clarifies that the state's uniform health data law includes emergency department data alongside hospital discharge data.
Representative Kamala Smith, who brought the bill forward, said the measure closes a data gap that has left emergency-department-only visits out of the state's routine health reporting. "Emergency departments are often the first point of contact for overdoses, injuries and other acute public health issues," Smith said, arguing that including ED data improves public health surveillance and response for CDC-funded programs such as overdose detection and prevention.
Smith said hospitals already collect the emergency data and some share it with the state; the bill "does not create new mandates" or costs but clarifies statutory language so that existing data-sharing aligns with current operations. She thanked hospitals and the Delaware Hospital Association for their cooperation.
A roll call vote recorded 36 yes votes and 5 absences; the Chief Clerk declared House Bill 231 passed the House. The House did not record amendments on the floor. The bill will be transmitted to the Senate under normal legislative process.
