Patient ZIP codes not public data

By Andrew Maloney amaloney@lawbulletinmedia.com

Posted June 22, 2020 11:46 AM

The ZIP codes linked to people receiving mental-health treatment through the Cook County Jail are exempt from public records laws, an appeals court ruled last week.The 1st District Appellate Court found the Cook County Health and Hospitals System properly withheld the postal codes that could indicate where the patients live.Justice Jesse G. Reyes authored a 23-page decision last week, ruling the Illinois Freedom of Information Act’s policy of disclosure was surmounted by the policy of protecting mental health …

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