Reportable

Reportable is an adjective describing information, conditions, or events that must be reported to an authority or other designated recipient. The term is widely used across public health, safety, environmental regulation, and financial contexts to indicate a duty to disclose or notify.

In public health, a disease or condition is described as reportable if healthcare providers or laboratories are legally required to report diagnosed cases to a health authority. This enables surveillance, outbreak detection, program planning, and timely public health responses. Lists of reportable diseases vary by jurisdiction and can be updated as new threats emerge. Reporting is typically confidential, with data used in aggregate form to protect individuals while informing policy and resource allocation. Noncompliance can carry penalties or professional consequences in some jurisdictions.

Outside public health, reportability appears in several domains. In pharmacovigilance and drug safety, certain adverse events or medication errors must be reported to regulators or manufacturers. In environmental regulation, releases of specified substances above defined reportable quantities must be reported to authorities to monitor pollution and inform risk management. In tax and corporate governance, certain payments or transactions are designated as reportable to tax authorities or oversight bodies, influencing disclosure obligations and compliance costs.

Because the concept of reportable status depends on jurisdiction and regulatory program, the term is used with varying scope and thresholds. Readers encountering the term should check the relevant rules or guidance for the specific domain and location to determine what must be reported and to whom.