Section 199.033

Title XII PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE

Chapter 199

Effective - 01 Jul 1992, see footnote   

  199.033.  Records to be confidential — disclosure upon request, certain persons, when — disclosure to be documented. — 1.  Information and records compiled, obtained, prepared or maintained by the rehabilitation facilities, residential facility or specialized program operated or funded by the department or otherwise in the course of providing services to patients shall be confidential.

  2.  The facilities or programs shall disclose information and records to the following upon their request:

  (1)  The parent of a minor patient;

  (2)  The guardian or other person having legal custody of the patient;

  (3)  The attorney of a patient who is a ward of the juvenile court, an alleged incompetent, an incompetent ward or a person detained under chapter 632, as evidenced by court orders of the attorney's appointment;

  (4)  An attorney or personal physician as authorized by the patient.

  3.  The facilities or services may disclose information and records under any of the following:

  (1)  As authorized by the patient;

  (2)  To persons or agencies responsible for providing health care services to such patients;

  (3)  To the extent necessary for a recipient to make a claim or for a claim to be made on behalf of a recipient for aid or insurance;

  (4)  To qualified personnel for the purpose of conducting scientific research, management audits, financial audits, program evaluations or similar studies; provided, that such personnel shall not identify, directly or indirectly, any individual patient in any report of such research, audit or evaluation, or otherwise disclose patient identities in any manner;

  (5)  To the courts as necessary for the administration of the provisions of sections 199.001 to 199.055;

  (6)  To law enforcement officers or public health officers, but only to the extent necessary to carry out the responsibilities of their office, and all such law enforcement and public health officers shall be obligated to keep such information confidential;

  (7)  Pursuant to an order of a court or administrative agency of competent jurisdiction;

  (8)  To the department of social services as necessary to report or have investigated abuse, neglect, or rights violations of patients.

  4.  The facility or program shall document the dates, nature, purposes and recipients of any records disclosed under this section.

  5.  Nothing contained in this section shall limit the rights of discovery in judicial or administrative procedures as otherwise provided for by statute or rule.

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(L. 1991 H.B. 218 merged with S.B. 125 & 341)

Effective 8-28-91 (H.B. 218); 7-1-92  (S.B. 125 & 341)