83-41-355 - Confidentiality of data or information; claims of privilege; civil liability of members of health review committees; discovery of information considered by and records of health review com
§ 83-41-355. Confidentiality of data or information; claims of privilege; civil liability of members of health review committees; discovery of information considered by and records of health review committees; access to treatment records, etc., of enrollees.
(1) Any data or information pertaining to the diagnosis, treatment or health of any enrollee or applicant obtained from the person or from any provider by any health maintenance organization shall be held in confidence and shall not be disclosed to any person except to the extent that it may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this article; or upon the express consent of the enrollee or applicant; or pursuant to statute or court order for the production of evidence or the discovery thereof; or in the event of claim or litigation between the person and the health maintenance organization wherein the data or information is pertinent. A health maintenance organization shall be entitled to claim any statutory privileges against disclosure which the provider who furnished information to the health maintenance organization is entitled to claim.
(2) A person who, in good faith and without malice, takes any action or makes any decision or recommendation as a member, agent or employee of a health care review committee or who furnishes any records, information or assistance to a committee shall not be subject to liability for civil damages or any legal action in consequence of the action, nor shall the health maintenance organization which established a committee or the officers, directors, employees or agents of the health maintenance organization be liable for the activities of the person. This section shall not be construed to relieve any person of liability arising from treatment of a patient.
(3) (a) The information considered by a health care review committee and the records of their actions and proceedings shall be confidential and not subject to subpoena or order to produce except in proceedings before the appropriate state licensing or certifying agency, or in an appeal, if permitted, from the committee's findings or recommendations. No member of a health care review committee, or officer, director or other member of a health maintenance organization or its staff engaged in assisting a committee, or any person assisting or furnishing information to a committee may be subpoenaed to testify in any judicial or quasi-judicial proceeding if the subpoena is based solely on such activities.
(b) Information considered by a health care review committee and the records of its actions and proceedings which are used pursuant to subsection (3)(a) by a state licensing or certifying agency or in an appeal shall be kept confidential and shall be subject to the same provision concerning discovery and use in legal actions as are the original information and records in the possession and control of a health care review committee.
(4) To fulfill its obligations under Section 83-41-313, the health maintenance organization shall have access to treatment records and other information pertaining to the diagnosis, treatment or health status of any enrollee.
Sources: Laws, 1995, ch. 613, § 28, eff from and after July 1, 1995.