(a) A mental health professional or mental health facility may disclose to a 3rd-party payor mental health information necessary to determine the client’s entitlement to, or the amount of, payment benefits for professional services rendered; provided, that the disclosure is pursuant to a valid authorization, or for participating providers, a joint consent, and that the information to be disclosed is limited to:
(1) Administrative information;
(2) Diagnostic information;
(3) The status of the client (voluntary or involuntary);
(4) The reason for admission or continuing treatment; and
(5) A prognosis limited to the estimated time during which treatment might continue.
(b) In the event the 3rd-party payor questions the client’s entitlement to or the amount of payment benefits following disclosure under subsection (a) of this section, the 3rd-party payor may, pursuant to a valid authorization, or for participating providers, a joint consent, request an independent review of the client’s record of mental health information by a mental health professional or professionals. Mental health information disclosed for the purpose of review shall not be disclosed to the 3rd-party payor.
(Mar. 3, 1979, D.C. Law 2-136, § 207, 25 DCR 5055; Dec. 18, 2001, D.C. Law 14-56, § 116(f)(3), 48 DCR 7674.)
1981 Ed., § 6-2017.
1973 Ed., § 6-1621.
This section is referenced in § 44-301.07.
D.C. Law 14-56, in subsecs. (a) and (b), substituted “, or for participating providers, a joint consent,” after “a valid authorization”.
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 16(f)(3) of Department of Mental Health Establishment Emergency Amendment Act of 2001 (D.C. Act 14-55, May 2, 2001, 48 DCR 4390).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 16(f)(3) of Department of Mental Health Establishment Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2001 (D.C. Act 14-101, July 23, 2001, 48 DCR 7123).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 116(f)(3) of Mental Health Service Delivery Reform Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2001 (D.C. Act 14-144, October 23, 2001, 48 DCR 9947).
For temporary (225 day) amendment of section, see § 16(f)(3) of Department of Mental Health Establishment Temporary Amendment Act of 2001 (D.C. Law 14-51, October 30, 2001, law notification 48 DCR 10807).
Structure District of Columbia Code
Title 7 - Human Health Care and Safety
Chapter 12 - Mental Health Information
Subchapter II - Disclosures With the Client’s Consent
§ 7–1202.01. Disclosures by client authorization
§ 7–1202.02. Form of authorization
§ 7–1202.04. Revocation of authorization
§ 7–1202.05. Power to grant authorization
§ 7–1202.06. Authority of mental health professional to limit authorized disclosures