Maine Revised Statutes
Chapter 56: HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATIONS
24-A §4224. Confidentiality; liability; access to records

§4224. Confidentiality; liability; access to records
1.  Confidentiality.  Any data or information pertaining to the diagnosis, treatment or health of an enrollee or applicant obtained from that enrollee or applicant or a provider by a health maintenance organization must be held in confidence and may not be disclosed to any person except: to the extent that it may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter; upon the express consent of the enrollee or applicant; pursuant to statute or court order for the production of evidence or the discovery of evidence; or in the event of claim or litigation between that enrollee or applicant and the health maintenance organization when such data or information is pertinent. A health maintenance organization is entitled to claim any statutory privileges against such disclosure that the provider who furnished such information to the health maintenance organization is entitled to claim.  
[PL 1991, c. 709, §7 (NEW).]
2.  Liability.  A person who, in good faith and without malice, as a member, agent or employee of a quality assurance committee, assists in the origination, investigation or preparation of a report or information related to treatment previously rendered, submits that report or information to a health maintenance organization or appropriate state licensing board, or assists the committee in carrying out any of its duties under this chapter is not subject to civil liability for damages as a consequence of those actions, nor is the health maintenance organization that established that committee or the officers, directors, employees or agents of that health maintenance organization liable for the activities of that person. This section may not be construed to relieve any person of liability arising from treatment of a patient.  
A. The information considered by a quality assurance committee and the records of its actions and proceedings are 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 findings or recommendations of the committee. A member of a quality assurance committee or an officer, director, staff person or other member of a health maintenance organization engaged in assisting the committee or any person assisting or furnishing information to the committee may not be subpoenaed to testify in any judicial or quasi-judicial proceeding if the subpoena is based solely on these activities.   [PL 1991, c. 709, §7 (NEW).]
B. Information considered by a quality assurance committee and the records and proceedings of that committee used pursuant to paragraph A by a state licensing or certifying agency or in an appeal must be kept confidential and are subject to the same provisions concerning discovery and use in legal actions as are the original information and records in the possession and control of the health care review committee.   [PL 1991, c. 709, §7 (NEW).]
[PL 1991, c. 709, §7 (NEW).]
3.  Access to records.  To fulfill the obligations of a health maintenance organization under section 4204, subsection 2‑A, paragraph B, a health maintenance organization must have access to treatment records and other information pertaining to the diagnosis, treatment and health status of any enrollee.  
[PL 1991, c. 709, §7 (NEW).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1975, c. 503 (NEW). PL 1991, c. 709, §7 (RPR).

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