1. (a) All records and information about a patient must be kept confidential by the facility, as provided in (b) of this section, unless the facility obtains a written consent under (c) of this section for release of information.

2. (b) Information regarding a patient may be released without consent only to

   1. (1) a person authorized by court order;
   2. (2) health care providers if a medical emergency arises;
   3. (3) research projects authorized by the governing board, if provision is made to preserve anonymity in the reported results;
   4. (4) other persons to whom disclosure is required by law.

3. (c) A facility may release records and information regarding a patient to the patient or to an individual for whom the patient, or legally designated representative of the patient, has given written consent to disclosure. The consent must include the

   1. (1) patient's name;
   2. (2) first and last dates of service authorization;
   3. (3) information to be released;
   4. (4) recipient of the information; and
   5. (5) signature of the patient or the legally designated representative of the patient.
4. (d) The governing board of a facility shall develop a plan for safeguarding confidential information and submit it to the division as part of its application.

(Eff. 3/17/85, Register 93)

Authority: AS 18.25.100