PURPOSE: This rule establishes the length of time that the division, area agencies and service providers shall maintain records and the standards by which confidentiality of records will be maintained.

1. (1) The division, area agencies and service providers shall maintain all records under Title III for a minimum of three (3) years; Social Services Block Grant records shall be maintained for five (5) years.

2. (2) The division, area agencies and service providers shall maintain the confidentiality of records as follows:

   1. (A) All records that identify individual recipients of alternative services shall be confidential and may be released, for administrative and program monitoring purposes only, to the following:

      1. 1. Designated employees of the Federal

Administration on Aging Regional Office VII;

1. 2. Designated employees of the Missouri

Department of Social Services and the Division of Aging;

1. 3. Designated employees of the area

agency or service provider; or

1. 4. Court of competent jurisdiction,

when subpoenaed;

1. (B) No information or records maintained by the long-term care ombudsman program may be disclosed unless the long-term care ombudsman authorizes the disclosure;
2. (C) Lists of names of older persons shall be used for the purpose of providing services and shall not be distributed, released or used for any other reason;

3. (D) Records that contain confidential client information shall be released only for purposes of program monitoring by an authorized federal, state, or local monitoring agency, unless—

   1. 1. The service recipient or their legal

representative has given informed consent prior to the release of that information;

1. 2. The signed release indicates to whom

the information will be given;

1. 3. Indicates the specific information to

be released; and

1. 4. Specifies the inclusive dates for

which the written consent is valid.

1. (F) Program, fiscal and statistical records that do not identify individual service recipients are not confidential and shall be made available for public inspection upon written request. AUTHORITY: section 660.050, RSMo Supp. 1999.* This rule was previously filed as 13 CSR 15-6.015 and 13 CSR 15-4.300. Original rule filed Jan. 6, 1986, effective April 30, 1986. Amended: Filed Aug. 28, 2000, effective March 30, 2001. Moved to 19 CSR 15- 4.300, effective Aug. 28, 2001.

*Original authority: 660.050, RSMo 1984, amended 1988, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995.