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TITLE 26 - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
PART 1 - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION
CHAPTER 88 - STATE LONG-TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM
SUBCHAPTER D - REQUIREMENTS OF A LOCAL OMBUDSMAN ENTITY
SECTION/RULE §88.304 - Disclosure of Confidential Information; Exclusion from Reporting Requirements Regarding Abuse, Neglect, or Exploitation; and Provision of Records to the Office
Chapter Review Date 08/08/2023

(a) Information identifying a resident or complainant is confidential. Such information includes:(1) the name of the resident or complainant;(2) information about the resident's medical condition;(3) the resident's medical history;(4) the resident's social history, which includes occupation, residences, and information about a resident's family;(5) the resident's source of payment;(6) information about the resident's personal life; and(7) information from a communication between a resident and a representative of the Office.(b) A local ombudsman entity must ensure that a disclosure of confidential information that is not written information complies with the Older Americans Act, §712(d), 45 CFR §1324.11(e)(3), and the Ombudsman Policies and Procedures Manual.(c) A response to a request to disclose written confidential information must be in accordance with this subsection.(1) If a representative of the Office receives a request to disclose written confidential information as described in subsection (a) of this section, including a subpoena, the representative must immediately:(A) notify the State Ombudsman of the request; and(B) provide the State Ombudsman with any communication from the requestor.(2) If the State Ombudsman receives a request to disclose written confidential information, the State Ombudsman:(A) sends written acknowledgement of receipt of the request to the representative of the Office;(B) reviews the request and responds to the requestor within a time frame required by applicable state or federal law; and(C) sends a copy of the response to the local ombudsman entity.(d) In accordance with 45 CFR §1324.11(e)(3)(iv), a representative of the Office must not, except as provided in §1324.19(b)(5) - (8), report allegations of abuse, neglect, or exploitation under state law, including Texas Human Resources Code, Chapter 48, without appropriate consent or court order. This prohibition applies:(1) regardless of whether a representative of the Office is required to report allegations of abuse, neglect, or exploitation under professional licensure standards; and(2) to a representative of the Office only in the performance of functions of the Ombudsman Program.(e) A local ombudsman entity must, at the request of the Office, immediately provide Ombudsman Program records to the Office.

Source Note: The provisions of this §88.304 adopted to be effective April 5, 2018, 43 TexReg 2007.

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