Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 33-401.701 - Medical and Substance Abuse Clinical Files
(1) The Department of Corrections Office of
Health Services shall maintain a comprehensive medical file (including medical,
dental and mental health components) on every person committed to the custody
and care of the Department. Information included in the inmate's medical file
is protected health information and shall be used or disclosed in accordance
with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Privacy Rule of
1996, (HIPAA) and Florida law. The Department of Corrections shall also
maintain a comprehensive substance abuse file on every person inmate who
receives substance abuse program services. Information included in the inmate's
substance abuse file is confidential in accordance with 42 C.F.R. Part II, the
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Privacy Rule of 1996
(HIPAA), and Florida law. The Department of Corrections' Reception and Medical
Center Hospital shall maintain an inpatient hospital medical file on every
inmate admitted for care and treatment at Reception Medical Center
Hospital.
(2) Definitions.
(a) Business Associate - refers to a person
or entity who is not a member of the Department of Corrections' workforce and
who, on behalf of the department, performs a function or activity involving the
use or disclosure of individually identifiable health information. A business
associate agreement or contract requiring a business associate to appropriately
safeguard protected health information is required from business
associates.
(b) Designated Records
Set - refers to an inmate's medical, mental health, and dental files, Reception
Medical Center Hospital's inpatient hospital file, and substance abuse clinical
files that are maintained by the Department.
(c) Department workforce - includes
employees, volunteers, interns, trainees and other persons whose conduct, in
the performance of work for the Department, is under the direct control of the
Department, whether or not they are paid by the Department.
(d) Disclose - refers to the release,
transfer, provision of access to, or divulging in any other manner of
information outside the Department.
(e) Health Services Administrator - refers to
designated Department employees responsible for working with the privacy
officer to ensure that all Department privacy procedures are
implemented.
(f) Hospital file - as
used in this rule refers to an inmate's inpatient hospital patient records
created and maintained by Reception Medical Center Hospital.
(g) Medical file - as used in this rule
refers to the inmate's medical, mental health, and dental files maintained by
the department.
(h) Personal
Representative - as used in this rule, means, with respect to a deceased
inmate, a person appointed by a court to act as the personal representative,
executor, administrator, curator, or temporary administrator of the deceased
inmate's estate, or if a court has not made such a judicial appointment, a
person designated by the inmate to act as his or her personal representative in
a last will that is self-proved under section
732.503, F.S. In addition, if a
court has not made a judicial appointment as described herein and the inmate
has not designated a person in a self-proved last will, a personal
representative also means one of the following individuals:
1. A surviving spouse.
2. If there is no surviving spouse, a
surviving adult child of the inmate.
3. If there is not surviving spouse or adult
child, a parent of the inmate.
With respect to a living inmate, a personal representative means a health care surrogate, proxy, guardian, or other person with authority under Florida law to make decisions related to the inmate's health care.
(i) Privacy
Officer - as used in this rule, refers to a designated employee in the Office
of Health Services who is responsible for the development and implementation of
the policies and procedures related to the HIPAA Privacy Rule. The privacy
officer is the Department's contact person for HIPAA.
(j) Protected health information (PHI) -
where used herein, refers to inmate or offender information that is created or
received by the Department of Corrections, whether oral, recorded, transmitted,
or maintained in any form or medium, that relates to the past, present, or
future physical or mental health or condition of an inmate or offender, the
provision of health care to an inmate or offender, or the past, present, or
future payment for the provision of health care to an inmate or offender and
identifies an inmate or offender or there is a reasonable basis to believe the
information can be used to identify an inmate or offender.
(k) Psychotherapy notes - refers to notes
recorded by a mental health professional documenting or analyzing the contents
of conversation during a private or group session. The term does not include
medication prescription and monitoring, session start and stop times, the
modalities and frequencies of treatment furnished, results of clinical tests,
and any summary of the following: diagnosis, functional status, treatment plan,
symptoms, prognosis, and progress to date.
(l) Substance abuse clinical file - refers to
the department's inmate file containing all written documents, records and
forms compiled to detail an inmate's substance abuse history, substance abuse
screening, assessment, intervention, and other substance abuse services,
including the results of urinalysis testing done for treatment, program
participation, and admission and discharge summaries.
(m) Substance abuse progress notes - refers
to notes recorded by a substance abuse health care professional documenting or
analyzing the contents of conversation during a private or group session. The
term does not include session start and stop times, the modalities and
frequencies of treatment furnished, results of clinical tests, and any summary
of the following: diagnosis, functional status, treatment plan, symptoms,
prognosis, and progress to date.
(n) Use - refers to, with respect to
protected health information, the sharing, employment, application,
utilization, examination, or analysis of such information within the
Department.
(3) Inmate
and offender access to their own protected health information in a designated
records set.
(a) Except as otherwise provided
in this rule, an inmate shall be allowed to have access to his or her own
protected health information contained in a designated records set. An inmate
desiring access to his or her own medical file or Reception Medical Center
hospital file shall submit a written request using Form DC6-236, Inmate
Request, to the health services administrator or his or her designee. An inmate
desiring access to his own substance abuse clinical file shall submit a written
request using DC6-236, Inmate Request, to the substance abuse program manager
or his or her designee. Form DC6-236 is incorporated by reference in rule
33-103.005, F.A.C.
(b) The department does not maintain medical
files or substance abuse clinical files on offenders under community
supervision. Access to records maintained by treatment providers under contract
with the department should be requested by contacting the treatment
provider.
(c)
1. Inmates shall have no access to
psychotherapy notes or substance abuse progress notes maintained in the
department's records.
2. Inmates
shall have no access to protected health information compiled in reasonable
anticipation of, or for use in, a civil, criminal, or administrative action or
proceeding.
3. Inmates shall have
no access to protected health information maintained by the Department that is
subject to the Clinical Laboratory Improvements Amendments of 1988,
42 U.S.C.
263a, to the extent that the provision of
access to the inmate is prohibited by law, or is exempt from the Clinical
Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988, pursuant to
42 C.F.R.
493.3(a)(2).
(d) An inmate's request for access shall be
denied in whole or in part due to any of the following reasons:
1. The request is for records or information
identified in paragraph (c), above.
2. The request is for protected health
information that was obtained from someone other than a health care provider
under a promise of confidentiality and the access requested would with
reasonable likelihood reveal the source of the information.
3. The request is for information not
maintained or no longer maintained by the department in its files.
4. There has been a determination by a
licensed or certified health care professional that:
a. The requested access is reasonably likely
to endanger the life or physical safety of the inmate or another
person;
b. The requested access is
to protected health information that makes reference to another person (other
than a health care provider) and such access is reasonably likely to cause
substantial harm to such other person; or
c. The access is requested by a personal
representative of the inmate and such access is likely to cause substantial
harm to the inmate.
(e) Except as otherwise provided in this
rule, all requests shall be granted, including providing access or copies or
both, or denied, in whole or in part, by the health services administrator or
his designee or substance abuse program manager or his designee in writing
within 30 days of the date of receipt of the request. However, if the requested
files are not maintained on-site, the department shall provide or deny access,
in whole or in part, within 60 days from receipt of the request. If the
department is unable to grant or deny, in whole or in part, the request for
access within the 30 or 60 day time periods, the department is authorized to
extend the time for such action an additional 30 days by providing the inmate a
written statement that the time period has been extended for 30 days and the
reason(s) for the extension. This extension is available only one
time.
(f) Denials must provide:
1. The basis for the denial;
2. Information on where the requested
information is maintained if subparagraph (d)3. applies, and the department
knows where the information is maintained;
3. Notification that the inmate may request a
review of a denial based on subparagraph (d)4., by submitting a written request
to the health services administrator or his or her designee in the case of
medical files, or the substance abuse program manager or his or her designee in
the case of substance abuse clinical files; and,
4. That the inmate may grieve the denial
through the inmate grievance process pursuant to chapter 33-103,
F.A.C.
5. Upon written request of
the inmate to the staff member designated above, denials based on subparagraph
(d)4., shall be reviewed by a licensed or certified health care professional
who is designated by the health services administrator or his or her designee
or substance abuse program manager or his or her designee, and who did not
participate in the original decision to deny the request. Review of the denial
must be completed within a reasonable time after receipt of the request for
review. Immediately upon determination on review, the inmate shall be notified
in writing of the decision.
(g) Where a request for access to an inmate's
medical file or substance abuse clinical file is denied in part, the department
shall provide access to the requested file after excluding the information for
which access was denied.
(h)
Providing Access:
1. Before any inmate reviews
his or her medical file or substance abuse clinical file the Department will
verify the inmate's identity using the inmate's ID card.
2. Medical and hospital files and substance
abuse clinical files must be reviewed in a secure area in the presence of
health record staff or the health service administrator.
3. No information shall be copied or removed
from the file by the inmate at the time of the review. Form DC6-236, Inmate
Request, shall be submitted by the inmate to obtain any
copies.
(i) Copies will
be provided upon receipt of payment as provided in subsection
33-601.901(2),
F.A.C., except that when providing the inmate a copy of the requested
information would jeopardize either the health, safety, security, custody of
the inmate or of other inmates; or the safety of any officer, employee, or
other person at the correctional institution or a person responsible for the
transporting of the inmate, no copies shall be provided. A denial of copies on
this basis shall not be subject to review under subparagraph (3)(f)3.,
above.
(4) Requesting
Restrictions on the Use and Disclosure of Protected Health Information in a
designated records set.
(a) An inmate may
request that the Department restrict the uses and disclosures of his or her
protected health information to carry out treatment, payment, health care
operations, and for notification for involvement in the inmate's care. Inmates
shall submit requests for restrictions on Form DC6-236, Inmate Request, to the
health services administrator and provide a reason to support the requested
restriction.
(b) In accordance with
45 C.F.R. §
164.522 the Department is not required to agree to a request
for restriction and the Department shall not restrict disclosures of protected
health information to other government agencies providing benefits or services
to the inmate, to government agencies that oversee health care providers, or
that are required by law.
(c) The
Department shall notify the inmate of the denial or acceptance of the request
to restrict information and a copy of the notice of denial or acceptance shall
be filed in the inmate's designated record set and sent to other workforce
members with a need to know. The written request and notification of denial or
acceptance must be kept for six years from the date it was created or the date
it was last in effect, whichever is later.
(d) If the Department agrees to the
restriction, the Department and its business associates shall honor the
restriction unless the inmate is in need of emergency treatment and the
restricted information is needed to provide the emergency treatment. If
restricted information is disclosed to a health care provider for emergency
treatment, the Department shall request that the health care provider not
further use or disclose the information.
(e) The Department shall terminate its
agreement to a restriction, if:
1. The inmate
agrees to or requests the termination in writing;
2. The inmate orally agrees to the
termination and the oral agreement is documented; or
3. The Department informs the inmate that it
is terminating its agreement to a restriction. The termination is only
effective for protected health information created or received after the
Department informed the inmate of the
termination.
(5) Requesting Confidential Communications.
(a) An inmate or offender may request that
the Department communicate protected health information with him or her by
alternative means or at alternative locations. Inmates must make requests for
confidential communication in writing on Form DC6-236, Inmate Request. The
Department shall refuse an inmate's request if the inmate has not specified a
reasonable method of communication or if the request would jeopardize or
disrupt the safety, security or operations of the institution. The health
services administrator shall notify the inmate that the request for
confidential communication was denied or accepted.
(b) The Department shall retain the inmate's
request and notification of denial or acceptance for a minimum of six years in
the inmate's medical file.
(6) Request to amend protected health
information in a designated record set.
(a) An
inmate may request that the Department amend a designated record set for as
long as the Department maintains the protected health information in the
designated record set. Inmates shall make requests for amendments in writing on
Form DC6-236, Inmate Request, and provide a reason to support the requested
amendment.
(b) In accordance with
45 C.F.R. §
164.526, the Department shall act on the inmate's request for
an amendment no later than 60 days after receipt of the request. If the
Department is unable to act on the amendment within 60 days, the Department may
extend the time by no more than 30 days, provided that within 60 days, the
Department provided the inmate with a written statement of the reasons for the
delay and the date by which the Department will complete its action on the
request. The Department shall have one time extension for action on the
request.
(c) If the Department is
informed by another health care provider of an amendment to an inmate's
protected information, the Department shall amend the protected information in
its designated record sets.
(d)
Pursuant to 45 C.F.R. §
164.526, the Department shall deny an inmate's
request for an amendment to protected health information if it determines that
the protected information:
1. Was not created
by the Department, unless the inmate provides a reasonable basis to believe
that the originator of protected information is no longer available to act on
the requested amendment;
2. Is not
part of the designated record set;
3. Is information that is not available for
inspection by the inmate as provided in subsection (3), above; or
4. Is accurate and
complete.
(e) If the
Department denies the requested amendment, in whole or in part, the Department
shall send the inmate a written denial notice, in plain language that contains:
1. The basis for the denial;
2. The inmate's right to submit a written
statement disagreeing with the denial and how the inmate may submit such a
statement on Form DC6-236, Inmate Request;
3. A statement that if the inmate does not
submit a statement of disagreement, the inmate may request that the Department
provide the inmate's request for amendment and the denial with any future
disclosures of the protected information that is the subject of the amendment;
and,
4. A description of how the
inmate may complain through the inmate grievance process.
(f) The Department shall permit the inmate to
submit a written statement disagreeing with the denial of all or part of a
requested amendment and the basis of such disagreement. The statement of
disagreement is limited to 100 words. The Department shall prepare and submit a
written rebuttal to the statement of disagreement.
(g) The Department shall identify the
protected health information in the designated record set that is the subject
of the disputed amendment and append the inmate's request for an amendment, the
Department's denial of the request, the inmate's statement of disagreement, if
any, and the Department's rebuttal, if any, in the designated record
set.
(h) When a subsequent
disclosure of the protected health information is made, the Department shall
submit the material required in paragraph (g), with the requested protected
health information.
(i) If the
Department accepts the requested amendment, in whole or in part, the Department
shall comply with the following requirements:
1. The Department shall make the amendment to
the designated records set by identifying the portions in the record that are
affected by the amendment and appending or otherwise providing a link to the
location of the amendment.
2. The
Department shall inform the inmate that the amendment is accepted and obtain
the inmate's identification of, and agreement to have the Department notify
relevant persons with which the amendment needs to be shared as described below
within 60 days.
3. The Department
shall make reasonable efforts to inform and provide the amendment within a
reasonable time to:
a. Persons identified by
the inmate as having received protected information about the inmate and
needing the amendment; and,
b.
Persons, including business associates, that the Department knows have the
protected information that is the subject of the amendment and that may have
relied, or could foreseeably rely, on such information to the detriment of the
inmate.
(7) Request for Accounting of Disclosures.
(a) Inmates may request that the Department
provide them with an accounting of disclosures of protected health
information.
(b) Inmates shall make
requests for an accounting of disclosures on Form DC6-236, Inmate Request to
the health services administrator.
(c) Pursuant to 45 C.F.R. §
164.528 the
Department shall provide the accounting of disclosures within 60 days of the
request. If the Department is unable to provide the accounting within 60 days,
it shall inform the inmate of the reason for the delay and when it expects to
provide the accounting. One extension of 30 days is permitted per request.
Inmates may request an accounting of disclosures for up to six years prior to
the date on which the accounting is requested. Disclosures made prior to April
14, 2003 are excluded from this requirement.
(d) The Department shall provide the inmate
with a written account that includes the following information:
1. The date of the disclosure;
2. The name and address of the entity or
person who received the protected health information;
3. A brief description of the protected
health information disclosed; and,
4. A brief statement of the purpose of the
disclosure or a copy of a written request from the entity or person that
received the protected information.
(e) The accounting of disclosures is not
required to contain the following disclosures of protected health information:
1. Disclosures for the purpose of treatment,
payment and health care operations;
2. Disclosures to law enforcement or
correctional officers for the health and safety of the inmate, other inmates,
officers, employees of the correctional institution or others at the
correctional institution;
3.
Disclosures to law enforcement on the premises of the correctional
institutions;
4. Disclosures for
the administration and maintenance of the safety, security, and good order of
the correctional institution;
5.
Disclosures for national security or intelligence purposes;
6. Disclosures made to inmates of their own
protected information;
7.
Disclosures made as part of a limited data set;
8. Disclosures made to third parties pursuant
to the inmate's request written authorization; and,
9. Disclosures made prior to April 14,
2003.
(f) If the
Department made multiple disclosures of protected information to the same
entity for a single purpose, the accounting for a given period of time shall
provide:
1. The required information listed
above for the first disclosure; and,
2. The frequency, periodicity, or number of
disclosures made; and the date of the last disclosure.
(g) The Department shall provide the first
accounting to an inmate in any 12-month period without charge.
(h) If the second or subsequent request for
disclosure within a 12-month period requires duplication, the inmate shall pay
the cost of duplication in accordance with subsection
33-601.901(2),
F.A.C., and the inmate will sign a receipt for such copies.
(i) The Department shall document the
following information regarding accounting of disclosures:
1. The date of disclosure;
2. The information listed in the
accounting;
3. Written accounting
that is provided to the inmate; and,
4. The titles and names of the people who
were responsible for receiving and processing the request.
(j) The documentation shall be retained for
six years.
(k) The Department shall
track disclosures other than for treatment, payment and health care operations.
This includes the following disclosures even if the disclosure was to a
business associate. The Department shall track disclosures:
1. To other government agencies providing
benefits or services to the inmate;
2. To government agencies that oversee health
care providers;
3. For research;
and,
4. Which are required by
law.
(l) The following
specific information about each disclosure shall be included and documented in
the medical file on Form DC4-534, Health Care Information Request Record. Form
DC4-534 is hereby incorporated by reference. Copies of the form are available
from the Forms Control Administrator, 501 South Calhoun Street, Tallahassee,
Florida 32399-2500,
http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-02949.
The effective date of this form is 4-15-10.
1.
The date of the disclosure;
2. The
name and address of the entity or person who received the protected
information;
3. A brief description
of the protected health information disclosed;
4. A brief statement of the purpose of the
disclosure; and,
5. Written account
that was provided to the inmate.
(m) In accordance with 45 C.F.R. §
164.528, the Department shall temporarily suspend an inmate's right to
receive an accounting of disclosures to a health care oversight agency with
authority by law to oversee the health care system of the department or a law
enforcement official upon written statement from the oversight agency or law
enforcement official. The written statement shall specify that the accounting
to the inmate would be reasonably likely to impede the agency or official's
activities and the time period for which such suspension is required.
(n) Although the accounting of disclosures is
not released during a suspension, the Department shall continue tracking and
storing the information for future releases.
(8) Each Department workforce member and the
Department's business associates shall maintain as confidential all medical,
mental health, dental and substance abuse information, regarding any inmate or
offender that the employee obtains in conjunction with his or her duties and
responsibilities, and shall not disseminate the information or discuss the
medical, mental health, dental, or substance abuse condition of the inmate or
offender with any person except persons directly necessary to the performance
of the Department workforce member's or business associate's duties and
responsibilities. Workforce members of the healthcare, mental health treatment
or substance abuse treatment team shall not disseminate inmate medical, mental
health, or substance abuse information or discuss the medical, dental, mental
health, or substance abuse condition of an inmate with any person except other
members of the healthcare team, mental health treatment team, or substance
abuse treatment team, release officers or any other employees designated to
facilitate continuity of care and treatment upon reentry, officers responsible
for transporting inmates, upper level management at the institution or facility
level, regional level and central office level, inspectors from the Inspector
General's Office if related to law enforcement on the premises of a
correctional institution, classification or security staff if related to
maintenance of the safety, security and good order of the correctional
institution, department attorneys, or other employees and persons authorized to
receive such information in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability
and Accountability Act Privacy Rule of 1996, (HIPAA) and Florida law. Breach of
this confidentiality shall subject employees of the Department to disciplinary
action. Each employee shall acknowledge receipt and review of Form DC2-813,
Acknowledgement of Responsibility to Maintain Confidentiality of Medical
Information, indicating that he understands the medical and substance abuse
confidentiality requirements. Form DC2-813 is hereby incorporated by reference.
Copies of the form are available from the Forms Control Administrator, 501
South Calhoun Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2500,
http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-02946.
The effective date of this form is 8-13.
(9) Each inmate assigned as an inmate worker,
inmate assistant, substance abuse peer facilitator, or other assignment
involving possible contact with health or substance abuse information about
other inmates shall maintain as confidential all health or substance abuse
information that he sees or hears while performing his duties and
responsibilities, and shall not disseminate the information or discuss the
medical or substance abuse information with any person except health care staff
or substance abuse program staff. Failure to keep health or substance abuse
information confidential and private shall subject the inmate to disciplinary
action. Each inmate assigned as an inmate worker, inmate assistant, substance
abuse peer facilitator, or other assignment involving possible contact with
health or substance abuse information about other inmates shall acknowledge
receipt and review of Form DC1-206, Inmate Acknowledgement of Responsibility to
Maintain Confidentiality of Health or Substance Abuse Information, indicating
that he understands the medical and substance abuse confidentiality
requirements. Form DC1-206 is hereby incorporated by reference. Copies of the
form are available from the Forms Control Administrator, 501 South Calhoun
Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2500,
http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-02948.
The effective date of this form is 4-15-10.
(10) Use and disclosure of protected health
information.
(a) Inmate protected health
information shall be used or disclosed in accordance with the Health Insurance
Portability and Accountability Act Privacy Rule of 1996 (HIPAA), and Florida
law.
(b) Requests for access to a
current inmate's medical file shall be submitted to the health services
administrator at the institution where the inmate is housed. Requests for
access to a former inmate's medical file shall be submitted to: Statewide
Record Retention Center, Attention: Inactive Medical Records, 7819 N.W. 228th
Street, Raiford, Florida 32083. Requests for access to an inmate's hospital
file shall be submitted to: Reception and Medical Center Hospital, Attention:
Hospital Administrator, P.O. Box 628, Lake Butler, Florida 32054.
(c) All requests for access to an inmate's
protected health information shall be specific and in writing.
(d) If use or disclosure of an inmate's
protected health information is not otherwise permitted by law, an inmate must
authorize the use or disclosure by giving written consent using Form DC4-711B,
Consent and Authorization for Use and Disclosure Inspection and Release of
Confidential Information, or Form DC4-711Bsp, its Spanish-language version, or
a HIPAA compliant release of protected health information form from another
governmental agency. Form DC4-711B and Form DC4-711Bsp are incorporated by
reference in rule 33-601.901, F.A.C.
(e) Form DC4-711B, DC4-711Bsp, or any other
authorization used for these purposes shall be submitted with the written
request for access to an inmate's protected health information. A copy of the
authorization shall be provided to the inmate and the inmate shall acknowledge
receipt of the copy by signing in the appropriate location on the
authorization. The authorization and acknowledgement of receipt of copy shall
become a part of the inmate's medical file.
(f) Form DC4-711B, DC4-711Bsp, or any other
authorization used for these purposes must be notarized unless witnessed by a
member of the Department's workforce. All authorization forms shall be
witnessed by at least one person who can verify the fact that he witnessed the
signing of the authorization by the inmate and that, to the best of his
knowledge, the inmate knew what was signed.
(g) A disclosure of protected health
information may not be made on the basis of an authorization which:
1. Has expired;
2. On its face substantially fails to conform
to any of the requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act Privacy Rule of 1996;
3. Is known to have been revoked;
or
4. Is known, or through a
reasonable effort could be known, by the person holding the records to be
materially false.
(h) In
accordance with 45 C.F.R. §
164.502 and Florida law, a personal
representative of a deceased inmate shall have access to or may authorize the
disclosure of the deceased inmate's protected health information that is
relevant to the personal representative's legal authority to act on behalf of
the deceased inmate or the deceased inmate's estate.
1. The Department shall verify and document
the authority of the personal representative to serve in that capacity. All
requests for access to a deceased inmate's protected health information shall
be in writing and accompanied with documentation demonstrating the authority of
the personal representative to serve in such capacity as specified in paragraph
(2)(h), herein.
2. If the request
is made by a person appointed by a court to act as the personal representative,
an executor, an administrator, a curator, or a temporary administrator of the
deceased inmate's estate, accompanying documentation shall include a copy of
the letter of administration and a copy of the court order appointing such
person as the representative of the inmate's estate.
3. If the request is made by a person
designated by the inmate to act as his or her personal representative in a last
will that is self-proved, accompanying documentation shall include a copy of
the self-proved last will designating the person as the inmate's
representative.
4. If the request
is made by a surviving spouse, a surviving adult child of the inmate, or a
parent of the inmate, accompanying documentation shall include a letter from
the person's attorney verifying the person's relationship to the inmate and the
absence of a court-appointed representative and self-proved last
will.
5. To authorize the
disclosure of the deceased inmate's protected health information, Form
DC4-711B, Consent and Authorization for Use and Disclosure Inspection and
Release of Confidential Information must be signed by a personal
representative.
(i) In
accordance with 45 C.F.R. §
164.502, a personal representative of a living
inmate shall have access to or authorize the disclosure of the inmate's
protected health information that is relevant to the personal representative's
legal authority to make health care decisions on behalf of the inmate. Form
DC4-711B, Form DC4-711Bsp, or any other authorization used for these purposes
shall be signed by the inmate or the inmate's personal representative in
accordance with Florida law. In accordance with 45 C.F.R. §
164.514(h)(1),
the Department shall verify and document the authority of the personal
representative to serve in that capacity.
(j) In addition to the access described
above, in accordance with Section
395.3025, F.S., an inmate's
guardian, curator, personal representative, or in the absence of one of those
persons, next of kin of a decedent or the parent of a minor, shall have access
to the protected health information contained in an inmate's hospital file
created and maintained by the Reception Medical Center Hospital after the
discharge of the inmate.
(k) In
accordance with 45 C.F.R. §
164.514(h), the Department shall verify the
identity and the authority of a person requesting access to an inmate's
protected health information if the identity or authority of such person is not
known.
(l) No information
concerning test results, or other protected health information, shall be
released over the telephone without proper verification that the caller is the
person authorized to receive such information. All calls requesting the
disclosure of protected health information over the telephone shall be
forwarded to the Chief Health Officer, the Nursing Supervisor or their
designees.
(m) Copies of protected
health information will be provided upon receipt of payment as provided in
subsection 33-601.901(2),
F.A.C.
Notes
Rulemaking Authority 944.09, 945.10 FS. Law Implemented 119.07, 395.3025, 944.09, 945.10, 945.25, 945.6034 FS.
New 4-15-10, Amended 8-6-13, 5-25-16, 7-15-18.
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