Sec. 604.

(1) The commissioner shall ensure that confidentiality of records containing personal data which may be associated with identifiable individuals. Except as is necessary to comply with a court order, or for the purposes of claim adjudication or when required by law, the commissioner shall not disclose records containing personal data which may be associated with an identifiable individual without the prior informed consent of the individual to whom the data pertain. The individual's consent shall be in writing. If an individual has authorized the release of personal data to a specific person, that person shall not release the data to a third person unless the individual executes in writing another informed consent authorizing that additional release.

(2) The commissioner shall ensure the confidentiality of data which discloses reimbursement levels for specific procedures or services of specific providers and data which, if disclosed, can be used to calculate those reimbursement levels. This subsection shall apply only if the data are not already generally known to providers and if the disclosure of the data would be harmful to the achievement of the goals set forth in section 504. Only that portion of a record dealing with data described in this subsection shall be exempt from disclosure. A person, whose request for a hearing has been granted by the commissioner, may examine the data and shall be subject to the same confidentiality requirements as the commissioner under this subsection.

(3) The commissioner shall ensure the confidentiality of any trade secrets of the corporation, except for information required to be disclosed under Act No. 442 of the Public Acts of 1976, as amended, being sections 15.231 to 15.246 of the Michigan Compiled Laws.

(4) Subject to the provisions of subsections (1) to (3), information which a health care corporation provides to or files with the commissioner shall be governed by Act No. 442 of the Public Acts of 1976, as amended, being sections 15.231 to 15.246 of the Michigan Compiled Laws.

(5) A person who violates the confidentiality provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000.00 for each violation.

History: 1980, Act 350, Eff. Apr. 3, 1981 Popular Name: Blue Cross-Blue ShieldPopular Name: Act 350