58-55-80. Information sharing.

(a) In order to assist in the performance of the Commissioner's duties under the long-term care partnership program specified in the federal Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, the Commissioner may:

(1) Share information, including identifying information, related to the long-term care partnership program with other state and federal agencies, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and any entity contracting with the federal government under the program.

(2) Receive information, including identifying information, related to the long-term care partnership program from other state and federal agencies, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and any entity contracting with the federal government under the program, and shall maintain as confidential or privileged any identifying information received with notice or the understanding that it is confidential or privileged under the laws of the jurisdiction that is the source of the document, material, or information. Information received under this subdivision of this subsection is not a "public record" as defined in G.S. 132-1.

(3) Enter into agreements governing sharing and use of information consistent with this section.

(b) No waiver of an existing privilege or claim of confidentiality in the identifying information shall occur as a result of disclosure to the Commissioner under this section or as a result of sharing as authorized in subsection (a) of this section.

(c) A privilege established under the law of any state or jurisdiction that is substantially similar to the privilege established under this section shall be available and enforced in any proceeding in, and in any court of, this State.

(d) As used in this section, "identifying information" has the same meaning as in G.S. 14-113.20(b).