Sec. 2. (a) As used in this section, “primary caregiver” means an individual who provides for the physical, emotional, and social needs of another individual who cannot provide for the other individual’s own needs.

     (b) Upon the written request of a patient’s:

Terms Used In Indiana Code 16-39-4-2

  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
(1) spouse;

(2) parent if:

(A) the patient does not have a spouse; or

(B) the parent is the primary caregiver to the patient;

(3) adult child if the patient has neither a spouse nor a parent;

(4) sibling if the patient has neither a spouse, a parent, nor an adult child; or

(5) guardian, guardian ad litem, or court appointed special guardian;

who is involved in the planning, provision, and monitoring of mental health services delivered to the patient and the written consent of the treating physician for the patient, the provider shall provide the individual described in subdivision (1), (2), (3), (4), or (5) with the information described in section 3 of this chapter.

     (c) Upon the written request of the parent, guardian, or court appointed special guardian who is involved in the planning, provision, and monitoring of the mental health of a child enrolled in a school, the provider shall provide the child’s school principal or school leader with information described in section 3 of this chapter without charge.

     (d) A parent, guardian, guardian ad litem, or court appointed special guardian who prepares a written request under this section shall sign an authorization for the release of mental health records, as may be requested by the provider in satisfaction of any requirements under the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (42 U.S.C. § 201 et seq., as amended and including governing regulations) and state law. A provider that discloses information and records to a school principal or school leader as requested under this chapter is immune from civil, criminal, and administrative liability for the disclosure to the school principal or school leader. The authorization required by the provider may confirm the provider’s immunity.

[Pre-1993 Recodification Citation: 16-4-8-3.3(b).]

As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.22. Amended by P.L.189-1995, SEC.2; P.L.41-2014, SEC.1.

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