A county may develop for human services a single portal of entry, a consolidated case management system, and a common data base; provided that if the county is part of a district health department or multicounty public health authority or a multicounty area mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse authority, such action must be approved by the district board of health or public health authority board or the area mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse board to affect any matter within the jurisdiction of that board. Nothing in this section shall be construed to abrogate a patient’s right to confidentiality as provided by law. (1987, c. 422, s. 1; 1991 (Reg. Sess., 1992), c. 1030, s. 47; 1997-502, s. 5.)