A health care regulatory agency must share complaint-related information with another health care regulatory agency when the information may support an investigation or disciplinary proceeding.
Sec. 774.002. DUTY TO EXCHANGE INFORMATION. (a) A health care regulatory agency that, in the course of an audit, review, investigation, or examination of a complaint, obtains information pertaining to the complaint that it believes may be grounds for another health care regulatory agency to conduct an investigation of or institute a disciplinary proceeding against a health care provider shall forward the information and any subsequently obtained information or final determination regarding the health care provider to the other health care regulatory agency. (b) Information that may be grounds for investigative or disciplinary action by another health care regulatory agency includes information: (1) that relates to a violation of a rule or statute enforced by the other health care regulatory agency; or (2) that, in the good faith belief of the agency obtaining the information, is likely to lead to the discovery of a violation of a rule or statute enforced by the other health care regulatory agency. (c) Information forwarded by a health care regulatory agency under this section that is privileged or confidential retains its privileged or confidential nature following the receipt by another health care regulatory agency. The privilege or confidentiality extends to any agency communication concerning the information forwarded, regardless of the form, manner, or content of the communication. (d) The forwarding of privileged or confidential information by a health care regulatory agency does not waive a privilege in or create an exception to the confidentiality of the information. (e) An agency's provision of information or failure to provide information under this section does not give rise to a cause of action against the agency. Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 630, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.