EXCHANGE OF CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORD INFORMATION BETWEEN PARTICIPATING AGENCIES

(a) This section applies only to: (1) criminal history record information a participating agency holds that relates to a health care professional; and (2) information a participating agency holds that relates to a health care professional or managed care organization that is the subject of an investigation by a participating agency for alleged Medicaid fraud or abuse. (b) A participating agency may submit to another participating agency a written request for information to which this section applies. The participating agency that receives the request shall provide the requesting agency with the requested information unless releasing the information: (1) would jeopardize an ongoing investigation or prosecution by the participating agency that possesses the information; or (2) is prohibited by other law. (c) Notwithstanding any other law, a participating agency may enter into a memorandum of understanding or agreement with another participating agency for exchanging criminal history record information relating to a health care professional that both participating agencies are authorized access to under Chapter 411. Confidential criminal history record information in a participating agency's possession that is provided to another participating agency remains confidential while in the possession of the participating agency that receives the information. (d) A participating agency that discovers information that may indicate fraud or abuse by a health care professional or managed care organization may provide the information to any other participating agency unless the release of the information is prohibited by other law. (e) If after receiving a request for information under Subsection (b) a participating agency determines that the agency is prohibited from releasing the information, the agency shall, not later than the 30th day after the date the agency received the request, inform the requesting agency of that determination in writing. (f) Confidential information shared under this section is subject to the same confidentiality requirements and legal restrictions on access to the information that are imposed by law on the participating agency that originally obtained or collected the information. Sharing information under this section does not affect whether the information is subject to disclosure under Chapter 552. (g) A participating agency that receives information from another participating agency under this section must obtain written permission from the agency that shared the information before using the information in a licensure or enforcement action. (h) This section does not affect a participating agency's authority to exchange information under other law.